Film Snail

Lords of Dogtown
Lords of Dogtown

7.1

Lords of Dogtown

PG-13·2005·107m

Summary

The radical true story behind three teenage surfers from Venice Beach, California, who took skateboarding to the extreme and changed the world of sports forever. Stacy Peralta, Tony Alva and Jay Adams are the Z-Boys, a bunch of nobodies until they create a new style of skateboarding that becomes a worldwide phenomenon. But when their hobby becomes a business, the success shreds their friendship.

Cast

John Robinson

John Robinson

Stacy

Emile Hirsch

Emile Hirsch

Jay

Rebecca De Mornay

Rebecca De Mornay

Philaine

William Mapother

William Mapother

Donnie

Julio Oscar Mechoso

Julio Oscar Mechoso

Mr. Alva

Victor Rasuk

Victor Rasuk

Tony

Nikki Reed

Nikki Reed

Kathy Alva

Heath Ledger

Heath Ledger

Skip

Vincent Laresca

Vincent Laresca

Chino

Brian Zarate

Montoya

Pablo Schreiber

Pablo Schreiber

Stecyk

Elden Henson

Elden Henson

Billy Z

Michael Angarano

Michael Angarano

Sid

Mitch Hedberg

Mitch Hedberg

Urethane Wheels Guy

Benjamin Nurick

Browser

Stephanie Limb

Peggy Oki

Mike Ogas

Bob Biniak

Cheyne Magnusson

Jim 'Red Dog' Muir

Don Nguyen

Shogo

Melonie Diaz

Melonie Diaz

Blanca

Mark Kubr

Mark Kubr

Donnie's Friend

Rene Rivera

Rene Rivera

Mr. Peralta (as René Rivera)

Chad Fernandez

Reef Ryan

Jim Muir

Security Guard (as Jim 'Red Dog' Muir)

Chris Chaput

Russ Howell

Matt Malloy

Matt Malloy

Contest Official

Jack Smith

Del Mar Announcer

Steve Badillo

Ty Page

Bill Cusack

Bill Cusack

Del Mar Judge

Kirk Ward

Kirk Ward

Bill Bahne

Eddie Cahill

Eddie Cahill

Larry Gordon

Laura Ramsey

Laura Ramsey

Gabrielle

Sarah Blakley-Cartwright

Vickie (as Sarah Blakely-Cartwright)

Bob Biniak

Restaurant Manager

Eric 'Tuma' Britton

Marty Grimes

Chuck 'Chaz' Hosack

Irate Husband (as Chuck Hosak)

Chelsea Hobbs

Chelsea Hobbs

Caroline

Reid Harper

Lookout Boy

Paulette Ivory

Magazine Reporter

America Ferrera

America Ferrera

Thunder Monkey

Sofía Vergara

Sofía Vergara

Amelia (as Sofia Vergara)

Johnny Knoxville

Johnny Knoxville

Topper Burks

Raphael Verela

Topper's Bodyguard

Jay Adams

Jay Adams

Party Guest

Ned Bellamy

Ned Bellamy

Peter Darling

Tony Alva

Tony Alva

Oregon Man at Party

Charles Napier

Charles Napier

Nudie

Joe Virzi

Joe Virzi

Capitola Race Starter

Skip Engblom

Seattle Race Starter

Stacy Peralta

Stacy Peralta

TV Director

Daniel Venegas

Daniel Venegas

Vato

Tony Hawk

Tony Hawk

Astronaut

Joel McHale

Joel McHale

TV Reporter

Bai Ling

Bai Ling

Punky Photographer

Shea Whigham

Shea Whigham

Drake Landon

Lucas Gasperik

Jay Clone

Ray Flores

Long Beach Announcer

Benjamin Anderson

Long Beach Judge

Alexis Arquette

Alexis Arquette

Tranny

Travis Peterson

Young Surfer

Rebeca Silva

Rebeca Silva

Sid's Nurse

Noah Abrams

Agent (uncredited)

William Alva

Stoned Surfer (uncredited)

Jeffrey G. Barnett

Val (uncredited)

Leslie Berger

Cashier (uncredited)

Jeremiah Bitsui

Jeremiah Bitsui

Cholo (uncredited)

David Burden

Magazine Photographer (uncredited)

Shelley Burkard

Topper's Girlfriend 2 (uncredited)

Arnold Chen

Magazine Photographer (uncredited)

Christopher Estes

G&S Team Skater (uncredited)

Alexander Garcia

Judge (uncredited)

Eric Gerleman

Restaurant Manager (uncredited)

Sean Goodman

Santa Cruz Team Rider (uncredited)

Mary Grace

Mary Grace

Hippie Girl (uncredited)

Julie Marie Hassett

Featured Pregnant Woman (uncredited)

Ricky Hausz

Party Friend (uncredited)

Noël John Howard

Infinity Skate Team (uncredited)

Emmanuel Howell

Skateboarder (uncredited)

Reef Karim

Dr. Angelo Gamboa (uncredited)

Joe Koons

Groupie #2 (uncredited)

Samantha Lockwood

Samantha Lockwood

Topper's Girlfriend 1 (uncredited)

Tia Marrie

Tia Marrie

Neighbor (uncredited)

Allie McCulloch

Allie McCulloch

Party Girl (uncredited)

Jason David McFadden

Pimp at Gas Station (uncredited)

Tim McIlrath

Singer (uncredited)

Dax McKeever

Security (uncredited)

DeWalt Mix

G&S Team Skater (uncredited)

Marat Oyvetsky

Punk Rocker (uncredited)

Tom Peha

Alva Skate Team (uncredited)

Camilla Rantsen

Camilla Rantsen

Lotje Alva (uncredited)

Jeremy Renner

Jeremy Renner

Jay Adams Manager (uncredited)

Robert Robbins

Surfer (uncredited)

Anthony Rodriguez

Gangster (uncredited)

Jane Schmidt

Del Mar Fan (uncredited)

Tony Shore

Skater (uncredited)

Gary Sievers

Gary Sievers

Unemployed Man (uncredited)

Victoria Spark

Nurse (uncredited)

Stan Strocher

Capitola Classic Fan (uncredited)

Bridgetta Tomarchio

Bridgetta Tomarchio

Party Girl (uncredited)

Frank J. Tsacrios

Judge (uncredited)

Stone Van Gorder

Judge (uncredited)

Gina Venditti

Gina Venditti

Surfer Girl (uncredited)

Tarita Virtue

Fan (uncredited)

Eric West

Eric West

James Smith (uncredited)

Katie Whicker

Topper's Lady (uncredited)

Crew

Director

Catherine Hardwicke

Writer

Stacy Peralta

Reviews

Wuchak

Wuchak

May 13, 2019

6

***The birth of skateboard culture***

In the mid-70s, the accomplishments of the innovative Zephyr skateboarding team of Venice, California, are dramatized based on events chronicled in skater Stacy Peralta’s documentary “Dogtown and Z-Boys” (2001). John Robinson plays Stacy, Emile Hirsch plays Jay and Victor Rasuk plays Tony (aka T.A.). Heath Ledger is on hand as Skip Zephyr while Rebecca De Mornay appears as one of the teens’ struggling mother.

While I suppose “Lords of Dogtown” (2005) is a sports flick, it’s just as much a coming-of-age movie detailing growing-up on the bad side of Venice, aka Dogtown, the birthplace of America’s skateboard culture, which influenced the world.

It reminded me of the dissolute environment depicted in “River’s Edge” (1986) with elements of Jim Morrison’s hedonistic misadventures from “The Doors” (1991), but combined with skateboard action, like skating in dry backyard pools and various competitions. It’s a good movie with slightly amped-up events (so what else is new?), but somewhat hampered by a curiously dismal air with occasional dialogues that don’t work. Maybe I found it slightly depressing because it reminded me of the glory & shame of my teen years. The 70’s soundtrack is great, however.

The film runs 1 hour, 47 minutes and was shot in the Los Angeles area, including Venice Beach, Imperial Beach and Santa Monica.

GRADE: B-

Media

Status:

Released

Original Language:

English

Budget:

$25,000,000.00

Revenue:

$13,411,957.00

Keywords

skateboarding
1970s
success
based on true story
venice beach, california
woman director