The Ultimate skater/teenage angst film

Rating: 8/10 (6 February 2006)

Lords of Dogtown is the skate movie of all skate movies. But beyond that it's a film about fame, friendship, talent, the seventies, and growing up. All the performances are really well done and for fans of skating you'll just love this film. It's done perfectly!! Veteran film maker Catherine Hardwicke captures the seventies brilliantly. The performances by the former hippy culture, the teens experiencing everything the seventies offered and the rebellion they felt. Also the director of the controversial film Thirteen, Hardwicke seems to have a real knack at perfectly capturing teenage feelings and rebellion and Lords of Dogtown shows her ability once again.
The big name attached to the film is Heath Ledger and his role is probably underplayed but brilliant nonetheless. I've always liked Ledger, he's one of my favorite young actors ever since 10 Things I Hate About You, and the Patriot. He's really shown his acting ability and is just now really getting acclaim for it with his Oscar nod for playing the gay cowboy in the powerhouse Brokeback Mountain. His performance in Lords of Dogtown is brilliant. He plays Skip, the enormously respected surfer, former hippie, alcoholic, and dreams of riches. He's rough and rugged and you kinda hate him but feel sorry for him too. It's a great performance if not a little small. The main characters in the film, the teenager skaters who make it big are played by John Robinson, Emile Hirsch, and Victor Rasuk. Now Emile Hirsch I came to know from another great little coming of age story...The Girl Next Door where he did a great job in the lead. His role in Lords of Dogtown is completely different...night and day from his previous role and he does a great job. His role as Jay is gritty and dark compared to previous roles. John Robinson as the much more innocent and emotionally strong Stacy also does a great job. He holds everyone together and is much more stable than the rest of them despite being kept out of the group for much of the time. Rasuk plays the star struck, loud, flashy T.A. (Tony Alva.) Driven by his father, and bent on being famous he's the first to go down the wrong path. All three of them can skate something wicked (if they did their own skating, it's unbelievable.) On top of that they have great roles and do a great job. You get drawn into their world as the story takes them from a small group of friends to being torn apart by their own ambitions and offers. Also noteworthy performances are from Michael Angarano who plays Sid. Sid is mostly just a tag along but he gets the benefit of playing terminally ill which for a good actor means a touching role. Also noteworthy is the very small role by Rebecca De Mornay who plays Hippy struggling single Mom Philaine. She does a great job playing something I've never seen her do before. As mentioned the role is small but well done.
A great story, with great skating and a really cool setting in the seventies captured brilliantly by the music and clothes and cars and the setting that started skateboarding into a phenomenon. I said to myself that if Tony Hawk didn't do a cameo it would be a disappointment and sure enough I spotted him!! I won't say where...I'll give you the fun of catching him. It's a great cameo. Definitely check this one out because it's well worth watching and a great film!! 8/10