Wassup Rockers
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DVD Cover Information
Actor: Eddie Velasquez, Francisco Pedrasa, Jonathan Velasquez, Milton Velasquez, Yunior Usualdo PanamenoBrand: First Look Pictures
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Subtitled); Spanish (Subtitled); English (Original Language); Spanish (Original Language)
Format: Color, DVD, NTSC, Subtitled, Widescreen
Picture Format: 1.33:1
Running Time: 111 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2006-11-21
Audience Rating: R (Restricted)
Studio: First Look Pictures
Movie Reviews of Wassup Rockers
Movie Review: Anothing fine film from Larry Clark
Summary: 5 Stars
This movie is different than previous Clark efforts, mainly in that it's tame enough for an R rating. There's no on-screen sex, nor adolescent nudity, and the profanity is nothing out of the ordinary. I'm saying this up front because if one surveys, say, rottentomatoes.com reviews, you would think Clark is nothing short of a felon! Idiotic mainstream reviewers continue to misrepresent Clark's work through their own inability to understand subtlety and their blindness to artistic intent. What would these reviewers think of Sally Mann who regularly photographs nude children? Would these critics call her a pedophile? Do they care that she photographs only her own children? Can they understand her reason for doing so? It's interesting how otherwise average reviewers become high-handed moralists when the discussion turns to Larry Clark.
The film is an interesting look at a group of skaters as they find themselves in Beverly Hills and struggle to return to South Central LA (home). Amusingly, Clark comments that his inspiration was none other than "The Warriors", a cult film where gangs rule the streets and the titular gang must return home venturing through enemy territory. The enemy gangs are replaced with a colorful range of Beverly Hills types. All this unfolds with unexpected results.
Clark is best when focusing on teenagers talking with the sort of brutal honesty that cannot be scripted or staged. He follows the Italian neo-realist tradition of putting non-actors in front of the camera and letting them be themselves. Zavattini, Rosselini, De Sica, and others understood the power of this and so does Clark. That is not to say that this is a study of the daily minutia of a group of poverty stricken teens. Clark inserts occasional fantastic elements, nothing entirely implausible, but certainly atypical for a 24 hour time span.
Some reviewers (elsewhere) indicate that the film is tedious and boring. These reviewers should stick to the latest Die Hard flick. If they want obvious action, there's plenty to be had in mainstream Hollywood - why go to the trouble of calling a thoughtful, deliberately paced, introspective film "tiresome"? I like action movies as much as anyone, but I'm also fine with a film that lets us stare into the lives of others in an unhurried manner.
Clark is an artist - his artistic intent is obvious here and elsewhere. This is an art film and should be judged accordingly. I urge you to ignore mainstream critics. Unfortunately, they have no frame of reference for cinema working on a different level.
Now, just because it's an art film and it's slow-moving doesn't mean that it's not also entertaining. Some parts are thoughtful, some parts are funny, others are exciting and suspenseful. There's a lot going on here and it's definitely worth checking out. I would recommend reading a little bit about Larry Clark before watching if you're new to his work. It's helpful to see what he's about before jumping in - context is always valuable. Wassup Rockers is at least worth a rent if you're unsure.
And by the way - the film looks amazing. The colors and compositions are stunning.
Summary of Wassup Rockers
WASSUP ROCKERS - DVD MovieAwkward title aside, Wassup Rockers is Larry Clark on good vibes. For his fifth feature, the photographer-turned-filmmaker turns his lens towards a close-knit band of Latino teens. They dress like the Ramones (long hair, tight jeans) and crank out a brand of hardcore that suggests early Suicidal Tendencies--mostly, they live to surf the sidewalks of LA. The central rocker is 15-year-old Jonathan (Jonathan Velasquez, rough but charming). He's joined by Milton, Kico, Eddie, Porky, Louie, and Carlos (like Velasquez, all non-professionals). As unlikely as it may sound, the storyline parallels The Swimmer and The Warriors in that their goal is to get from one end of town to the other, i.e. from Beverly Hills to South Central. (The obstacles have changed, but the objective remains the same.) Critics have painted Wassup Rockers as lighter than previous Clark pictures, and they?ve got a point, but it's a relative term. The movie does, after all, open with a murder, and the MPAA slapped it with an R for pervasive language and sexual content. Well, he may not come from their world, but Clark couldn't be more sympathetic towards his protagonists. If anything, he's too hard on the Caucasian characters, many of whom are fairly reprehensible--one of the film's major missteps. Of course, there are also a few obligatory shots of bare-chested boys (a Clark trademark), but his gaze is less voyeuristic than before. For the most part, Wassup Rockers is as exhilarating and, yes, life affirming as cinema can get. --Kathleen C. Fennessy
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