Paranoid Park

Paranoid Park (2007)
Seen on DVD 25th July 2008

Dir - Gus Van Sant
Written - Gus Van Sant / Blake Nelson

Based on a novel by Blake Nelson.


I LOVE Gus Van Sant. His movies always look absolutely beautiful. I have been interested in him ever since i saw "Elephant" (2003) and Paranoid Park definitely lives up to the expectations. It possibly out-does them.

STORY: 6/7 - (no-one's ever really ready for paranoid park)
Alex (talented newcomer Gabe Nevins) is your average young kid. Has good friends, a girlfriend and loves skating. The thing is, he accidently cause the grisly death of a security guard. The movie starts with Alex writing in a journal, telling the story of what happened as he slowly pieces it together in his mind. You will eventually see every part of the story, some aspects re-told a few times as they gain greater meaning.

ACTING: 6/7
I think that Van Sant's choice to use unknowns / first timers in his movies is GREAT! The subject matter that he deals with best is the uneasiness of ebing a teenager, and nothing can tell that more clearly than an uneasy teenager. Gabe Nevins blew me away in this role!!

*Gabe Nevins



CINEMATOGPRAHY / VISUAL EFFECTS: 7/7 - (Skating)
As i said earlier, Van Sant films always look spectacular! Cinematography was by Christopher Doyle, who worked with Van Sant on "Psycho." (1998) The whole movie has a nice slow-moving feel, with some really interesting skate scenes.

*the look of Paranoid Park


SCORE / SOUND: 6/7 - (Elliot Smith)
Lots of lovely acoustic-sounding alternative tracks used to soundtrack as well as some nice soothing classical pieces. Elliot Smith, who is brilliant, appears on the soundtrack multiple times!

SONGS: N/A



OVERALL: 6/7
("I'm not much of a creative writer")


Interesting facts -
- The teenagers in the film were all cast through myspace.