Paranoid Park (film)

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Paranoid Park

Theatrical release poster
Directed by Gus Van Sant
Produced by Charles Gilbert
Neil Kopp
Written by Blake Nelson (novel)
Gus Van Sant
Starring Gabe Nevins
Taylor Momsen
Scott Patrick Green
Cinematography Christopher Doyle
Editing by Gus Van Sant
Distributed by IFC Films
Release date(s) March 7, 2008
Running time 85 min.
Country France
USA
Language English
Budget $8 million
Official website
IMDb profile
This article is about the film. For the novel, see Paranoid Park (novel). For the park in Portland nicknamed Paranoid Park, see O'Bryant Square. For the skate park used in the film, see Burnside Skatepark.

Paranoid Park is a 2007 drama film directed by Gus Van Sant. The film is based on a novel by Blake Nelson, and takes place in Portland, Oregon, United States. The story revolves around a teenage skateboarder who accidentally kills a security guard. Paranoid Park premièred at the 2007 Cannes Film Festival as one of 22 films in the competition, and won the 60th anniversary prize.[1]

Contents

[edit] Plot

Alex (Gabe Nevins), a 16 year old skateboarder, rides a freight train clandestinely, together with a man named 'Scratch' whom he has just met at the Eastside Skate Park, known to the local skateboard community as 'Paranoid Park'. While the train is moving a security guard working at the rail yard notices the pair, chases after them, and tries to get them off by repeatedly hitting Alex with his flashlight. In the affray, Alex hits him with his skateboard and the guard falls onto another track into the path of a second, oncoming, freight train which cuts him in half.

Alex tries to destroy some of the evidence: he throws his skateboard into the Willamette River from the Steel Bridge, and when he arrives at his friend Jared's house he disposes of the clothes he had been wearing.

Some time later, while Alex is attending school, he and several other students who skateboard are called to the school office. There they are questioned by a police officer named Detective Liu. It is revealed that the police have recovered Alex's skateboard, though they have not traced it back to him, and have identified DNA evidence which places the skateboard at the scene of the security guard's death.

Throughout the film Alex keeps the incident to himself, and does not confide in anyone else. However, one of his friends, Macy, notices that he is worried about something. She advises him to write down whatever it is that's bothering him, for a cathartic release if nothing else. He is initially opposed to the idea, but eventually writes an account around which the story and its narration are based. After completing the written account, Alex burns it.

[edit] Cast

[edit] Critical reception

The film received favorable response from critics. As of March 16, 2008, the review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes reported that 76% of critics gave the film positive reviews, based on 95 reviews.[2] Metacritic reported the film had an average score of 83 out of 100, based on 27 reviews — indicating "universal acclaim."[3]

[edit] References

  1. ^ http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20070527/ennew_afp/entertainmentfilm_070527193318
  2. ^ Paranoid Park - Movie Reviews, Trailers, Pictures - Rotten Tomatoes. Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved on 2008-03-07.
  3. ^ Paranoid Park (2008): Reviews. Metacritic. Retrieved on 2008-03-07.

[edit] External links

v • d • e
Films by Gus Van Sant

Mala Noche • Drugstore Cowboy • My Own Private Idaho • Even Cowgirls Get the Blues • To Die For • Good Will Hunting • Psycho • Finding Forrester • Gerry • Elephant • Last Days • Paranoid Park • Milk
Shorts: The Discipline Of D.E. • Ken Death Gets Out Of Jail • My New Friend • Five Ways To Kill Yourself • Thanksgiving Prayer • Four Boys In A Volvo • Ballad Of The Skeletons • Paris, je t'aime (segment "Le Marais") • Chacun Son Cinéma