Paranoid Park

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

The Pros: Gus Van Sant's new film is a fine example of great filmmaking. He meditates upon every image, giving us time to take it in and pair our emotions with what we see. The result is a heavily psychological film that succeeds in a very deep way without having to use many words at all. The music is eclectic and surprising, and compliments each shot fascinatingly. The use of young and unknown actors also allows us to step into his world with a more curious mind.

The Cons: Unfortunately, the use of young and unknown actors also creates some moments, although rare, that seem unauthentic and a bit shallow. There are certain points at which the flow of the film is broken for a short while as a result of an actor trying too hard.

The Bottom Line: This is one of Gus Van Sant's best films, lulling you into his cinematographical poetry by utilizing a stimulating soundtrack and wonderful camera techniques. The magic is sometimes broken, however, when one of Van Sant's young actors doesn't produce the emotion required for a specific scene. This, however, is not a frequent occurrance and shouldn't deter anyone from seeing this film. I'll be getting it on DVD as soon as it is released.

The Score: 8.5 / 10