Captivating movie !

If the ambition is to provide two hours of instantly forgettable, popcorn-munching escapism, it succeeds.

The movie's neither hopeful in contrived ways, nor hopeless in different contrived ways. Somehow it manages to be wonderful

It's the kind of movie you'll want to see a second time with someone who hasn't seen it yet, to remember what it was like to watch it for the first time.

This movie is underrated one of Keanu Reeves best performance. The story of this movie is powerful and emotional; I wasn't expecting to enjoy it this much.

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.

I've been a fan of this movie since it was first released, well, since I first saw it anyway. I'm not a guy comfortable with the display of emotions, however, this movie does have a tendency to draw them out of me. A movie telling a story about a kid who by all accounts appears to have everything going for him just can't cope and decides to take the easy way out and kill himself.The emotional value for me is particularly in one scene, where Keanu Reeves is driving drunk, and when confronted he breaks down in tears, the common emotions "I should have known" Well, this movie brings up all of these emotions for me being as I have been surrounded by death, within a week of working my first job I discovered the body of a man who committed suicide, my best friend died at a young age, my pregnant fiancé was killed in a car accident, couple other friends committed suicide.So this movie will always carry a special meaning for me, I tend to watch it a couple of times a year at which time I reflect upon those that I have lost. (Yes, I always watch it alone)

I never saw this one in my "Life Management" class in high school. You know, the one's where they teach you all of life's no-no's via After School specials--everything from eating disorders to drunk driving. 'Permanent Record' serves as a more coarse, more realistic story of teens dealing with their friends unexpected suicide.A very young, less spastic Keanu Reeves heads up the cast as Chris Townsend, a high school senior who is struggling (along with his friends) to deal with his best friend, David's, suicide. David Sinclair (Alan Boyce), the star kid that held everyone in high expectation, pressure that he just felt he could no longer deal with and, decided to kill himself.The suicide occurs early in the film, so for the most part, it is a matter of seeing how the friends deal with the situation and try to find a sense of closure (if at all). It serves less as an identifier of the warning signs of suicide, but instead may provide guidance for young folks who find themselves in a similar situation, when someone close (and presumably young) to them has died (regardless of how). So, in a sense, 'Permanent Record' is a brief, cinematic unilateral therapeutic session.Entirely emotionally driven, this film is somewhat of a tear jerker, and slightly slow moving, but does well overall. Good performances by main teen cast, especially (and surprisingly) by Keanu Reeves (who also gets to show off his talents as a guitarist). Worth watching if you can find it.