Skateland

"Skateland" epitomizes what a SXSW film should be, great film made by a Texan director in Texas. The premiere was very fun because not only was the cast there (which included the very talented Ashley Greene) but the families of those involved were there to. So, when a random name would pop up in the opening credits you would sometimes hear a small group let out a burst of applause and yelps. It felt like you were at more than a movie, you felt like you were very big event in people’s lives. So, along with that great experience, "Skateland" was an excellent movie. To describe this movie in the simplest way possible, I would have to say that "Skateland" was everything "Adventureland" was supposed to be (heck it even had a girl from Twilight). It is a superb coming of age tale set in the back drop of the 1980's Texas. The film is easily goes from heart breaking to painfully funny, illustrating the complexity of young adulthood. I do not want to go in depth into the plot because I do not want to spoil this film for anyone. But it is about a smart early twenties guy who is struggling on whether or not to go to college, has a friend who just came back after being a bike race, has a complicated relationship with the bike racer's sister, and whose parents are going through a divorce. There are various other story lines that are occurring, but that is the main surface of the film. This film richly shows the growth of its main characters and does what all great dramas do to their audiences; it makes the audience care about the characters. The Surprise of the film for me was Ashley Greene of Twilight fame, she had a very subtle performance, but by the end of the film you cannot forget her, she is a young woman with a very fragile exterior but reveals a woman of great resolve by the movies end. I truly hope he appears in other films (keyword films, not Twilight), because she could be an acceptable leading lady in the future. There is another unforgettable performance by a character in a moustache, I cannot recall the actors name but when the movie is done you will remember every single one of his hilarious lines.
I am truly hoping this film gets the wide release that it deserves, but it seems unlikely without a big star. Hopefully it will find a home on DVD.