Paranoid Park (2007)

Director:

Gus Van Sant

Writers (WGA):

Gus Van Sant (screenplay)
Blake Nelson (novel)

Release Date:

24 October 2007 (Belgium)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Mystery | Sport | Thriller

Plot:

A teenage skateboarder's life begins to fray after he is involved in the accidental death of a security guard.

Plot Keywords:

Skateboarder | Death | Security Guard | Accidental Death | Teenager

Awards:

4 wins & 4 nominations

Cast

Gabe Nevins	...	Alex
Daniel Liu	...	Detective Richard Lu (as Dan Liu)
Jake Miller	...	Jared
Taylor Momsen	...	Jennifer
Lauren McKinney	...	Macy
Scott Patrick Green	...	Scratch (as Scott Green)
John Michael Burrowes	...	Security Guard (as John 'Mike' Burrowes)
Grace Carter	...	Alex's Mom
Jay 'Smay' Williamson	...	Alex's Dad
Christopher Doyle	...	Uncle Tommy
Dillon Hines	...	Henry
Emma Nevins	...	Paisley
Brad Peterson	...	Jolt
Winfield Jackson	...	Christian (as Winfield Henry Jackson)
Joe Schweitzer	...	Paul
Oliver Garnier	...	Cal
Mubarak Ra'oof	...	Ryan
Eric Anderson	...	Other Kid #1
Jeremy Anderson	...	Other Kid #2
Addison Owen	...	Another Kid #1
Richard Miller	...	Detective #2
Emily Galash	...	Rachel
Esther Vaca	...	Elizabeth Goulet
Jordy Weimer	...	Elizabeth's Friend
Andres Alcala	...	Police Officer (as Andrés Alcalá)
Paul Dolbey	...	Police Officer #2
Susan Ploetz	...	Ms. Adams
M. Blash	...	Math Teacher (as M Blash)
John Pearson-Denning	...	Science Teacher
Chester Stallings	...	Skate Shop Employee
Nick Culbertson	...	Cafeteria Kid
Ken Boddie	...	News Anchor
Amanda Winkler	...	Café Girl
Ben Burrowes	...	Waiter
Chrissy Conant	...	Phone Operator (voice)
Sage Bolyard	...	Skateboarder
Chuck Willis	...	Skateboarder
Danny Minnick	...	Skateboarder
Francisco Pedrasa	...	Skateboarder (as Francisco Kico Pedrasa)
Tanner Kewley	...	Skateboarder
Adam Kiedrowski	...	Skateboarder
Bodhi Briggs	...	Skateboarder
Tristan Brillanceau-Lewis	...	Skateboarder
Kyle Davis	...	Skateboarder
Michael Davis	...	Skateboarder
Spencer Crimin	...	Skateboarder
LeShaun Williams	...	Skateboarder
Spencer Brillanceau-Lewis	...	Skateboarder
Diya Ra'oof	...	Skateboarder
Elbert Garner	...	Skateboarder
Kevin Nickoloff	...	Skateboarder
Rick Charnoski	...	Skateboarder
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Gus Van Sant	...	Guy reading newspaper (uncredited) (unconfirmed)

Directed by
Gus Van Sant

Writing credits (WGA)
Gus Van Sant		(screenplay)
Blake Nelson		(novel)

Produced by
David Allen Cress	....	producer (as David Cress)
Charles Gillibert	....	producer
Marin Karmitz	....	co-producer
Nathanaël Karmitz	....	producer
Neil Kopp	....	producer

Cinematography by
Christopher Doyle
Rain Li		(as Rain Kathy Li)

Film Editing by
Gus Van Sant

Casting by
Lana Veenker

Art Direction by
John Pearson-Denning

Set Decoration by
Sean Fong

Costume Design by
Chapin Simpson

Production Management
Brett Cranford	....	unit production manager
Claire Dornoy	....	administrative production manager
Mark Pedante	....	production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Kyle LeMire	....	second assistant director
Jonas Spaccarotelli	....	first assistant director

Art Department
Jenelle Giordano	....	set dresser
Adam Johnson	....	art department
Drew Pinniger	....	property master
Dan Schaefer	....	storyboard artist: previsualizations for special effects

Sound Department
Felix Andrew	....	sound mixer
Yannick Boulot	....	sound mix technician
Pascal Chauvin	....	foley artist
Vincent Cosson	....	sound re-recording mixer
Noah Davis	....	additional adr recordist
Philippe Dongé	....	sound mix technician
Eric Ferret	....	foley mixer
Johann Nallet	....	sound recordist
Francis Perrard	....	sound consultant: Dolby (as Francis Pereard)
Neil Riha	....	second sound mixer
Benjamin Rosier	....	assistant sound editor
Leslie Shatz	....	sound designer
Franck Tassel	....	foley artist

Special Effects by
Solomon Burbridge	....	special effects assistant

Visual Effects by
Shirak Agresta	....	digital compositor
Ray DiCarlo	....	visual effects executive producer (as Ray Di Carlo)
Tarn Fox	....	digital compositor
Jalal Jemison	....	digital effects artist
Brian Kinkley	....	digital compositor
Zach Lewis	....	visual effects coordinator
Tsui Ling Toomer	....	visual effects producer
Peter Vickery	....	digital compositor
Jon Weigand	....	visual effects editor
Chel White	....	visual effects supervisor

Camera and Electrical Department
Matt Barbee	....	first assistant camera
Chris Blauvelt	....	first assistant camera
Tyson Carpenter	....	additional electrician
Kyril Cvetkov	....	assistant camera
Paul Fanning	....	electrician
T.G. Firestone	....	assistant camera
Bruce 'Sarge' Fleskes	....	gaffer
Andrew Gallegos	....	electrician
Nate Goodman	....	camera loader
Scott Patrick Green	....	still photographer
Mike Hanauska	....	additional electrician (as Michael Hanauska)
Steve Hubert	....	additional electrician
Brent Lawson	....	best boy grip
Brian C. Lawson	....	grip
Bruce Lawson	....	key grip
Stephen MacDougall	....	second assistant camera
Matthew May	....	additional electrician
David McMurry	....	additional electrician
Eliza Plumlee	....	camera production assistant
Greg Schmitt	....	Steadicam operator
Joe Vitellaro	....	grip
Scott Walters	....	best boy electric

Casting Department
Sally Gates	....	extras casting
Eryn Goodman	....	casting assistant
Simon Max Hill	....	additional casting
Danny Stoltz	....	extras casting

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Amanda Needham	....	wardrobe supervisor

Editorial Department
Dicky Dahl	....	editorial assistant
Eric Hill	....	assistant editor
Mato	....	film color timer

Transportation Department
Victoria Mischa Austreng	....	driver
Steve Evans	....	driver
David Norris	....	transportation coordinator
Jason Ruffolo	....	driver

Other crew
George Adams	....	production assistant
Cora Benesh	....	office production assistant
Colin McDougall Brown	....	lead office production assistant
Sara Burton	....	location manager
Kari A. Coleman	....	assistant: Mr. Van Sant
Brett Cranford	....	production accountant
Morgan Currie	....	assistant: Mr. Cress and Mr. Kopp
Shayna Goldstein	....	set teacher
Amber Harrison	....	production assistant
Nicole Hawkins	....	extras coordinator
Andrea Hofer	....	craft service assistant
Devan Linforth	....	additional production assistant
Rachel Lipsey	....	craft service
Chip Mefford	....	technical/safety advisor
Tyler J. Peterson	....	product placement
Davis Priestley	....	production coordinator
Yona Prost	....	production assistant
Eric Rae	....	assistant accountant
Lance Rosen	....	legal representative
Joe Rynearson	....	key set production assistant
Patrick Sandefur	....	production assistant
Brian Shotzbarger	....	production assistant
Amy Teitter	....	production assistant
Derek Wilson	....	production assistant

Thanks
Edouard Dubois	....	thanks

Production Companies

• MK2 Productions
• Meno Films
• Centre National de la Cinématographie (CNC) (participation)

Distributors

• A-Film Distribution (2008) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Alfa Films (2008) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Asociace Ceských Filmových Klubu (ACFK) (2008) (Czech Republic) (theatrical) (subtitled)
• Atalanta Filmes (2007) (Portugal) (theatrical)
• Cinéart (2007) (Belgium) (theatrical)
• Cinéart (2007) (Luxembourg) (theatrical)
• FSK Kino & Peripher Filmverleih GmbH (2008) (Germany) (theatrical) (subtitled)
• IFC Films (2007) (USA) (theatrical)
• IFC First Take (2007) (USA) (theatrical)
• Kino Swiat (2007) (Poland) (theatrical)
• Lucky Red (2007) (Italy) (theatrical)
• MK2 Diffusion (2007) (France) (theatrical)
• Madman Entertainment (2007) (Australia) (theatrical)
• Monopole (2007) (Switzerland) (theatrical)
• NonStop Entertainment (2007) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• Palador Pictures (2007) (India) (theatrical)
• PiX (2008) (Japan) (theatrical)
• Premium Film (2007) (Russia) (theatrical)
• Skouras Films (2007) (Greece) (theatrical)
• Sponge (2007) (South Korea) (theatrical)
• Tartan Films (2007) (UK) (theatrical)
• Tokyo Theaters Company (2007) (Japan) (theatrical)
• Tour de Force (2008) (Norway) (theatrical)
• Vértigo Films (2007) (Spain) (theatrical)
• A-Film Home Entertainment (2008) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Barbar Film (2007) (Turkey) (all media)
• MK2 Productions
• Orlando Films (2007) (Israel) (all media)
• Sandrew Metronome Distribution (2008) (Finland) (DVD)
• Transeuropa Video Entertainment (TVE) (2008) (Argentina) (DVD)

Special Effects

• Bent Image Lab (visual effects)
• T&T Optical Effects Company (digital film recording)

Other Companies

• Dolby Laboratories  sound mix
• Post Production Services  negative cutting
• Soundtrack  trailer

MPAA:

Rated R for some disturbing images, language and sexual content.

Runtime:

85 min

Country:

France | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Canada:14A | USA:R | Switzerland:12 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:12 (canton of Vaud) | South Korea:15 | Taiwan:R-12 (original rating) | UK:15 | Ireland:15A | Sweden:15 | Netherlands:12 | Japan:PG-12 | Norway:11 | Brazil:12 | Portugal:M/16 | Finland:K-13 | Australia:M | Argentina:13 | Austria:16 | New Zealand:R16 | Czech Republic:12 | Peru:14 | Norway:15 (DVD rating) | Singapore:NC-16 | Germany:16 (TV rating) | Italy:T

Filming Locations:

Burnside Skatepark, Portland, Oregon, USA

Company:

MK2 Productions

Trivia:

Chosen by "Les Cahiers du cinéma" (France) as one of the 10 best pictures of 2007 (#01)

Goofs:

Continuity: When Alex walks home after writing "Paranoid Park" in his notebook, the notebook disappears (in the shot from behind) and then reappears.

Quotes:

Jared: Dude, we should go check out Paranoid Park.
Alex: Dude, I don't think I'm ready for Paranoid Park.
Jared: Yeah, but no one's ever really ready for Paranoid Park.

Movie Connections:

References Frankenstein (1931)

Soundtrack:

Outlaw

What you feel is what you get

Van Sant's "Paranoid Park" could be described easily as nothing more than putting Dostoevsky's "Crime and Punishment" into motion. Of course the background is different as we're having the moral struggle put in youth and skate environment. As the plot twists, the director focuses on the realism of the main character's's struggle. This is why the movie definitely scores as 9 out of 10. Not because of the 'moral message' which was the main 'goal' of Dostoevsky's book, but he uses all of available artistic and directing methods to picture something that is not distant for the viewer. It is more like picturing the struggles that recently became part of human nature.

Main character, although he's a teenager, is already wasted and is having enough of his life. Sick and tired, doesn't give much attention about his girlfriend, sexual initiation, family and friends as the 'higher levels' of morality and humanity became his main issues after his accident.

I think that the movie should be considered more as a inner mirror of struggles and hard issues that became a part of our everyday life. Gus Van Sant pictured it perfectly. 9/10. Nothing else to add.