Wall

The acting is rather unspectacular - much like Soderbergh's Bubble - but there were some cinematic touches (like the throwback to early cinema with some of the grandiose musical accompaniments). It might be a style over substance level that this worked for me (great cinematography). What really brings it down a notch is the amateurish acting. Van Sant did some interesting stuff regardless that I commend! GRADE: B-

jeffreyreeser

6Dec11

leslie shatz is spelled wrong

Tigrane

1Nov11

Related films: "The Grinch". WTF?!!

Ellis Potter

14Sep11

Christopher Doyle has some great moments, the lead is fantastic and Gus Van Sant makes a film that is more understandable than his others if not to highlight the areas that we don't understand stronger. I liked it but I wanted to love it.

vellaem

14Sep11

Decent story, great cinematography, empathetic & probably real teens, though the film was somewhat marred by amateur acting from said teens.

ALICE X

31Aug11

A typical Van Sant's teenage character wrapped up in secrets. I like the editing, though. And Taylor Momsen?

drmishello

31Aug11

Nope, not good.

Joaopa

17Aug11

Shock, apprehension, doubt, avoidance of facts: it is very efficient the way Van Sant establishes a connection between the viewer and the character, because we know their dreams, their claims without a trial on the boy's attitude.

meancreek

2Aug11

Lived up to my expectations, and then some. Van Sant's film making abilities are pushed to the limit more and more with each project. Extraordinary.

Rashed

21Jun11

gus van sant has mid-life crisis, teenage boys look on, audience left bewildered and wondering why the box of popcorn is still filled to the brim

Derrick Sparrow

20Apr11

Awful, with the exception of the some super 8 skating footage that is truly sublime.

KadyLady

20Mar11

My first indie film that I dared to watched. This was what got me addicted to alternative culture.

Jye Sherwell likes this

mothfight

15Jan11

i wanted to be a teenage boy because of this one

Kim and 2 others like this

Kurt Walker, le tigre

Arisa

30Sep10

The only remotely satisfying scene in this movie is when we see what is actually haunting this kid. The rest of it is just kind of obnoxious.

Raymer

26Jul10

This would have been more interesting sans the skateboarding footage, and long musical interludes. I'm also giving the main kid the benefit of the doubt and assuming that he was trying to act as if he were emotionless and disaffected. Leagues above Elephant, but just not something I could get into wholeheartedly.

Joshua Dysart

14Jul10

Painful when there's dialog. Stunning when there's not.

honeybon

25Jun10

Left me pondering. . . but beautiful none the less.

Jason Miller

23May10

Like a youth Taxi Driver Christopher Doyle is my god

Erik Villasenor

23Mar10

when I see a gus van sant film I expect to see a collage of images, sound, styles, and music. And this is definitly the case in paranoid park. But for some reason this film is less organized and as a fault many sequences feel dull, irrelevant, crowded, and sloppy.

Mike Krumlauf

18Mar10

A beautiful art film that reaches the very core of the human spirit. Not to me missed, one of my all time favorite films!

Chelsea Richards

17Mar10

nope. another van sant flop. i simply dont get the allure. you aren't the best just cause you make pretentious movies. sorry, gus.

Jerry Johnson

5Mar10

Van Sant trades in the formal rigor and expressive body language of Elephant for pop psychology and Christopher Doyle. I found the few scenes of random high school life much more satisfying than anything related to the crime or the fetishism of skaters.

At.Michael's

24Feb10

Really enjoyed this. The mixed formats spoke miles on the emotion and internal terror. Such a great arch of actualization yet honest in letting things be the way they are.

abrahamgbj

18Feb10

loved it!

Addiena of Mubi land

12Feb10

The visuals&musics are great (Thats why I put one and a half star for it). Interesting plot it brought you. Although it has bloopers that is so obvious and apparently on one of most important scene, guess the rest is okay. okay, not good.

TCPopcorn

23Nov09

Van Zant's finest film, IMHO - Gabe Nevins is a real find and could become a major star if he chooses to continue acting. Absolutely love this film - winner of five of my Poppy year-end awards last year including Best Director, Best Cinematography, and Best Juvenile Performance.

Jye Sherwell

6Oct09

Gabe Nevins did a fantastic job in this film. I found the dialog extremely natural, convincing and really it all rang true with me. The story is good and Aussie DP Christopher Doyle did a superb job on the visual side. I loved the eclectic music too. Overall this is my favourite film from Van Sant plus one of my favourite films of all time.