Paranoid Park (2007)
Genre: Drama
Duration: 85 minuten
Country:
United States / France
Directed by: Gus Van Sant
Stars: Gabe Nevins, Daniel Liu and Taylor Momsen
IMDb score:
6,6 (32.838)
Releasedate: 12 July 2007
This movie is not available on US streaming services.
Paranoid Park plot
"Could you hide a deadly secret?"
16-year-old skater Alex is questioned by Detective Richard Lu about the death of a railway security officer. With his parents' divorce and the sexual pressures of his girlfriend Jennifer, he already has enough to worry about. He decides to put his thoughts and recent events on paper.
Actors and actresses
Alex
Detective Richard Liu
Jared
Jennifer
Macy
Scratch
Security Guard
Alex's Mom
Alex's Dad
Uncle Tommy
Reviews & comments
Black Math
-
- 5430 messages
- 1753 votes
Special film by Van Sant again. So Doyle is behind the camera and is doing more than fine. Dreamy, almost poetic images. It's nice how the skateboard scenes are often filmed with a lot of grit. Nice the moment when you see several skaters successively flying through the image. The camera did feel less free compared to Elephant.
But especially the combination with the soundtrack is particularly strong in this film. The music is very diverse, from ambient to Beethoven (Ninth Symphony) to punk. Occasionally also music that evokes the atmosphere of an old fair, very strange, but very interesting.
A number of successive scenes that together form a highlight of the film: the train incident, visually not very special, but the combination with Beethoven works very strongly here, followed by a shot of the bridge accompanied by lightning sounds, where the image is very nice flickers, then you see the main character walking while hearing all his thoughts beautifully chaotic, and finally the shower scene, where you literally hear the desperation. Very strong.
Characters only manage to appeal moderately, although the world of experience is clearly conveyed: Girlfriend who lives in her own world and does not realize at all that something is going on with her boyfriend (nice that dump scene where you don't hear anything from the dialogue, while it is so clear to see what is happening), while the other girlfriend clearly has less blinders on.
In the end, the characters and their worries pretty much pass me by, and above all an impression of an audiovisually beautiful film is left behind. 4*.
Translated from Dutch · View original
leatherhead
-
- 3556 messages
- 1813 votes
Nice video.
I'm far from a fan of that whole skater culture, but luckily Van Sant is doing something special with it. At times very similar to Elephant, because here too Van Sant regularly uses dreamy, elongated shots. Some may find it boring, but I certainly enjoy it. It creates a nice surreal atmosphere.
Music/soundtrack is generally also strong, although I did not find some individual songs too well chosen. Fortunately, in other scenes, that is completely made up for by means of beautiful, atmospheric ambient songs, and strong sound design. The beginning scene is beautifully surreal, but the highlight is the shower scene as far as I'm concerned. Captivating, and very handsome.
Anyway, good movie. It doesn't get really impressive anywhere, and it lacks the impact that, for example, an Elephant had, but definitely worth seeing. A big 3.5* for now.
Translated from Dutch · View original
Fisico
-
- 10039 messages
- 5398 votes
I wouldn't spontaneously place Gus Van Sant in my top list of directors, but actually this director suits me with his authentic touch that he gives to his films. He still manages to give each of his films a certain style or to address a subject around a certain character or theme.
Here he highlights the skater world as background. Dreamy images often also with a blurred background. He immerses you in this world, but then again not quite as was the case in Mid90s (Film, 2018). It is more background and atmospheric. Rather, the focus is on Alex, who struggles with his conscience after a tragic event.
The viewer is taken with the character Alex with flashbacks and forwards. Some scenes are reviewed twice. I found it quite enjoyable to follow, both technically and plot wise. The scene where his sweetheart was dumped was also strong because it was soundless. Yet you know perfectly what it is all about. The soundtrack is playful, but fits within the environment of the young people. The ending is open and you don't know where it will end. In itself I usually find this fine, here I found it rather unfinished. The film also ends abruptly, perhaps also because of my hunger.
Translated from Dutch · View original
Corporate & Media
Realtimes Network
Innovatieweg 20C
7007 CD, Doetinchem, Netherlands
+31(315)-764002
