This film is based on a documentary titled “Dogtown and Z-Boys” narrated by Sean Penn. My take is Skip (Heath Ledger) and his nurturing of local skaters, some of whom include skateboarding legend Stacey Peralta (best known for founding Powell-Peralta
This film is based on a documentary titled “Dogtown and Z-Boys” narrated by Sean Penn. My take is Skip (Heath Ledger) and his nurturing of local skaters, some of whom include skateboarding legend Stacey Peralta (best known for founding Powell-Peralta and discovering Tony Hawk). The film is a fictionalized take on the group of brilliant young skateboarders raised in the mean streets of Dogtown in Santa Monica, California. The Z-Boys, as they come to be known, perfect their craft in the empty swimming pools of unsuspecting suburban homeowners, pioneering a thrilling new sport and eventually moving into legend. All of what they did was true. They adapted the sport of surfing into a concrete craze that has turned into video games.
I know in the past I’ve expressed my love for Heath Ledger (“Dark Knight”), but this film is yet another facet of the father, human and actor that was taken from us far too young (age 28). I decided to cover this film after a fantastic documentary I watched about Ledger. Ledger did this movie after “Brokeback Mountain” and a role in an Australian independent film (at Lihu‘e Library) named “Candy” (STRONG parental warning). This movie was very risky for Ledger, because he was over-the-top famous, already being stalked by photographers, had a family and was now an Oscar nominee (“Brokeback Mountain”). After all his fame and success, Ledger continued to care about one thing — his work. In an industry that was bringing him all the awards most people seek out, he was still the same guy.
Skip (Ledger) on the surface is a simple character; you might watch the film and go “oh he’s just a surf shop guy that drinks beer.” However, Ledger plays a guy who is the exact opposite of who Ledger was off-screen, and Santa Monica has an air, vibe and style that is completely different then Australia. My friends from down-under are calm, collected and always friendly. The lovely beacfront city of Santa Monica along the coast of Los Angeles County is wonderful, but houses a lot of freeways, traffic and sometimes-snobby people. I use this in the context Ledger (Skip) embodied not only an American, but an American from a specific spot in California. I’m always amazed how Ledger could drop his extremely thick Australian accent in almost all of his American films. As I heard Ledger speak of how he approached acting in the documentary I watched, it is no surprise that he left us the work he did. He only cared about being that character. In his portrayal of Skip in this film, he is the long-haired, California pier dude we have all seen (if you’ve been to California). He absolutely nails the perfect mixture of a laid-back beach guy with a mission to make the kids’ careers take off. The character follows a similar path Ledger does. Skip only cares about the skating and the team. The passion Skip has for surfing and skating mirrors how Ledger felt for acting.
These days, from music to film to almost any industry; anyone would continue from unending accolades to a bigger paycheck and more high-profile work. Ledger actually went to smaller, riskier roles until he climaxed with his Oscar-winning portrayal of the Joker in “Dark Knight”. I watched in awe and respect of a guy who was living in apartments that ran him $25,000 a month and still simply cared for his craft. He acknowledged in many interviews that characters like Skip were where he felt the best: in front of the camera. Ledger has acted most of his life, so what he does looks easy; but is not. I can only imagine what would’ve come from this young guy who was born only 2 months younger then me.
Like great musicians, painters or even actors I didn’t truly appreciate Ledger until he was gone. Although Ledger is not the main (main) character he shines in an incredible supporting role. Also notable is Emile Hirsch who went on to fantastic performances in “Milk” as Cleve Jones (founder of the AIDS memorial Quilt) and “Into the Wild” directed by two-time Oscar winning actor Sean Penn. I believe Hirsch may’ve picked up where Ledger left off. Emile Hirsch is no doubt one of the great actors of the new generation. Wherever you are in the Heath Ledger world; seek out more of his work. Check this movie out to enjoy some awesome skating, land-mark filming of the skaters in empty swimming-pools and pay close attention to another gem in the jewelry box that Heath Ledger left us. He is someone I really admire as a human and would love to have met. His spirit shines in all that he did.
• Paul Booth is a film producer/director/historian and can be reached at pkb_1@ hotmail.com.
Year: 2005
Director: Catherine Hardwicke
Starring: Heath Ledger, Emile Hirsch
7 p.m., May 21 at the Library Conference Room
Courtesy of Janus Films (NYC)
Information: 241-3222
