GOOCHONLINE - Since 1999

Went and saw Dog Town and Z-Boys tonight. Great documentary on the birth of what is now considered one facet of "extreme" sports. Before modern skateboarding earned its share of airtime on ESPN2, it was developed by a group of kids from a rough neighborhood in Los Angeles in the 1970s. Narrated by Sean Penn, "Dog Town" takes what is really a sprawling, massive story and encapsulates it into a linear narrative that leaves the viewer satisfied, but wanting more. This is not the fault of Stacy Peralta, the film's director who himself was one of the original Z-Boys. Rather, he skilfully took one line of the story and stuck to it the way a film student would in order to get an 'A'. It is through this discipline, Peralta's background, and producer Craig Stecyk's historical footage that makes this film possible. Without this combination, we'd have to wait for EXPN to tell the story in a five minute music video. The one downside to the film: Penn's uninspired, monotone narration. Tonight was the last night for Dog Town and Z-Boys to play in Portland, check the website for the schedule.