Finding a good dad by riding a big wave is the theme of “Chasing Mavericks,” a coming-of-ager based on the life of a North California surfer. After his military dad went AWOL seven years ago, fifteen-year-old Jay (Jonny Weston) grows up as the man of the house. He irons his mom’s outfits, and gets her out of bed and off to work on time. He looks up to his neighbor Frosty (Gerard Butler), a surfer and roofer and a father of two girls. Jay addresses him with “sir.” They start a twelve-week training regime, “Four Pillars of a Solid Human Foundation,” to prepare for the big wave season. Jay writes three-page, typed, single-spaced essays on observation and fear, and learns to hold his breath under water for four minutes. The screenplay by Kario Salem, with story credit to the team of Jim Meenaghan and Brandon Hooper (playing a surf magazine photographer), adds indifferent filler about a sweetheart, based on the one the real Jay did marry in 2000 and who collaborated with this production. Other disposable plot material involves Jay’s co-worker at a pizza joint and some mean delinquents who deal drugs and badmouth Jay. Co-directors Curtis Hanson and Michael Apted are earnest about life lessons, yet less eloquent than the surfers in the documentaries “Riding Giants” and “Step into Liquid.” With Elisabeth Shue, Abigail Spencer, Leven Rambin, Taylor Handley, Scott Eastwood. 105m. (Bill Stamets)
Ray Pride is Newcity’s Senior Editor and Film Critic. He is a contributing editor of Filmmaker magazine.
Ray’s history of Chicago Ghost Signs is planned for publication next year. Previews of the project are on Twitter and on Instagram. More photography on Instagram.
Heart: A Review of Soul The real world is soulful, too, in Pixar's bountiful life of the mind.
Seeing The Elephant: A Review Of Babylon The boisterous, brawling yet melancholy "Babylon," is a variation on film history, but more drawing for drama. It's gaudy and mean, celebratory and sorrowful.
Fine Line: A Review Of Shortcomings It's a season for the comeuppance of a curmudgeon in Randall Park's smart, biting "Shortcomings," adapted by Adrian Tomine from his graphic novel of the same name.
Finding a good dad by riding a big wave is the theme of “Chasing Mavericks,” a coming-of-ager based on the life of a North California surfer. After his military dad went AWOL seven years ago, fifteen-year-old Jay (Jonny Weston) grows up as the man of the house. He irons his mom’s outfits, and gets her out of bed and off to work on time. He looks up to his neighbor Frosty (Gerard Butler), a surfer and roofer and a father of two girls. Jay addresses him with “sir.” They start a twelve-week training regime, “Four Pillars of a Solid Human Foundation,” to prepare for the big wave season. Jay writes three-page, typed, single-spaced essays on observation and fear, and learns to hold his breath under water for four minutes. The screenplay by Kario Salem, with story credit to the team of Jim Meenaghan and Brandon Hooper (playing a surf magazine photographer), adds indifferent filler about a sweetheart, based on the one the real Jay did marry in 2000 and who collaborated with this production. Other disposable plot material involves Jay’s co-worker at a pizza joint and some mean delinquents who deal drugs and badmouth Jay. Co-directors Curtis Hanson and Michael Apted are earnest about life lessons, yet less eloquent than the surfers in the documentaries “Riding Giants” and “Step into Liquid.” With Elisabeth Shue, Abigail Spencer, Leven Rambin, Taylor Handley, Scott Eastwood. 105m. (Bill Stamets)
