Lords of Dogtown (2005)

User Rating:

6.8/10   

Director:

Catherine Hardwicke

Writer (WGA):

Stacy Peralta (written by)

Release Date:

3 June 2005 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Biography | Drama | Sport

Tagline:

They came from nothing to change everything.

Plot:

The film follows the surf and skateboarding trends that originated in Venice, California during the 1970's.

Plot Keywords:

Teenage Boy | Cleavage | Fondling | 1970s | Skateboarding

Awards:

1 win & 7 nominations

Cast

Emile Hirsch	...	Jay
Victor Rasuk	...	Tony Alva
Rebecca De Mornay	...	Philaine
John Robinson	...	Stacy
Michael Angarano	...	Sid
Nikki Reed	...	Kathy Alva
Johnny Knoxville	...	Topper Burks
Heath Ledger	...	Skip
Vincent Laresca	...	Chino
William Mapother	...	Donnie
Julio Oscar Mechoso	...	Mr. Alva
Brian Zarate	...	Montoya
Pablo Schreiber	...	Stecyk
Elden Henson	...	Billy Z
Mitch Hedberg	...	Urethane Wheels Guy

Also Known As:

American Knights (Philippines: English title)
Dogtown Boys (Germany)

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for drug and alcohol content, sexuality, violence, language and reckless behavior - all involving teens.

Runtime:

107 min

Country:

USA | Germany

Language:

English | Spanish

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Sweden:7 | Philippines:R-13 | Ireland:15A | USA:Unrated (unrated DVD version) | Brazil:16 | UK:15 (extended version) | Australia:M | Argentina:16 | Iceland:16 | Malaysia:18PL | Malaysia:U (cut version) | USA:PG-13 (certificate #40754) | Norway:11 | Singapore:PG | UK:12A | Czech Republic:U | Switzerland:14 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:14 (canton of Vaud) | Germany:12 | Finland:K-11

Filming Locations:

Imperial Beach, California, USA

Company:

Columbia Pictures Corporation

Trivia:

To prepare for his role as young Jay Adams, Emile Hirsch flew to Hawaii to spend time with Jay Adams who had just been released from jail for assault and drug charges and had just gotten married.

Goofs:

Continuity: After Jay meets with Stacy and Kathy on Bicknell Hill, Stacy already has his 1972 Squareback car, but as he comes home in the next scene, he is riding his bicycle from the beginning of the movie.

Quotes:

Tony: [to Stacey] Grab your pad and take notes, Peralta!

Movie Connections:

Spoofed in Lords of Doggie Style Town (2006) (V)

Soundtrack:

Half Breed

Catherine Hardwicke ruins a great idea

Lords of Dogtown was a great idea for a film. A true story involving a lesser known but potentially riveting aspect of recent American life.

Unfortunately, someone bought into the Hollyweird hype and hired Catherine Hardwicke. Instead of a director, they got someone whose only directorial move is to constantly shake the camera.

Frankly, this is a great example of the state of current studio cinema that someone as incompetent as Hardwicke would get assignment after assignment. Somehow, the studio executives have bought into the "MTV Generation" nonsense and can't seem to see the sinking box office for what it is: a rejection of bad films made by bad directors like Hardwicke.