...i'm pathologically unable to leave movies unfinished. the only saving point was the fashion statements - okay, and the skateboarding/camille's dynamic with the boys. but anything interesting in this film can be pared down to a 5-minute short. otherwise? no plot. which CAN be fine; in fact, i love slow burns, films portraying daily life in an interesting way; cf. Roma.
the glamour of "authentic NYC" is basically equated with "hooligans smoking weed who have inflated egos and a gigantic sense of forever-young syndrome." don't get me wrong: i love films with rebellious characters, views of subcultures in cities, or glimpses of kids in rough(er) neighbourhoods - but only when they are portrayed with richness or showcase complex issues (for instance, Detachment). but i couldn't get around how the characters in Skate Kitchen are so self-absorbed (not with themselves, but with their group). a documentary would have been so much better.
did i mention the script is (mostly) bland? some people are saying this is a film about growing up. it is not. it's a film about a few experiences and arguments among friends, namely the age old drama of who slept with whose boyfriend, how to be cool, etc. the not-fitting-in part is drastically underplayed and simplified.
here is a spoiler-free summary (in fact, how can you spoil a movie that isn't about anything): girl skateboards - cut to typical shot of NYC - cut to friends smoking weed - back to skateboards - rinse & repeat. lesson learned: i need to be more careful about netflix suggestions.
the glamour of "authentic NYC" is basically equated with "hooligans smoking weed who have inflated egos and a gigantic sense of forever-young syndrome." don't get me wrong: i love films with rebellious characters, views of subcultures in cities, or glimpses of kids in rough(er) neighbourhoods - but only when they are portrayed with richness or showcase complex issues (for instance, Detachment). but i couldn't get around how the characters in Skate Kitchen are so self-absorbed (not with themselves, but with their group). a documentary would have been so much better.
did i mention the script is (mostly) bland? some people are saying this is a film about growing up. it is not. it's a film about a few experiences and arguments among friends, namely the age old drama of who slept with whose boyfriend, how to be cool, etc. the not-fitting-in part is drastically underplayed and simplified.
here is a spoiler-free summary (in fact, how can you spoil a movie that isn't about anything): girl skateboards - cut to typical shot of NYC - cut to friends smoking weed - back to skateboards - rinse & repeat. lesson learned: i need to be more careful about netflix suggestions.