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Shiloh Fernandez, Ashley Greene, Heath Freeman, Taylor Handley, A.J. Buckley ... see more see more... , Haley Ramm , Brett Cullen , Melinda McGraw , Ellen Hollman , James LeGros , Casey LaBow , D.W. Moffett , David Sullivan , Joshua Bridgewater , Kent Jude Bernard , Cameron Pierce , James Hebert , Ross Francis , Caleb Michaelson

Skateland,set against the landscape of upstart malls, Jordache jeans and iconic hang outs,is as much a story about embracing who you are as it is about moving on. The personal drama marks the poignant... read more read more... transition of a group of high school friends into adulthood. Set in the early 1980s, in small town Texas, it is genuine, touching and candid snapshot of the lives of a close-knit group of friends who are confronted with the realities of the precarious world around them. The film revolves around a charismatic young skating rink manager named Ritchie Wheeler (Shiloh Fernandez), brother and sister Brent and Michelle Burkham (Heath Freeman, Ashley Greene) and the legendary, wise-cracking, Kenny Crawford (Taylor Handley) as their dreams and carefree lives start to fade into an uncertain future. -- (C) Freestyle Releasing

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38% liked it

7,024 ratings

Critics

40% liked it

25 critics

PG-13, 1 hr. 38 min.

Directed by: Anthony Burns

Release Date: May 13, 2011

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DVD Release Date: August 30, 2011

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Stats: 154 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (154)

  • LWOODS04
    November 30, 2011
    LWOODS04
    Cast: Ashley Greene, Shiloh Fernandez, Casey LaBow, James LeGros, Haley Ramm, Brett Cullen, Taylor Handley, A.J. Buckley, D.W. Moffett

    Director: Anthony Burns

    Summary: Director Anthony Burns and screenwriter brothers Heath and Brandon Freeman tell the story of 19-year-old... read more Ritchie Wheeler (Shiloh Fernandez), who finds his life at a crossroads when the Texas roller rink where he works is forced to shut its doors. Set in the early 1980s, this is a coming-of-age tale in which the hapless but hopeful protagonist must contend with his parents' divorce, shifting friendships and making choices on the path to adulthood.

    My Thoughts: "I actually really enjoyed this movie. It had the essence of one of my favorite films, 'Dazed and Confused'. I especially got that feeling from Taylor Handley who plays Kenny Crawford. He reminded me of a younger version of Matthew McConaughey. The southern drawl and all. I love the setting of the film. I am a big fan of the 80's and it's films. The movie has a great sound track to boot. The acting is also strong. The film really captures life in the 80's. In those year's the popular hangout was a skating rink. But the closing of it isn't really the main focus the summary leads you to believe it is. It mostly stands for an ending for a new beginning for the character Ritchie Wheeler. It's a great small independent film that in the end doesn't really exceed in delivering the depth it probably intended for. I could have also done with more character development. But as it is, I did enjoy it and would watch it again."
  • itsjustme2004
    November 4, 2011
    itsjustme2004
    They had me at "Electric Avenue" :).....Wonderful little movie set in an era that I loved. Fantastic ending, ta boot. Kudos!
  • xXGiNoBiLiPRXx
    October 28, 2011
    xXGiNoBiLiPRXx
    It was a time when life was easy...in a place they thought would never change.

    Good Film. Not exactly what I expected but didn't fail for me. That was a nice era to live in, I love the music and how people used to have fun in there lives. Nice story about love, endings, tragedy... read more, beginnings and everything in between.

    An iconic tribute to a culture, place and state of mind that defined small town America in the early 80s. It is a universal moment in time, when everything you know to be true starts fading. The story is personal, yet familiar, set against a visually arresting landscape of music and vistas of Americana.
  • stevenecarrier
    August 31, 2011
    stevenecarrier
    There is nothing new in "Skateland"- both in the film and in the characters lives. What I liked most about this sweetly nostalgic film is that it meanders into territory (emotional or physical) that is determined solely by the characters. These are people dealing with ennui and d... read moreisaffection and co-writer/director Anthony Burns organically incorporates this. Though this can be murder on the films structure, the emotional payoff in the conclusion seems worth it. The performances are a bit rocky because the films tone can be bipolar, which seems to throw the actors off. But Shiloh Fernandez and Ashley Greene form a chemistry that seems real and honest. Fernandez is interesting because he plays Ritchie like an honest, truthful young man. I liked seeing Ritchie actually striving for family connection; it's an interesting change for the presented themes. "Skateland" will certainly draw comparisons to "Dazed and Confused" and "Adventureland" (with a dash of "Somewhere" thrown in) but don't write it off completely because there are some really great individual parts to this film- they just unfortunately don't congeal like they should.
  • fb1144932598
    October 30, 2011
    fb1144932598
    A great little film, starring a bunch of actors this viewer didn't recognize, set in a small East Texas town in the 80's. A young man with little ambition deals with several life traumas and is forced to decide what he really wants from life. The first two-thirds of the film drif... read morets about rather aimlessly, but serves to set up the much more intense third act. A lot of tender moments, some interesting editing choices and a very natural sounding script, born out of some improvisation, combined to make this quite watchable. Of particular interest was Ashley Greene, as Michelle, the best friend's sister and gal pal to the main character, Ritchie (Shiloh Fernandez). A rather pleasant way to spend a little over an hour and a half.
  • fb25827189
    October 6, 2011
    fb25827189
    The film moves at an odd pace but the content more then makes up for any issues with the movies timing. Very emotional and John Hughes-like take on a group of friends who are facing some major life changes during a crazy Summer in 1980's Texas.
    You'll either get the movie or you... read more won't get the movie. But I will say that it captures the craziness and reality of what it is like for kids who are about to graduate High School or are unsure of the future, and in that aspect this movie is really good.
  • dreaminginstereo
    January 22, 2012
    dreaminginstereo
    I liked the concept of this movie, but it was overall very boring and bland. It a few good moments.
  • dukeakasmudge
    December 22, 2011
    dukeakasmudge
    Skateland started off flat & just stayed there from beginning to end.At times it was downright boring & I can't figure out why I watched the whole thing when there was an off button on the remote.Maybe I was thinking something exciting would happen & the movie would get better af... read moreter a certain point but it never does.Skateland is a movie that's not worth watching unless you can watch it for free
  • HeroPK
    December 21, 2011
    HeroPK
    The backdrop of Skateland might be its best atribute. Its a young adult story of a period in the transition into adulthood. Imagine "Dazed and Confused" bu turning the dial from comedy to a drama. Not the greatest movie but much better than the critics think.
  • iguana1bug
    October 20, 2011
    iguana1bug
    You can tell this story was written from a good place, but it would have been a GREAT movie if they had actually written a story around it instead of just basically a bunch of random events that leads to an ending.

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Critic Reviews

Bill Goodykoontz
June 16, 2011
Bill Goodykoontz, Arizona Republic

A film with some engaging performances and a swell soundtrack whose biggest problem is that it wants to be "Dazed and Confused" when it grows up. Full Review

Amy Biancolli
May 20, 2011
Amy Biancolli, Houston Chronicle

Like so many other films set in the Reagan era, Anthony Burns' directorial debut fails to acknowledge the lingering and pervasive angst that shaped anyone growing up in the late Cold War. Full Review

Lou Lumenick
May 13, 2011
Lou Lumenick, New York Post

Indifferently acted, written and directed, the oft soporific "Skateland" is beautifully photographed and boasts a greatest-hits soundtrack, as well as some spot-on art direction. Full Review

Elizabeth Weitzman
May 13, 2011
Elizabeth Weitzman, New York Daily News

Though noticeably lacking in originality, Anthony Burns' low-key directorial debut skates by on the charms of its hazy wistfulness and a likable cast. Full Review

Jeannette Catsoulis
May 12, 2011
Jeannette Catsoulis, New York Times

Anthony Burns's sweetly nostalgic re-creation of small-town Texas in the early 1980s. Full Review

Kevin Thomas
May 12, 2011
Kevin Thomas, Los Angeles Times

Manages to offer a particularly affecting, well-observed portrait of young people coming of age in an east Texas town in the 1980s. Full Review

Kirk Honeycutt
May 12, 2011
Kirk Honeycutt, Hollywood Reporter

Skateland is every coming-of-age-after-high-school movie you've ever seen with a formulaic plot and well-worn characters. Full Review

Owen Gleiberman
May 11, 2011
Owen Gleiberman, Entertainment Weekly

The film hinges on too many conventional crises (a car accident, a divorce), but the fact that Burns is better at atmosphere than story isn't all bad. Full Review

Nick Pinkerton
May 11, 2011
Nick Pinkerton, Village Voice

Fernandez looks like a young Joaquin Phoenix, and everything else here is off-brand familiar. Full Review

Eric Melin
October 27, 2011
Eric Melin, Scene-Stealers.com

It treads well-worn territory. Shiloh Fernandez is pretty inert in the lead role and Ashley Greene doesn't have that much to do. Full Review

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