Lords of Dogtown

Name: Lords of Dogtown
Genre: Biography, Drama, Sport
Released: June 3, 2005
Duration: 107 min
Rating: 56
Cast: Emile Hirsch, Heath Ledger, Johnny Knoxville, Victor Rasuk

2005

METASCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 35 Critics

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 54 Ratings

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7.8

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7.8	Your Score
7.8	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 54 Ratings

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LORDS OF DOGTOWN

Movie Details & Credits

Unrated

Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) | Release Date: June 3, 2005

Starring: Emile Hirsch, Heath Ledger, Johnny Knoxville, Victor Rasuk

Summary: From the dangerous waves off a long-forgotten pier to the concrete wasteland of a city slum, Lords of Dogtown brings to cinematic life the rebel beginnings of some unforgettable sports culture stars. (Sony)

Director: Catherine Hardwicke

Genre(s): Biography, Drama, Sport

Rating: Unrated

Runtime: 107 min

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Critic Reviews

100

Entertainment Weekly - Owen Gleiberman

Lords of Dogtown is a docudrama, rare in its grit and authenticity, that also strives for the mythical youth-rebel excitement of something like "8 Mile." Read full review

Portland Oregonian - Shawn Levy

Though the fiction doesn't quite equal the documentary in razzle-dazzle impact, it's a credible, handsome and engaging entertainment. Read full review

Rolling Stone - Peter Travers

Hardwicke whips up a frenzy of crazy-cool board action, with Alva choreographing the stunts. Even when the slippery-slope-of-success cliches halt the film's momentum, the ready-to-rock actors rev it up again. Read full review

Village Voice - Ed Halter

Hardwicke's pop-Cassavetes melodrama nevertheless rides as smoothly as a big-budget after-school special, capturing youth struggles from an appropriately blown-out teen's-eye perspective. Read full review

ReelViews - James Berardinelli

Inept storytelling is one of Lords of Dogtown's great frustrations. Read full review

Washington Post - Michael O'Sullivan

Lords of Dogtown isn't a cop-out, but rather an ever-so-slight concession to commercialism. Read full review

Washington Post - Ann Hornaday

Has all the energy and spontaneity of a bowl of waxed fruit. If watching "Dogtown and Z-Boys" was tantamount to witnessing history itself, watching "Lords of Dogtown," which Peralta wrote, feels more like watching a stiff, meticulously choreographed reenactment. Read full review

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User Reviews

SarahP.

Jul 29, 2006

it was amazing! i totally loved it!

0 of 0 users found this helpful

AmandaN.

Apr 30, 2006

This movie is great one of the best movies i have ever seen it is one of my favs. i'm sure going to own it soon, If u haven't seen it, Its a must see!

0 of 0 users found this helpful

Tss5078

Feb 22, 2013

Lords of Dogtown is a film about the legendary Z-Boys, who are credited with the creation of modern day skateboarding. The film chronicles the height of their success in the late 70's and their struggles in creating and rising to the top of a whole new industry. The story is terrific,Lords of Dogtown is a film about the legendary Z-Boys, who are credited with the creation of modern day skateboarding. The film chronicles the height of their success in the late 70's and their struggles in creating and rising to the top of a whole new industry. The story is terrific, written by one of the actual Z-Boys, but the way it was filmed was problematic. The beginning of the film is very choppy and confusing, honestly it's difficult to know who is who and what's going on until about the half way point of the film. The Z-Boys are the basis and stars of the film, but it's Heath Ledger who steals the show. He really had a gift for picking up on every mannerism and movement a person makes. People who know his character, Skip, say it's scary how much like him Ledger was. He was a truly gifted actor who would have been a legend. As for the film, it was interesting and a lot of information about a sport I always liked but never really thought much about. It's a bit confusing and shot in a weird style, but overall it really was pretty good.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

stanleyh.

Oct 27, 2005

Ok,could of been better.

0 of 0 users found this helpful

LowbrowCinema

Jun 9, 2015

LORDS OF DOGTOWN is like two movies in one. Sadly, one is by the book Hollywood melodrama of rise and fall. You've seen it a million times in mediocre music, film and theater tales. BUT, the second film is a gritty lovely celebration of skateboarding anchored by pretty amazing performancesLORDS OF DOGTOWN is like two movies in one. Sadly, one is by the book Hollywood melodrama of rise and fall. You've seen it a million times in mediocre music, film and theater tales. BUT, the second film is a gritty lovely celebration of skateboarding anchored by pretty amazing performances by Emile Hirsch and John Robinson who you just want to wrap your arms around and kiss. Finally caught up with this uneven work that may just haunt me in the future.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

YossA.

Oct 7, 2005

Pretty boring. I didn't find the characters or the story interesting at all. Even all the skateboarding didn't exactly thrill me.

0 of 0 users found this helpful

craigs.

Oct 3, 2005

The worst movie I've seen in years - terrible acting by e veryone - especially Ledger - what a joke he is - such hollow cartoony characters - surely the real people were'nt such losers. love the doco and the era -this sucks !

0 of 0 users found this helpful

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