Lords of Dogtown

Locations
Call Number: DVD Drama Lords
On Shelf At: Downtown Library, Westgate Branch

Inspired by a true story.
Special features: branching featurettes; director and cast commentary; multiple featurettes.
Emile Hirsch, Victor Rasuk, John Robinson, Michael Angarano, Nikki Reed, Rebecca DeMornay, Heath Ledger, Johnny Knoxville, Vincent Laresca, Julio Oscar Mechoso.
Based on the true story of the legendary Z-Boys, this film is a fictionalized take on a brilliant group of young skateboarders who perfect their craft in the empty swimming pools of unsuspecting suburban homeowners, pioneering a thrilling new sport.
DVD, region 1, widescreen (1.85:1) presentation; Dolby Digital 5.1.

COMMUNITY REVIEWS

Pleasant Surprise submitted by breaking_glass on August 3, 2010, 2:04pm I really loved this film! Lords of Dogtown is the dramatic retelling of the Z-Boys' story, previously covered in the 2001 documentary film "Dogtown And Z-Boys", which the library also owns. Local surfers turn to skateboarding in empty pools when there's a drought in Southern California in 1975, and a local surf/skate shop owner (Heath Ledger) forms a skateboarding team (the Z-Boys) with local kids. The kids each have their own story, many coming from rough upbringings and complicated home lives. It's interesting as you watch the kids grow up and change as the story progresses - each one on a different path.

The film has a really nice look to it, with a great soundtrack, mostly 70s rock. Also, Heath Ledger's performance is a-ma-zing. After seeing this, it really hit me that Ledger's death in 2008 was all too soon, and we've definitely lost someone special. Lastly and not least, the skateboarding/surfing action is pretty fun to watch. You feel like you're right there with them!