one of my absolute favorites!

This is one of the few movies I've ever seen where the whole audience broke into spontaneous, loud applause a third of the way in.

Exactly the movie you think it is, but not the movie you want it to be.

There is, somehow, an interesting story here, as well as some good acting. There are also some good scenes

Pretentious student film, probably made by a guy who is into skating and makes lots of videos about it. How do I know? There are long, slow-motion, ridiculously edited sequences of people skating every five minutes, during which nothing happens and which contribute nothing to the story or even the mood of the film. They are just there because the 'filmmaker' thought it would be cool. How old is he? Twelve? Then comes the scene where some Asian guy interrogates the protagonist about what happened. The lighting is terrible, and the focus is off (something you have to get used to in this film), resulting in a very unpleasant scene from the mere visual perspective. The dialogue isn't better either. Then the camera dollies in, but it does so in a weird way, focusing on the boy, yet leaving only a part of the Asian guy's face in the frame. You'd think a blind person operated that camera.Anyway, this is a tedious and very poorly made film on every level. Total zero. Just don't watch it.

Gus Van Sant does it again, although it took me a while to get into the film. But the combining of some classical ditties en peculiar shots and close-ups and the (crime) story, including a gruesome horror scene filmed from above, reminded me of good old Hitchcock, more specifically 'Psycho' (1960)... an actual shower scene can be no coincidence then, right? Well, we all knew how big a fan Van Sant was of that film.Furthermore, there's an extraordinary and fun choice of songs ('I can help' by Billy Swan, for instance), a series of 'hallway'-scenes reminiscent of Van Sant's earlier 'Elephant' (2003) and a fine build-up through an ingenious play with time and that notebook that keeps popping up everywhere.Unfortunately, I wasn't very much convinced by the acting, Gabe Nevins would seem more in place as a poster-boy for some big jeans brand or something. It was mostly the talent of Van Sant which I enjoyed here.A solid 7 out of 10.

This film was only half a movie so I gave it half the stars. I feel I'm being really generous as I believe it's only worth 4 stars but i wanted to say that awesome line :) In reality i can't really review this film bc i genuinely felt like the movie was incomplete. the main actor was good in that he assumed the nonchalant passiveness of a teenager but he didn't emote enough for me. I didn't feel or believe his pain at all. In short the story was good but the whole plot felt underdeveloped. The characters aren't such that you can grow a connection with them or sympathize for them in any way. The whole thing was rush and I wish the audience was given some more context both before and after the climax.

I don't know where to begin. For me this is a landmark movie. Yes, skateboarding is central to it. And it inspires a lot of the visuals, music, lighting and camera work. But it isn't a movie about skateboarding tricks or a cameo by your favorite boarder. If you don't understand what I am referring to you won't get this movie. There is a lot of texture, mood and sensory involvement that isn't presented in the standard way. Its not weird, flashy, jarring or artsy, but it is art. If you need a catalyst to reach your own art, it inspires a synchronicity I have rarely experienced. It is a bit cerebral and it leaves me wondering if justice was served.