Speedway Junky

R

Released Aug 31, 2001

1 hr. 42 min.

Drama

LGBTQ+

List

29%

7 Reviews

Tomatometer

56%

1,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

Running away from home to pursue his dreams of becoming a professional racecar driver, Johnny (Jesse Bradford) is a high school kid from a good family. He winds up in Las Vegas working two-bit crimes. No closer to his destination - the race tracks of North Carolina - Johnny has a long way to go, but he is not without hope.

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Audience Member

I didn't watch this movie until 2022 and thought it was great. Great work by Jordan Brower, Jesse Bradford, Jonathan Taylor Thomas and Tiffiani Thiessen.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/06/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Jordan Brower is the central focus because of the emotional power he exudes in his every action. The script needed tightening, but the actors did a great job carrying this project through. It is deserving of greater acclaim than it received when released.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

01/14/23

Full Review

Audience Member

This film made me cry. It's just brilliant and sweet. I love it! And JTT as a bisexual hustler? I'll bloody pay.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

02/01/23

Full Review

Audience Member

I'll admit it, I only rented this DVD because Jonathan Taylor Thomas was in it, and I loved him when I was a kid. I couldn't picture him pulling off this role, and I expected a massive train wreck. Color me surprised! This is probably the best acting I've ever seen from him, and the movie as a whole is deep and emotional. I wish this film had gotten the attention it deserved.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/16/23

Full Review

Audience Member

A Dickensian tale set in contemporary Las Vegas, with very spunky Jesse Bradford (also seen in all his naked torso glory in "Swimfan") trying to get his portion of the American dream, as in "rugged individualism and trampling on everybody gets you to the top" kind of ideology, but he is actually completely depending for survival on his newly adopted "family" of gay hustlers and former prostitutes. A sort of David Copperfield in the desert. Bleak and terribly tragic, but oh so slightly annoying by the cop out at the end. Terrific dialog though (via About Gay Movies): Steven: So, you completely straight or what? Johnny: Of course, yeah aren't you? Steven: Well, personally, I dig that but, but when it comes to work it is simply a matter of cash flow. Eric: See, Steven is bisexual. Buy him something and have sex. Steven: I'm a businessman, Johnny, the customer always 'comes' first Recommended.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/08/23

Full Review

Audience Member

There were some good acting moments in this movie!! But the movie as a whole wasnt that good i thought! Jordan Brower did a great job, he was my favorite character! Such a sweet trusting loving person. Worth the watch for him.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

02/12/23

Full Review

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Nickolas Perry

Director

Jesse Bradford

Johnny

Jordan Brower

Eric

Jonathan Taylor Thomas

Steven

Daryl Hannah

Veronica

Tiffani Thiessen

Wilma Price

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Gary Dowell

Dallas Morning News

It's exploitation at its most listless and uninspired.

Sep 20, 2001

Full Review

Kevin Maynard

Mr. Showbiz

Hard to watch -- not because of its unflinching realism, but rather for its mawkish reliance on every boy hooker flick from Midnight Cowboy to Johns.

Sep 6, 2001

Full Review

Kevin Thomas

Los Angeles Times

A potent mixture of sentiment and grit, and it showcases the talents of its young principals.

Rated: 4.5/5

Aug 31, 2001

Full Review

Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com

Rated: C

Feb 19, 2013

Full Review

Frank Swietek

One Guy's Opinion

Goes completely off track, falling apart in a welter of absurd twists, sentimental drivel and phony uplift.

Rated: D+

Sep 21, 2001

Full Review

Dave White

IFilm

It's My Own Private Idaho! Well, minus the story, the style and the smart script.

Aug 30, 2001

Full Review

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Synopsis

Running away from home to pursue his dreams of becoming a professional racecar driver, Johnny (Jesse Bradford) is a high school kid from a good family. He winds up in Las Vegas working two-bit crimes. No closer to his destination - the race tracks of North Carolina - Johnny has a long way to go, but he is not without hope.

Director: Nickolas Perry
Executive Producer: Gus Van Sant
Screenwriter: Nickolas Perry
Distributor: here! Films, Xscapade Pictures Ltd. [gb], Regent Entertainment [us]
Production Co: Speedway Junkie, Inc., Magic Entertainment, Inc., Powers That Be Pictures, Miracle Entertainment
Rating: R (Violence|Drug Use|Sexual Content|Pervasive Language)
Genre: Drama, LGBTQ+
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Aug 31, 2001, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 4, 2017
Box Office (Gross USA): $17.1K
Sound Mix: Stereo

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