Paranoid Park (R)
Poetic, disturbing story of lonely teen skater.
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- Studio: IFC First Take
- Directed By: Gus Van Sant
- Cast: Gabe Nevins, Daniel Liu, Taylor Momsen
- Running Time: 85 minutes
- Release Date: 3/7/2008
- Video/DVD Release Date: 10/6/2008
- Genre: Drama
- MPAA Rating: R
- MPAA Explanation: some disturbing images, language and sexual content.
Parents need to know
Families can talk about how the movie portrays teen life (and, specifically, skaters). Do you think it's accurate? Teens: Do you ever feel like Alex? How does the movie convey what he's feeling and thinking? Families can also discuss how to handle a scary and/or overwhelming situation, in which you feel responsible but fear consequences. Who can you go to for help?
Message
Social Behavior:
Following an accidental death, the teen boy responsible struggles with guilt and not being caught; skater kids are mildly disrespectful to a teacher and a detective; high school kids have (protected) sex; parents are distracted.
Consumerism:
Mentions of Rite Aid and Frappuccinos. Band T-shirts.
Drugs/Alcohol/Tobacco:
Boys discuss beer and carry bottles as they walk.
Violence
The story centers on an accidental murder that's shown near the end in graphic images (a boy slams a security guard running after a train with his skateboard, the man falls under an oncoming train on parallel tracks and is cut in half, and his top half crawls toward the boy). At another point, the boy sees a photo of the man's legs and leaves the room to throw up. The boy hides his bloody shirt.
Sex
Teen boys discuss sex: A girlfriend is a virgin and pressures a boy to "do it," a boy offers a "hottie" as collateral when he borrows someone's skateboard, and the teens talk about buying "more condoms" after their first sexual activity. The single actual sex scene is very blurry and close up; a girl's naked torso is visible (but blurry). You also see her back as she puts on her bra, and her thong is visible from the back as she stands.
Language
A couple of uses of "f--k," plus "s--t" and derogatory uses of "fag" and "fat lard."
Common Sense says
What's the story?
Reviewed by Cynthia Fuchs
Is it any good?
Based on Blake Nelson's young adult novel, the movie realizes Alex's desperate, poetic point of view in layers. His halting voiceover, as if he's reading his journal entries, works well with the film's uneven editing and skips back and forth in time. And his view, so limited and naive, shapes the appearances of both adults and his friends. When he speaks with his father, who's moving his things out, the camera keeps so tight on Alex's face that his dad remains nearly unrecognizable in the background. With nowhere to turn, Alex tries confessing without confessing, sharing a vague story of guilt with a friend. When she suggests that "getting it out" is enough, whether or not anyone else hears it, he silently takes her advice, even as the film leaves the impact of that choice open.
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