Lords of Dogtown (2005)

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

Director:

Catherine Hardwicke

Writer:

Stacy Peralta

Stars:

Heath Ledger, Emile Hirsch, Victor Rasuk

1 win & 7 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
John Robinson	...	Stacy
Emile Hirsch	...	Jay
Rebecca De Mornay	...	Philaine
William Mapother	...	Donnie
Julio Oscar Mechoso	...	Mr. Alva
Victor Rasuk	...	Tony
Nikki Reed	...	Kathy Alva
Heath Ledger	...	Skip
Vincent Laresca	...	Chino
Brian Zarate	...	Montoya
Pablo Schreiber	...	Stecyk
Elden Henson	...	Billy Z
Michael Angarano	...	Sid
Mitch Hedberg	...	Urethane Wheels Guy
Benjamin Nurick	...	Browser

Storyline

A fictionalized take on the group of brilliant young skateboarders raised in the mean streets of Dogtown in Santa Monica, California. The Z-Boys, as they come to be known, perfect their craft in the empty swimming pools of unsuspecting suburban homeowners, pioneering a thrilling new sport and eventually moving into legend.

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Plot Keywords:

head shaving | skateboarder | surf | swimming pool | skateboarding | 

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Taglines:

Based on the true story of the legendary z-boys.

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Genres:

Biography | Drama | Sport

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

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

Details

Official Sites:

Sony Pictures

Country:

USA Germany

Language:

English Spanish

Release Date:

3 June 2005 (USA)

Also Known As:

Les seigneurs de Dogtown

Filming Locations:

Imperial Beach, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$25,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$5,623,373, 5 June 2005, Wide Release

Gross USA:

$11,008,432, 26 June 2005

Company Credits

Production Co:

Columbia Pictures, Art Linson Productions, Indelible Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

107 min

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital SDDS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Emile Hirsch claims the hardest trick he performed for the film was bombing down Bicknell Hill in Venice because he had to do the trick fast, shirtless, and with the camera car alongside him.

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Goofs

When Jay and Tony are in the bedroom with the two girls a stuffed animal is thrown and lands on the nightstand in front of the lamp. Tony's father comes in moments later asking about the smell in the air and the stuffed animal is gone.

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Quotes

Stacy: [Jay is rolling the window in Stacey's car up and down, breaks off the handle] Damn it, Jay! Do you know how much this is gonna cost me to fix? you're an idiot!
Jay: [gives friends a scared look] Sorry...

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Crazy Credits

The TriStar Pictures logo gets "Locals Only" spray-painted across it.

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Alternate Versions

Also released on DVD as an "Unrated Extended Cut".

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Connections

Referenced in Dinner for Five: Episode #4.9 (2005)

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Soundtracks

Also Sprach Zarathustra
(Theme from 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968))
Written by Richard Strauss
Arranged and Performed by Eumir Deodato
Courtesy of Epic Records
By Arrangement with Sony BMG Music Licensing

User Reviews

Cement Surfing

Director Catherine Hardwicke, who helped a few teenagers discover the versatility of the tongue in "Thirteen" (2003), takes an impressive cast and crew back to the year 1975. The "Disco" storm was crashing airwaves, but not at Venice Beach, California. There, the pre-punk "Lords of Dogtown" ramped up skateboarding "to the extreme" and made it a sport.

Opening with the familiar phrase, "Inspired by a true story," this is a fictionalized film version of the superior documentary "Dogtown and Z-Boys" (2001) - which anyone interested in skateboarding as sport should see. Hardwicke's young "Lords" are Emile Hirsch (as Jay Adams), Victor Rasuk (as Tony Alva), and John Robinson (as Stacy Peralta). They are introduced in an excellent opening sequence, but the story doesn't get off the ground until about halfway through. We get a lot of documentary-styled scenes - which don't really do anything to improve upon "Dogtown and Z-Boys" - before getting to know the three leading men. It might be interesting to see Mr. Peralta's original story idea, because much of this story seems whitewashed.

Crack a board, bro…

The real drama herein arguably centers on Mr. Hirsch's character. The three actors are fine, but Hirsch is given the best material. As his sexy, sand-blasted mother, Rebecca De Mornay (as Philaine) helps. And, Hirsch gets to sing the "Slinky" theme song. Watch for a truly magical moment when, after losing a contest, Hirsch sails off the pier; photographed beautifully by Elliot Davis, it combines the thrills you experience surfing and skateboarding. Also on hand, in an stumbling and underwritten role, is wasted surfer Heath Ledger (as Skip Engblom). Better utilized is the role played by fellow traveler Michael Angarano (as Sid). He helps give the film an unexpected, uplifting ending by taking the three estranged "Lords" back to their roots.

****** Lords of Dogtown (6/3/05) Catherine Hardwicke ~ Emile Hirsch, Victor Rasuk, John Robinson, Heath Ledger