Stoked: The Rise and Fall of Gator (2002)

User Rating:

7.2/10   

Director:

Helen Stickler

Writer:

Helen Stickler (writer)

Release Date:

25 June 2004 (UK)

Genre:

Documentary | Sport

Plot:

A documentary exploring the rise and fall of 80s skateboard legend Mark "Gator" Rogowski.

Plot Keywords:

Skateboarding | Fame | Skateboard | Murder | California

Cast

Mark 'Gator' Rogowski	...	Himself
Tony Hawk	...	Himself
Jason Jessee	...	Himself
John Brinton Hogan	...	Himself
Steve Olson	...	Himself
Brandi McClain	...	Herself
Stacy Peralta	...	Himself
Lance Mountain	...	Himself
Steve Caballero	...	Himself
John Hogan	...	Himself
Kevin Staab	...	Himself
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Johann Benét	...	Himself
Michelle Chaves	...	Herself
Shepard Fairey	...	Himself
Eric Ian	...	(archive footage)
Harry Jumonji	...	Himself
Jason Lee	...	Himself
Carol Leggett	...	Herself
Kris Markovich	...	Himself
MoFo	...	Himself
Ken Park
Billy Smith	...	Himself
Tod Swank	...	Himself
Ed Templeton	...	Himself
Mike Vallely	...	Himself

Also Known As:

Stoked (USA) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated R for language and some sexual content.

Runtime:

82 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White | Color

Certification:

Australia:M | UK:15 | USA:R

Company:

HMS Projects

Quotes:

Mark 'Gator' Rogowski,: I am a skater. I live it, breathe it, I sleep with it.

Movie Connections:

References Skatevisions (1984) (V)

Soundtrack:

Accelerate

Brilliant. Everything a documentary should be...

This film NAILS it by juxtaposing the fast rise and rocky descent of 80's counter-culture commercialism with the tragic story of Gator and his victim. We get to know Gator as a wild punk, arrogant jock, immature romantic, and finally, a violent and dangerous man. He was made for stardom, but the path to skater stardom was even younger than its pioneers... he was the era's most notable fallen angel.

I haven't yet seen a more vivid reflection on the style and attitude of California in the 1980s. It's very easy to get lost in this one; it's a sad, enlightening, and socially significant piece of journalistic film-making. Kudos to the filmmakers.