Rising Son: The Legend of Skateboarder Christian Hosoi (2006)

The rise, fall, and rebirth of Christian Hosoi, the young man who helped skateboarding re-emerge as a major cultural influence in the 1980s. The inventive skater and businessman was ... See full summary »

Director:

Cesario Montaño (as Cesario 'Block' Montano)

Writer:

Peter Alton

Stars:

Dennis Hopper, Jay Adams, Salman Agah

Cast

Credited cast:
Dennis Hopper	...	Narrator (voice)
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Jay Adams	...	Himself - Zephyr Team
Salman Agah	...	Himself - Pro Skater
Micke Alba	...	Himself
Tony Alva	...	Himself - Zephyr Team
David Arquette	...	Himself
Rick Blackhart	...	Himself - Independent Trucks (archive footage)
Neil Blender	...	Himself - Pro Skater (archive footage)
Myles Breiner	...	Himself - Lawyer
Eric 'Tuma' Britton	...	Himself - Pro Skater
Bob Burnquist	...	Himself - Pro Skater (as Bob Bernquist)
Steve Caballero	...	Himself - Pro Skater (archive footage)
Kareem Campbell	...	Himself
Don Cassel	...	Himself
Barrett Deck	...	Himself - Artist (as Barrett 'Chicken' Deck)

Storyline

The rise, fall, and rebirth of Christian Hosoi, the young man who helped skateboarding re-emerge as a major cultural influence in the 1980s. The inventive skater and businessman was incarcerated in 2000 for trafficking controlled substances across state lines, and since his parole in 2004, the Born-Again Christian has dedicated his life to being a good father and positive influence on the sport.

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Plot Keywords:

across state lines | skater | skateboarding | surfer | skateboard | 

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Genres:

Documentary | Sport

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

7 April 2006 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

QD3 Entertainment,Quiksilver

Technical Specs

Runtime:

98 min

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Connections

Features Thrashin' (1986)

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Soundtracks

Better Side
Written & Performed by Matt Reed
Courtesy of Matt Reed Music

User Reviews

Enjoyable, but no 'Stoked!'

An enjoyable, albeit formulaic documentary of another fallen skateboard star from the 1980s. Rising Son, similar to Helen Stickler's 2002 documentary, "Stoked! The Rise and Fall of Gator", chronicles the meteoric rise and fall of a 1980s skateboarder, in yet another cautionary, VH1-esque tale about the dangers of fame.

The film's subject, Christian Hosoi, is a flamboyantly charismatic skateboarder who captures the energy and youth spirit of early professional skateboarding. We watch as Hosoi's style-driven aerial acrobatics, exhibitionism and campy, vibrant-colored clothing make him an overnight celebrity and fashion icon. Then, just as suddenly, trends change and Hosoi descends into the fathoms as he succumbs to a drug addiction. Years later, in jail and at rock bottom, he finds his salvation in religion.

Overall, Rising Son is a likable, television quality documentary about a youth celebrity's misadventure, steep fall from grace and sobering redemption. Disappointingly, it lacks the skillful organization and power of Stickler's film.

While "Stoked!" was a cogent biography of the fame-addicted Gator, 'Rising Son' is but a piecemeal collage of Hosoi, stapling together stock footage and repetitive sound bites from a hodge podge of interviews. Often, it's like a garage party of old skateboarders endlessly reminiscing about their Hosoi, the mythologized version that they like to remember. Nevertheless, it's still an interesting, highly watchable documentary - even if it's flank steak next to Stickler's sirloin.