Speedway Junky

Product Description Every dream has its price... From Executive Producer Gus Van Sant ( Good Will Hunting, Finding Forrester) comes another compelling story of a teenage dreamer. Johnny (Jesse Bradford, Clockstoppers) has run away from home to pursue his fantasy to race cars--but he runs into trouble and out of money in Las Vegas. Gay street hustler Eric (Jordan Brower, Teen Angel) befriends Johnny and introduces him to his gang, including brash Steven (Jonathan Taylor Thomas, Home Improvement) and charming Wilma (Tiffani Thiessen, Beverly Hills 90210). Johnny also meets Eric's surrogate mom Veronica (Daryl Hannah, Splash). As the two boys become close, they are confronted with a life-threatening situation involving drugs, money, and betrayal, and Johnny must decide if he has what it takes to follow his dream. Amazon.com This compelling portrait of Las Vegas subculture stars Jesse Bradford ( Bring It On, Clockstoppers) as Johnny, a teenager who aspires to be a racecar driver but gets stuck hustling on the Vegas strip. Speedway Junky centers around Johnny's friendship with Eric (Jordon Brower, Texas Rangers), a gay hustler who's in love with Johnny, even though he knows Johnny is straight. But the movie also captures snapshots of various fringe dwellers and people whose lives seem to be hitting a dead end, deftly drawn portraits that mix hope and despair in equal measures. The well-written script and strong performances from an eclectic cast--including appearances by Daryl Hannah, Tiffani-Amber Thiessen, and Jonathan Taylor Thomas, all of whom are excellent--make Speedway Junky more than a voyeuristic walk through the Vegas gutter. --Bret Fetzer