Lords of Dogtown (2005)

Rating:	★★★★
Category:	Movies
Genre:	Drama

The movie “Lords of Dogtown” gives us an inside look to the early days of the phenomenon that is skateboarding as well as the people who were a part of it. The film is not exactly the typical based-on-a-true-story type where the main characters are all portrayed as good-hearted people who think everything is possible for them. It is a coming-of-age story containing real characters with real depth and emotion.

Despite being a period movie, it doesn’t make itself look like one so it’s easier for younger viewers to appreciate the film as it is. However, “Lords of Dogtown” makes use of different filming styles, most especially with scenes that involves skateboarding and surfing. Some scenes were shot as if they were taken from an old 1970’s home video camera while there those that are taken from a camera’s point of view from a rolling skateboard, something that is commonly seen on televised skating competitions such as the X-Games.
Such a way of using two vastly different styles of shooting such scenes seems to mesh perfectly as it sort of balanced out the story.
The color effects give out a cooling mood when watching the movie. Despite being set at a sunny happy California location, the cinematography shows it as bluish and moody. These traits are found to be very complimentary with the kind of storytelling the movie is presenting to the audience: dark yet refreshing, light yet effective.

Music is a central part of the film as they give a representation of the different moods and mindsets of the characters in the movie. The movie don’t seem to rely much on music played during the 1970’s but their choice of alternative/pop-rock songs seems well-fit to the over-all premise of the movie. Many of the songs featured have this certain feel-good vibe, being played whenever the movie is showing the lighter moments of the characters, shown to be at the peak of their youth, where their friendship is at their strongest, and careless innocence remaining intact.

Even as the film came to a close, it left with a positive feel good song continuing to play at the closing seconds of the final scene. Never was there a “sunken feeling” even if not all of the characters were given happy endings, there is always the implication with the way the movie ended that life continues on with these characters as off-screen, they continue to face challenges and triumphs in their lives.

The people behind Lords of Dogtown succeeded on doing a new contemporary take on doing a 1970’s period movie. Never does it feel in its entirety as such nor does it try to be one. The movie succeeded on making a story that took place more than 30 years ago fresh and accessible for many to enjoy watching.