Paranoid Park (2007)

User Rating:

6.9/10   

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
Pascal Chauvin	....	foley artist
Vincent Cosson	....	sound re-recording mixer
Noah Davis	....	additional adr recordist
Philippe Dongé	....	sound mix technician
Johann Nallet	....	sound recordist
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
Tarn Fox	....	digital compositor
Jalal Jemison	....	digital effects artist
Brian Kinkley	....	digital compositor
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
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
Brent Lawson	....	best boy grip
Brian C. Lawson	....	grip
Bruce Lawson	....	key grip
Stephen MacDougall	....	second assistant camera
Eliza Plumlee	....	camera production assistant
Greg Schmitt	....	Steadicam operator
Joe Vitellaro	....	grip
Scott Walters	....	best boy electric

Casting Department
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
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
Eric Rae	....	assistant accountant
Lance Rosen	....	legal representative
Joe Rynearson	....	key set production assistant
Patrick Sandefur	....	production assistant
Brian Shotzbarger	....	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)

Other Companies

• Dolby Laboratories  sound mix
• 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 Vaud) | Switzerland:12 (canton of Geneva) | 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:

Director Cameo: [Gus Van Sant]Makes an appearance in the coffee shop scene, reading a newspaper.

Goofs:

Continuity: After Alex killed the man he had blood on his shirt. But from where? The blood couldn't be of the victim because Alex stood high on a train when he killed the man.

Quotes:

Alex: I just feel like there's something outside of normal life. Outside of teachers, breakups, girlfriends. Like, right out there, like outside - there's like different levels of... stuff.

Movie Connections:

References Frankenstein (1931)

Soundtrack:

Angeles

skateboarder by way of Camus's the Stranger (in mood if not in total story likeness)

Gus Van Sant's latest films have been some of the most idiosyncratic not just of his career but of independent film in America since 2000. He's jumped ship, momentarily, from the Hollywood machine (To Die For, Good Will Hunting, Finding Forrester) and made films like Gerry, Elephant and Last Days as sort of poetic essays on film (yes, very pretentious, but they are poetic at least). His latest, Paranoid Park, at least could be called as something more of a story-driven narrative than any of the others, but it's still with a lyrical beat, driven by a mix-and-match of 8mm skateboarding footage and the malaise of a teen caught in that very recognizable, almost atypical state of mind at that age. Only here, it's probably more of a quiet, detached malaise that has within it a soul that is being sort of killed away piece by piece by the secret he holds.

The teen is Alex (first timer Gabe Nevins), who was mostly responsible for the (very) grisly death of a security guard while he and a not-quite acquaintance from Paranoid Park's skating scene were riding carelessly along a slow-moving train. He shut it out of his mind, or tried to, until a police officer examining the case brought in photos of the deceased in a Q & A with all of the skaters at high school. This, pretty much, is the bedrock of the story, but aside from this it's the 'something' that is the story. The rest of the film shows this kid in a state of peril, but not of the sort that makes us think this is an immediate existential crisis. He feigns interest in a girlfriend (ditzy Jennifer played by Taylor Momsen), hangs out with his skater friends like Jared (also first-timer Jake Miller), and writes in a journal with a narration that's a mix of detached Travis Bickle and, well, awkward teen.

What interested me was a mood I found Van Sant, intentionally or otherwise, was working with. I kept thinking back to a work like Camus's the Stranger, which had its 'hero' Mersault as a figure who wasn't exactly passionate and just a few heart beats above dead fish. There's something in this kids eyes, in his lack of reaction and in those long moments right after the train track scene as he is under the shower faucet in slow-motion. Actually, there's a lot of slow-motion, sometimes of walking, or ruminating, and as it builds with the narration and the mix of stark and experimental cinematography from the great Christopher Doyle (great at, you know, these kinds of art-house films), as part of Van Sant's method of character study.

Alex's inability to connect, with friends, parents, authority figures, even his own impulse to release his inner thoughts, however brief and to the point ("I'm not much of a creative writer," Alex admits), is what is meant to absorb the viewer into Paranoid Park. For Van Sant, no matter what the excesses of the light touches of music (mostly from Nino Rota and Elliot Smith), or the slow-motion skateboarding (which I could go either way on as a casual admirer of the sport), or the bits that seem to have not much to do with anything aside from following a character in the midst of some thought (i.e. Alex on an escalator), it works as a feat of art for expressing its character, in the relatively short running time, like no other filmmaker would. It's somewhat challenging, but one that's worth taking for glimpses into a state of mind akin to the sobering existential and, more startling, the lack-of-coming-of-age to the character. 8.5/10