Movie Review

Lords of Dogtown

Catherine Hardwicke last directed 2003?s "Thirteen,? a film about troubled teenage girls that surprised other people much more than it surprised me. Nonetheless, I still thought that flick was pretty compelling, although not that new to me. Here she takes on another slice of teenage life with "Lords of Dogtown,? the story about the Z-boys, the legendary skateboarders who redefined what skateboarding is all about. It's a movie that's long on attitude and fancy tricks, but in the end, also bland and reminiscent of hundreds of other rags to riches friendship movies.

This movie was actually written by one of the Lords, Stacy Peralta, played in the movie by John Robinson. Stacy, along with his friends Jay (Emile Hirsch), Tony (Victor Rasuk), and Sid (Michael Angarono), are a group of teenagers who lived in the Venice, California surf ghetto during the 1970's. They were all poor kids with nothing else going for them besides surfing and skateboarding, and so those two things became their life's ambition. They would spend their days jumping cars, irritating authority figures, and breaking into private property so that they could use empty swimming pools as obstacles. As people they aren't very interesting, but as skateboarders they are rebels who left their meagerness behind and became flying Gods.

They were so God-like in fact that the owner of a local surf-shop named Skip (Heath Ledger) decides to make them a skating team. They became known as the Zephyr team. From there, it is a long rise to greatness as the guys introduce their unique tricks to the world of skateboarding competition. Skip even has the idea of marketing the brand of skateboard the guys use to the viewing public. Only like all good things, greed and money look too good to pass up, forcing the Z-boys to go their own way toward fame and fortune.

Hardwicke does a nice job with the look of the film, capturing that sense of 70's nostalgia from the long hair all the way down to the old skateboards. She also does nice work with the camera, letting us feel like we are gliding right along with the Z-boys. And the tricks look pretty cool ? a lot of 360's, low-to-the-ground surfing, and aerial maneuvers. Only the story of the Z-boys is not as compelling as the look. Besides being poor and good skaters, there isn't a lot to these guys. Their family life is barely touched upon and the story of fame and fortune breaking up a friendship is as old a story as they come. Even their time in the spotlight is reduced to a short musical montage. The one compelling aspect comes later when Sid is diagnosed with brain cancer. I was also surprised to see that hot chicks were once into this sport, but that isn't really all that compelling. Otherwise there is very little in here that warrants a movie.

Heath Ledger is fun to watch though as the stoned out surf-shop owner. His performance will remind you of Val Kilmer's portrayal of Jim Morrison in "The Doors.? The rest of the actors do what they can, lending enthusiasm to their roles, but it still doesn't shake the fact that nothing in here is as unique as the tricks these guys perform. There is a documentary called "Dogtown and the Z-Boys,? which I have not seen, but I would imagine it is the more in-depth choice for people who are into the Z-boys subject matter.

Craig's Grade: C+

A	10.9%
B	41.8%
C	31.8%
D	15.3%
F	0.3%