Heath Ledger deserves an Oscar

Rating: 10/10 (4 June 2005)

Heath Ledger's performance in Lords is not only Oscar worthy, but so far he deserves the win. Not since Johnny Deps performance as Captain Jack Sparrow has anyone deserved an Oscar more. Too bad those stuffed shirts at the academy probably won't recognize a skate flick for contention.
Lords of Dogtown is beautifully shot, (something that will probably also be overlooked because it's a skate movie). The movie is filled with an eccentric mix of interesting shots like after the pier burns down, to gritty documentary shots like the bowl riding.
The movie shows the real word of skating. Not the watered-down PG-ified version ESPN gives us. Lords shows the rebellious punk scene that skating was (and sometimes still is). At some points the movie hits uncomfortable lows that reminded me of past life moments I'd like to forget. It doesn't show an all around positive skate image, but that's because it's a Docudrama, and like most Documentaries or Docudramas there are parts we agree with, and parts we don't, but none-the-less as with any good movie we are entertained.
The closing credits list Stacy Peralta as a successful film maker. While he does have some credits to his name, if Lords were his only credit, he'd still be considered successful, because to pull this movie together alone shows lots of talent.