Combined with slow motion shots of skateboarders dancing gracefully in the air, paranoid park is visually and sonically arresting. Thus, the movie pulls away from making any statement one way or another about the social and psychological, much less the moral and spiritual, problems affecting its main character. Paranoid park was both written and directed by gus van sant, of good will hunting, finding forrester, and elephant. The main character is immediately engaging, and his voice is authentic. Most of the characters were pretty thinly drawn, but the voice of the main character feels unusually realistic and genuine. When they are discovered by a security guard, an unfortunate accident causes the horrific death of the guard. An improvement on last days which began atmospherically but forgot about plot development. Van sants paranoid park could be described easily as nothing more than putting dostoevskys crime and punishment into motion. Even if the movies lowkey modesty will keep many people from considering it among the greatest of van sant s films, it might very well be his most. Not really a story a skateboarding story, paranoid park is more a physiological thriller, wherein the characters involved happen to be skaters. In blake nelsons new novel, paranoid park, the reader enters the dark side of the skate park world along with the main character, who happens to be one of the preps. The character of macy, who serves a couple of key purposes in the story. A my taubin, in a recent article in artforum, was absolutely correct in her comparison of alex gabe nevins, the protagonist of paranoid park, to the subject of correggios portrait of a young man.
Paranoid park is right up with the best of gus van sants movies and is especially appreciable in bluray format. Please note that before writing this guide i did not know much at all about this subject. Its also the title of gus van sants most recent film, a haunting, voluptuously beautiful portrait of a. Feb 08, 2008 an unsolved murder at portlands infamous paranoid park brings detectives to a local high school, propelling a young skater into a moral odyssey where he must not only deal with the pain and. While dealing with the separation process of his parents and the sexual heat of his virgin girlfriend jennifer, alex writes his last experiences in paranoid park with his new acquaintances and how the guard was. Alex gabe nevins is a withdrawn 16yearold boy who has recently discovered. Its the story of a teenage skateboarder played by gabe nevins set against the backdrop of a police investigation into a mysterious death van sant wrote the draft script in two days after reading and deciding. Apr 17, 2017 include the main plot, the central themes and events, the time frame and location and the list of characters. With gabe nevins, daniel liu, taylor momsen, jake miller. The films aesthetic surface is the pure vessel of transport to its deepest meaningthe.
It made me sad to know that i wont get to see more about paranoid park, but what i like is not only about southpark i honestly love your idea and your art style. But hopefully where the two differ is that the main character of paranoid park, alex, accidentally killed a security guard at. So i hope you could put link to your new coming original story when you start a new blog. Paranoid park is a quiet film full of subtle but important moments of character development that are intensely moving thanks to the unobtrusively beautiful camerawork and the naturalistic acting. Its the story of a teenage skateboarder played by gabe nevins set against the backdrop of a police investigation into a mysterious death van sant wrote the draft script in two days after reading and deciding to adapt. Paranoid park is a really quick read that can be finished in a couple of hours, but it still manages to pack a punch and make you think about how a single bad choice can destroy everything in a matter of minutes. Closeups have the ability to make us feel as though we are experiencing everything through the point of view of the character. Slideshare uses cookies to improve functionality and performance, and to provide you with relevant advertising. Mar 02, 2012 paranoid park 2007 the whole shower scene was shot in slowmotion and in closeup. Forest rain and bird chirps in paranoid park cinema shock.
Jul 22, 2019 most of the characters were pretty thinly drawn, but the voice of the main character feels unusually realistic and genuine. The film, however, is not about the skateboarding subculture but about one boys interior journey and his interactions with his inner and outer demons. Much of the plot concerns the character struggling to cope with what he has done while also trying to avoid being caught. Of course the background is different as were having the moral struggle put in youth and skate environment. Taylor momsen was a professional actor beforehand and received the paranoid park script through her agent. While dealing with the separation process of his parents and the sexual heat of his virgin girlfriend jennifer, alex writes his last experiences in paranoid park with his new acquaintances and how the guard was killed, trying to relieve his feeling of guilty from his conscience. The book paranoid park was written by the novelist blake nelson. This book was released in 2008 and published by puffin. When watching, gus van sants paranoid park viewers are introduced to a male character name alex who is struggling to find positive influences during his journey of adolescence. Blake nelson has published many books like girl, rock star super star, exile, gender bender, and many. Alex relates the circumstances of the storys main incident in a monotone. The story takes place in oregon state, part of the united states of america. Confused, fearful, and evasive, the teen wanders the streets of portland as his life takes a turn for the worse in director gus van sants screen adaptation of author blake nelsons grim comingofage tome. He didnt mean to kill the security guard with his skateboard it was.
Van sant s lowkey, experimental highschool drama is an affecting ritesofpassage tale, told with. Nevins, a firsttime actor, portrays a character whose interests are. The narrator, who is the main character, is 16 years old and a fascinated skater. The main character, played by gabe nevins, just turned sixteen years old. In blake nelsons new novel, paranoid park, the reader enters the dark side of the skate park world along with the main character, who happens to be one of. Even if the movies lowkey modesty will keep many people from considering it among the greatest of van sants films, it might very well be his most representative. Insert sporadic jailbait to keep creepy men interested. Paranoid park might be on my list of alltime favorite reads. An unsolved murder at portlands infamous paranoid park brings detectives to a local high school, propelling a young skater into a moral. Mar 07, 2008 paranoid park is a swooping skateboarding free zone where young men learn to fly. Paranoid park is a dark and intense psychological thriller of a novel that puts a normal teen in a very difficult situation. Obviously, its a difficult emotional jump from a portland coffee shop to a battlescarred baghdad, and the world is indeed too big a place for an ignorant kid to have to incorporate that kind of h. Alex nevins takes us on a journey through the last few days of his life, using his pencil and note pad.
Paranoid park 2007 the whole shower scene was shot in slowmotion and in closeup. A 16yearold skateboarder who tries to fit in with the skater crowd accidentally kills a security guard while trying to board a train. This realistic and heartfelt tale is full of raw emotion and tough ethical questions that nelson explores flawlessly and without judgment. In blake nelsons novel, paranoid park, a 16yearold skateboarder is implicated when a transit cop is killed at the local skate park, and withdraws into silence as. Paranoid park is a 2007 drama film written and directed by gus van sant. The film is currently set to arrive in theaters on march 7th. Written as a confessional letter, it starts after a fateful night at a portland, oregon skatepark known as paranoid park. Van sants 5 step process in creating paranoid park. Theres a very famous skate park in the city he inhabits. Essentially, paranoid park is an experiment in narrative, two separate but intertwined films that represent a struggle between two opposing narrative strains. Obviously, its a difficult emotional jump from a portland coffee shop to a battlescarred baghdad, and the world is indeed too big a place for an ignorant kid to have to incorporate that kind of. It also describes the confused conscience of alex gabe nevins, the emotionally isolated teenager who narrates the movie and who actually sounds like a teenager while doing it. A teenage skateboarder has a runin with a security guard that results in the mans death. The title of gus van sants paranoid park refers to a rough skateboard park underneath a bridge in portland, oregon a place where, they say, dead bodies are buried beneath the contoured cement.
That means, we can get inside their head and experience what they are experiencing. Mar 01, 2011 paranoid park might be on my list of alltime favorite reads. Nevins was cast in the lead role, which he says was based on his innocence that van sant believed trained actors. The protagonist of paranoid park is a 16yearold skateboarder who really does. A teenage skateboarders life begins to fray after he is involved in the accidental death of a security guard. Review of paranoid park 2007 by patrick b cinafilm. Much of the plot concerns the character struggling to cope with what he has. The young skater is the main character of the story.
If you continue browsing the site, you agree to the use of cookies on this website. One evening, he decides to go to the paranoid park with his best friend jared, but jared wants to see his girlfriend so he doesnt go with him. If you dare visit paranoid park in portland, oregon, you will find the streeters and the preps. Alex, a teenaged skateboarder, is interviewed by detective richard lu about the death of a security guard severed by a train who was apparently hit by a skateboard. While visiting the park, the main character is dared to jump a train car with one of the streeters. Insert random, boring, pointless montages of skateboarders. Mar 07, 2008 blake nelson grew up in portland, oregon and much like the main character of gus van sants latest film, paranoid park, of which nelson wrote the source novel, he spent most of his teenage years skateboarding and performing in various bands. Paranoid park is a relatively uninteresting drama made with the care and skill of a great director, which ultimately makes it wellmade from a technical standpoint, but not exactly easy to enjoy. Mar, 2008 the title of gus van sants paranoid park refers to a rough skateboard park underneath a bridge in portland, oregon a place where, they say, dead bodies are buried beneath the contoured cement. Include the main plot, the central themes and events, the time frame and location and the list of characters. There might be some trigger warnings ahead so caution to all. While dealing with the separation process of his parents and the sexual heat of his virgin girlfriend jennifer, alex writes his last experiences in paranoid park with his new acquaintances and how the guard was killed, trying to.
Its the story of a teenage skateboarder played by gabe nevins set against the backdrop of a police investigation into a mysterious death. Main page contents featured content current events random article. The guide includes definitions, causes, symptoms, possible. A young skaterboygabe nevins tries to deal with the consequences of killing a security guard. I love everything about it including the grain of the small gauge film stock and the very carefully crafted surround soundscape, but especially the acting which is 100% convincing and theres a good reason for that watch the extra features. Paranoid park 2006 is a young adult novel by blake nelson. It also describes the confused conscience of alex gabe nevins, the emotionally isolated teenager who narrates the movie and who actually sounds like a. The film is based on the novel of the same name by blake nelson and takes place in portland, oregon. Advise main character to act as little as possible. We often abhor anything that looks lit it looks like a movie is our most negative response. No strong moral points are made about the throwaway kids in its story. Paranoid park is the nickname for an old skate park being used by the less desirable streeters. This is a book with power to grab the reader and keep them glued to the story without a single break.
As the plot twists, the director focuses on the realism of the main character ss struggle. I do not pretend to be the authority on this, and it has been requested twice that i make an attempt to write about this subject. As a result, major, specific spoilers for both versions abound, often. Alex never gets to confess his crime to anyone, and nothing really changes, but he finds a friend in macy and starts to develop feelings for her. This memorable line of dialogue, rich with narrative metaphor, spoke double for me. But hopefully where the two differ is that the main character of paranoid park, alex.
Based on a young adult novel by blake nelson, the title of gus van sants paranoid park refers to a skateboarding park in portland, ore. No ones ever really ready for paranoid park, says a friend to alex, the main character of gus van sants quiet film, paranoid park. He must also come to terms with other teenage issues, such as girlfriends, parents and wanting to fit in. I really enjoyed how the music was in the foreground for these shots, and such a significant part of the film. Advise all the other actors to act as horribly as they have it in them.
Oct 20, 2007 essentially, paranoid park is an experiment in narrative, two separate but intertwined films that represent a struggle between two opposing narrative strains. Paranoid park is a swooping skateboarding free zone where young men learn to fly. The iraq war comes up in conversation more than once in paranoid park, as an abstract illustration of the type of pain and guilt disconnected masses should be feeling. The comparison is purely aesthetic, but then again, so is much of paranoids substance. Gabe nevins alex, dan liu detective richard lu, jake miller jared, taylor momsen jennifer, lauren mckinney macy and olivier.
The main character is face with numerous pubescent issues such as peer pressure, sexuality, alcohol abuse, authoritative figures and maturity. Overall, paranoid park is sometimes involving, but ultimately unsuccessful. Its also the title of gus van sants most recent film, a. It also has masterful cinematography from christopher doyle with sequences shot in 35mm and others with a super8 camera to convey a feeling of unrehearsed naturalism. How to play a character with paranoia or schizophrenia. Because of this, paranoid park definitely had an avantgarde feel to it, but not so much as to detract from the plot or the actors at all. Writers utilize a variety of narrative styles to enhance and create a paranoid mood or environment. The grisly death of a security guard in the vicinity of paranoid park, portlands toughest homegrown skate venue, makes high school sophomore alex gabe nevins a person of interest to homicide detectives.
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