Lords of Dogtown (2005)
The radical true story behind three teenage surfers from Venice Beach, California, who took skateboarding to the extreme and changed the world of sports forever. Stacy Peralta, Tony Alva and Jay Adams are the Z-Boys, a bunch of nobodies until they create a new style of skateboarding that becomes a worldwide phenomenon. But when their hobby becomes a business, the success shreds their friendship.
- Catherine Hardwicke
- Thomas Robinson Harper
- Vernon Davidson
- James Alan Hensz
- Kenneth Roth
- Jay Ostrowski
- John O'Rourke
- Stephen P. Del Prete
- Lyn Matsuda Norton
- Trisha Burton
- Stacy Peralta
Rating: 7.1/10 by 740 users
Alternative Title:
Dogtown urai - HU
독타운의 제왕들 - KR
Country:
Germany
United States of America
Language:
Español
English
Runtime: 01 hour 47 minutes
Budget: $25,000,000
Revenue: $13,411,957
Plot Keyword: skateboarding, 1970s, success, based on true story, venice beach, california, woman director
***The birth of skateboard culture*** In the mid-70s, the accomplishments of the innovative Zephyr skateboarding team of Venice, California, are dramatized based on events chronicled in skater Stacy Peralta’s documentary “Dogtown and Z-Boys” (2001). John Robinson plays Stacy, Emile Hirsch plays Jay and Victor Rasuk plays Tony (aka T.A.). Heath Ledger is on hand as Skip Zephyr while Rebecca De Mornay appears as one of the teens’ struggling mother. While I suppose “Lords of Dogtown” (2005) is a sports flick, it’s just as much a coming-of-age movie detailing growing-up on the bad side of Venice, aka Dogtown, the birthplace of America’s skateboard culture, which influenced the world. It reminded me of the dissolute environment depicted in “River’s Edge” (1986) with elements of Jim Morrison’s hedonistic misadventures from “The Doors” (1991), but combined with skateboard action, like skating in dry backyard pools and various competitions. It’s a good movie with slightly amped-up events (so what else is new?), but somewhat hampered by a curiously dismal air with occasional dialogues that don’t work. Maybe I found it slightly depressing because it reminded me of the glory & shame of my teen years. The 70’s soundtrack is great, however. The film runs 1 hour, 47 minutes and was shot in the Los Angeles area, including Venice Beach, Imperial Beach and Santa Monica. GRADE: B-
