The Movie
Coming-of-age dramas about lovable teen slackers can be a tough sell. Aiding Skateland greatly is a deep appreciation of the era in which it's set, packed front to back with countless touches that serve to create a welcome sense of verisimilitude. So right away we believe we are in Texas in the 1980s, following nice guy Ritchie (Shiloh Fernandez, the apparent lovechild of Daniel Radcliffe and Joaquin Phoenix) who works at the local roller rink of the title, a cultural Mecca past its prime.
Everything in Ritchie's life is changing. The rink is being sold. He's a gifted writer and college beckons. His parents are splitting up. His best bud's dream has just come to unceremonious end. The only good thing he has going for him is a budding romance with his lifelong pal (the doe-eyed Ashley Greene), who apparently has a thing for lovable teen slackers. It all comes to a boiling point one unfortunate night, a painful turning point that finally sets Ritchie in motion.
Co-writer/first-time director Anthony Burns also displays a strong ear for dialogue, even if his scenes go on a bit too long. He also skirts along the edge of cliché with the inclusion of conspicuous MTV promos and the endless teen parties, both accurate but we've seen them many times before.
The Picture
The 2.4:1 image, shot on 35mm film, displays a faint film grain, but more importantly it is frequently awash in the yellows and browns and amped-up pinks familiar to the era, with a slightly washed-out appearance to further evoke a sense of nostalgia. The single-layer disc mandates a bitrate often below 20-megabits-per-second, leading to noise on fine-ribbed clothing and elsewhere, and blacks that can be flat and lifeless.
The Sound
From the first seconds of Skatelend we are teased by the distant bass thumps of Lipps, Inc.'s "Funkytown," and then we enter the roller rink where the sounds of young revelry envelop us, but the feel of the song changes again as it continues in the quiet of a character's bedroom. The music is the true star of the DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack, with many familiar pop songs brilliantly, effortlessly remixed for 5.1 channels. Indoor and outdoor environmental audio is also smartly manipulated, with sufficient surround info to help sell every scene.
The Extras
We are given a glimpse at ten deleted scenes and alternate cuts and alternate takes by the actors, a generous 34 minutes total. They are presented chaptered, in standard definition, windowboxed on all four sides by a thick black frame. They're interesting, as deleted scenes usually are, but I'm happy to see them here and not in the final movie.
Final Thoughts
Anyone eager to relive their teens, specifically if yours took place in '80s, will surely enjoy Skateland. It looks like a 30-year-old movie would and the rockin' tunes further transport us to a uniquely American past.
Product Details
Where to Buy:
| Overall | |
|---|---|
| Video | |
| Audio | |
| Movie | |
| Extras |
