Wassup Rockers (2005)

[picklemonkey]

Photographer and filmmaker Larry Clark offers another look at the inner workings of urban youth culture in this comedy drama. Jonathan (Jonathan Velasquez) is a teenaged El Salvadorian refugee living in a primarily Mexican-American and African-American neighborhood in South Central Los Angeles. Jonathan and a handful of fellow Salvadorian ?migr?s who are his best friends stand out like sore thumbs on the block, due less to their national origin than because they've rejected the hip-hop music and fashion around them in favor of old-school punk, as favored by the Ramones and latter-day Latino bands such as Suicidal Tendencies. Jonathan and his pals Kiko (Francisco Pedrasa), Eddie (Eddie Velasquez), Porky (Usvaldo Panameno), and Spermball (Milton Velasquez) have a group of their own, and Jonathan, a sweet but streetwise kid who has a way with the girls, is the lead singer. Like all good punk rockers, Jonathan and his bandmates are seriously into skateboarding, and one day they hop several busses and make a pilgrimage to a legendary skate spot in Beverly Hills. If the kids felt like outsiders in South Central, they soon discover they're unwelcome outcasts in the moneyed L.A. suburbs; before long they're on the run from cops as well as Anglo skaters, and even Jonathan's chance assignation with a neighborhood sexpot leads to no small share of drama. Wassup Rockers received its world premiere at the 2005 Toronto Film Festival. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

caught this Larry Clark film a bit ago. Made by the same guy who made Kids, Bully, and Ken Park, but this one isn't chocked full of shock-value scenes as the rest of them. also from what I can tell it's based on a true story, and most of the main characters are the real kids from real life. great movie. recommended if you guys like any of his other work. 4.5 pickles

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0413466/

[palmer]

Re: Wassup Rockers (2005)

Have had it in my netflix queue for a bit now, sounds pretty good.

[AntonyM]

Re: Wassup Rockers (2005)

Ya not as shocking
but more fun
in that reflective sort of how
punk rock was fun as a kid in the early eighties
kind of way, especially how that vibe is contrasted
to contemporary society in the film
worth checking out.

[Weizy]

Re: Wassup Rockers (2005)

just saw this one recently. not my favorite larry clark film but it was intelligent as ever. it made some social statements but also carried uncomfortable sexuality with these kids. i enjoyed it especially janice dickinson getting fried in the hot tub...never saw that one coming.