Unlike surf movies, I never tire of watching skaters do their thing. So it was with great pleasure that I was able to attend the screening for Wassup Rockers, Larry Clark's new film about teenage skaters in Los Angeles. It was impossible not to know that we had arrived at the right spot as a lot of the skate community, people who had little reason to be on Montana Avenue in Santa Monica waited excitedly. Separating the actors from the locals was near impossible in a crowd of the usual suspects.
The quick description for Wassup Rockers would be “It’s Kids (Larry’s film from 10 years ago) but in South Central, Los Angeles.” But that description doesn’t do the film enough justice. Clearly, Larry Clark still has something to say about America’s youth (especially young male culture) -- a subject he seems to know and capture well.
Wassup Rockers is the story about Latino skateboarders living in tough South Central who do not conform to the hip-hop lifestyle. It’s tough in the hood but ironically enough when the boys venture to the Westside that’s when all hell breaks loose. Navigating the Los Angeles landscape is an adrenalin rush since the film is shot nearly all documentary style. Was it a fictional film or a documentary? Narrative social commentary? Maybe a combination of all of the above.
The best part of the whole screening? Lil Jon sat behind me and his opening movie comments were kind of hilarious. For a good time, check out Wassup Rockers, coming to a theatre near you.
