Comments on: Paranoid Park

By: christian

christian — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 05:03:11 +0000

I really enjoyed this, especially seeing it in Portland. He gets how youth do not speak, and I loved the skateboarding visuals and music. Plus he used Rota’s infectious “Juliet of the Spirits” theme.

By: Sam Juliano

Sam Juliano — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 13:13:59 +0000

I have “acquired that taste” Phillip!

I still feel ELEPHANT was his greatest film, with PRIVATE IDAHO and DRUGSTORE COWBOY next, but PARANOID PARK is one that will resonate with repeat viewings.

Superb review in every way. Great use of that passage from “The Body.”

By: Nick Plowman

Nick Plowman — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 14:29:37 +0000

I am seeing this tonight, I hope it is good.

By: Daniel

Daniel — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 00:56:20 +0000

Well, I don’t know, I guess that crux that you identify seems pretty simple to draw out as the plot of any given movie, but Van Sant filled PP with so much audiovisual noise that I found myself distracted more than engrossed. It’s probably a matter of taste, and I admit I wasn’t willing to be as patient as I was for Gerry.

By: Phillip Johnston

Phillip Johnston — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 12:46:32 +0000

Indeed. However, if it doesn’t go much further than that, I don’t know if Van Sant had to use the artistic methods he did in order to make the point.

Hmmmm. Why not?

By: Daniel

Daniel — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 03:35:11 +0000

“his voiceover feels very flat, much like he is reading a math textbook.”

Haha, that’s so accurate.

“The crux of Paranoid Park is the weighty burden of keeping things inside for lack of meaningful connection with other people.”

Indeed. However, if it doesn’t go much further than that, I don’t know if Van Sant had to use the artistic methods he did in order to make the point.

By: Evan Derrick

Evan Derrick — Sun, 09 Mar 2008 03:13:47 +0000

Excellent review, Phillip. I always find Gus Van Sant to be an inconsistent director – some of his films are wonderful, others not so much.