Paranoid Park

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Paranoid Park

R,

2008,

1h 24m,

Drama

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Watchlist

76%

121 Reviews

Tomatometer

65%

10,000+ Ratings

Popcornmeter

76%

Tomatometer

121 Reviews

65%

Popcornmeter

10,000+ Ratings

As teenage skateboarder Alex (Gabe Nevins) hops freight trains with a stranger named Scratch (Daniel Liu), a security guard spots them and tries to forcibly remove them. In the scuffle, Alex strikes the guard with his skateboard, knocking him in the direction of another train, which kills him. Alex tosses his board into the river, but soon he and other skaters are called in for questioning by Detective Lu about a recovered skateboard that has been linked to the scene of the crime.

Critics Consensus

Director Gus Van Sant once again superbly captures the ins and outs of teenage life in Paranoid Park, a quietly devastating portrait of a young man living with guilt and anxiety.

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Alissa Wilkinson

Paste Magazine

Oct 18, 2008

In the hands of cinematographic mastermind Christopher Doyle, teenage spats, telephone calls and coasting skateboarders are infused with lyricism and dreaminess.

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Marc Savlov

Austin Chronicle

Oct 18, 2008

4/5

It's breathtaking, heartbreaking, tragic, gorgeous, and true all at the same time.

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V.A. Musetto

New York Post

Jul 16, 2008

3.5/4

[An] intriguing, mind-altering skateboard elegy.

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David Lamble

Bay Area Reporter

Jun 18, 2020

Van Sant retains the lovely insider's perspective of floating on the surface of an alien if familiar-looking planet, courtesy of one-time Wong Kar Wai cinematographer Christopher Doyle.

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Ellie Lucas

From the Front Row

Jul 6, 2019

3.5/4

Captures the essence of high school life better than most teen movies could ever dream.

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Kaleem Aftab

The List

Nov 3, 2018

4/5

This is easily Van Sant's most satisfying film of his recent youth alienation pictures.

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Kylo R

Sep 22, 2018

One of gus van sants better films of the 2000s

Rey G

Feb 10, 2018

We get it, Gus, you're an artist. Paranoid Park is a would be fascinating, mainstream short film stretched to a tedious 80 minutes thanks to tired arthouse tactics. Director Gus Van Sant lazily executes his pretentious afterschool special of a screenplay with his updated signature, post Good Will Hunting, quasi cinema verite style. I haven't seen Van Sant's 2003's Elephant because I'm not excited to, Paranoid Park on the other hand, I was genuinely intrigued by. Something about a teen murder thriller surrounding Portland's notorious Paranoid Park, an underground skate park/misfit paradise/cultural phenomenon more than deserving of its own film. Unfortunately, that film is Paranoid Park, a movie that explores very little with a structure that is cryptic for the sake of high art and a pace so slow it will have you bored of boards long before the end credits. Also, I know this is an indie and the budget only allows for so much, but Van Sant cheaply reuses his pal Elliot Smith (RIP)'s "Angeles" in the soundtrack when that song will always be synonymous with Good Will Hunting. I know it seems like a relatively minor gripe in the grand scheme of things but it really isn't. As someone who appreciates the importance of sound in cinema, I thought it was a careless decision that annoyed the hell out of me.

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Theodore L

Feb 2, 2016

A psychologic movie that marks you forever

Harry W

Aug 12, 2015

F 8.3 [Gus Van Sant]

Albus P

Sep 16, 2013

Paranoid Park is a great drama about adolescence and living with guilt. After accidentally killing a security guard at a rail yard, Alex is stricken is guilt that is slowly eating him alive. Throughout the film, he slowly tells us his story while also taking the time to explore is everyday life, going to high school, dating, dealing with divorced parents, and skating (Paranoid Park is the name of an underground skate park in the film, as well as representing Alex's mind). It's a somber film and not an easy viewing, but Paranoid Park is nonetheless a superb drama that cuts deep into the soul of its troubled character and the viewer. If you're up for a good drama, Paranoid Park is a great place to look.

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Gus Van Sant

Director

Gabe Nevins

Alex

Taylor Momsen

Jennifer

Jake Miller

Jared

Lauren McKinney

Macy

Daniel Liu

Detective Richard Lu

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Synopsis

As teenage skateboarder Alex (Gabe Nevins) hops freight trains with a stranger named Scratch (Daniel Liu), a security guard spots them and tries to forcibly remove them. In the scuffle, Alex strikes the guard with his skateboard, knocking him in the direction of another train, which kills him. Alex tosses his board into the river, but soon he and other skaters are called in for questioning by Detective Lu about a recovered skateboard that has been linked to the scene of the crime.

Director: Gus Van Sant
Producer: Neil Kopp, David Allen Cress
Screenwriter: Gus Van Sant
Distributor: IFC Films
Rating: R (Some Disturbing Images|Sexual Content|Language)
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Mar 7, 2008, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 13, 2017
Box Office (Gross USA): $486.0K
Runtime: 1h 24m
Sound Mix: Dolby

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