Michelle Sweeney'Lords of Dogtown' - Movie Review
March 31st 2008 04:55
Based on the true story of skateboarding and surfing trends in Venice, California in the 1970’s. Based around the Z-Boys, a group of skateboarders that revolutionized the sport making it what it is today. The film focuses on the rise and fall of the Zephyr team (Z-Boys) led by Skip Engblom comprising of Tony Alva, Stacey Peralta and Jay Adams.
Directed by ‘Thirteen’s’ Catherine Hardwicke and starring Emile Hirsch, Heath Ledger, Victor Rasuk, John Robinson, Nikki Reed, Michael Angarano, Johnny Knoxville and Rebecca De Mornay.
Stacey Peralta’s documentary ‘Dogtown and Z-Boys’ serves as a launch pad for ‘Lords of Dogtown’. Peralta was in fact the writer of both the documentary and the feature film, so what is delivered is not ‘popcorn fodder’ but a true factual representation of the skating movement in the 70s.
The acting was top notch, the three main characters Tony Alva, Stacey Peralta and Jay Adams were portrayed wonderfully by Victor Rasuk, John Robinson and Emile Hirsch realistically capturing the essence and personalities of their characters. Standout performances by Emile Hirsch as troubled and unpredictable Adams and Heath Ledger as Zephyr store owner and team leader ‘Engblom’.
The cinematography and severe, sandy coloured tones gives the film the right effect of grittiness and realism for the setting. The camera work is fantastic really bringing you into the drama, and making you feel that you were in the skateboarding action, particularly in the ‘dog bowl’ scenes.
As well as a kick ass soundtrack by the likes of Ted Nugent, David Bowie, Neil Young, Black Sabbath, Jimi Hendrix, Social Distortion, Deep Purple and Iggy Pop.
For fans of skateboarding and those that are not. A particularly enjoyable movie!
3 ½ /5
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