London Premiere - Closing Night Gala

Rotten Tomatoes' Editor's Choice

Short Synopsis

A teenage skateboarder's life begins to fray after he is involved in the accidental death of a security guard.

Review

Based on the novel by Blake Nelson, Gus Van Sant's latest film Paranoid Park continues in the same vein as previous titles Gerry, Elephant and Last Days.
The title of the film seems not only to refer to the place- a homemade boarding facility set up by Portland, Oregon skaters where the film was shot - but also to the state of mind of it's lead character.

Alex is completely numbed by his world: from his lack of prowess as a skateboarder, his limited sexual encounters and his divorcing parents, to, more pointedly, the accusation that he is involved in the murder of a security guard.

Stylishly shot by master cinematographer Christopher Doyle with super 8 skateboarding footage supplied by Kathy Li Rain and accompanied by an eclectic score featuring everything from rap through to classical while showcasing a cast assembled from MySpace, Paranoid Park seals Van Sant's status as one of our most influential indie auteurs. 

Suzanne Ballantyne