Brendon Jones
It’s fine. It's literally the definition of a fine movie. You’ve seen it before, you know every beat and outcome before the characters even do. Only question is how much escapism you’re looking for.
Teddie Blake
The movie turns out to be a little better than the average. Starting from a romantic formula often seen in the cinema, it ends in the most predictable (and somewhat bland) way.
Lucia Ayala
It's simply great fun, a winsome film and an occasionally over-the-top luxury fantasy that never flags.
Cody
One of the best movies of the year! Incredible from the beginning to the end.
eapplebaum
In 1986, my friend who was like a brother to me was suddenly killed at 18 yrs old. It shook up my whole world like I was in a blender and everything changed. in 1988 this film came out. I skipped a class at Hunter College in NYC and went by myself at the 1st showing of the day to a theater near the school on 66th and 2nd ave. There were about 4 people in the whole theater, including me. This film was so incredibly powerful and poignant for me, little did I know. Permanent Record remained a part of me for years, until now even (2014). Back in 1988, I was the surviving friend. The 2 surviving sisters and their parents to the death of my friend remained my 2nd family, to this day. They are Italian, in Italy. I returned home to live my life and mature. Now today. It is 2 weeks out from my own beautiful, incredibly kind, musically gifted, amazing nephew's suicide at just 21 years old. I am not sure if I can watch this film again, but I know I need to keep it close to me for when I might be ready. For those who hated it, please, no disrespect, but it really is a film specifically for those who have experienced immense loss. It's about loss of youth which equals loss of hope. To have never experienced such a monumental life changing event, one would not see past the holes in the story or the acting flaws because the film for them is just that, a film and deserves justified critiques. But for those who need to relate to this film on a more basic level that is merely the topic and it's basic execution, it works, deeply.
SnoopyStyle
David is a popular student. During a late night party, David falls off a cliff. His friend Chirs (Keanu Reeves) suspects that it was suicide, but he can't figure out why. He hopes to use David's music at the school memorial, but the school cancels it after discovering the suspected suicide.It's dark meandering tale of teenage angst. It's a good one at that. The suicide comes in a little late. At around 30 minutes, the movie gets going too slowly and too late. The audience doesn't really need to see or hear from David. He is better as a memory from the other characters.Keanu Reeves gives another performance like 'River's Edge'. He's very effective as a disenfranchised teen. In fact, this is his story which adds to the argument to skip most of David's scenes in the beginning. Keanu's the star and the camera knows it.
Spookster1974
When I first saw "Permanent Record", I was on a psych unit, trying to regain control of my life as a teenager. It was a movie that they'd shown to us to kind of teach us a lesson about how our actions and decisions affect the people around us. I really enjoyed this movie and wouldn't mind adding it to my collection.
MARKIESTL
Okay, so as far a great cinema goes, this made for TV movie is no gem, however, at the time it was released, teen suicide was a hot topic. Keanu Reeves pretty much gives us the same person he was in "The Rivers Edge", only a little more sensitive. The key scene for me is when he gets drunk and crashes his car in the yard of his friend who died. The father comes out screaming and yelling, the Keanu breaks down, blaming himself for not being able to stop the suicide from happening.As for the vagueness of the reason he the guy committed suicide; can we ever know for sure why some kids feel so hopeless they feel the only exit is death?
