Review of Dragonslayer (2011) by Stevenf — 07 Jun 2013

This documentary can be viewed in a variety of ways, a skateboarding tutorial of how not to, a parenting class of also, well, how not to or what I believe the film is trying to accomplish, a chronicle of Josh "Skreech" Sandoval, an skateboarder who, in a nutshell, has thrown his life away and is attempting to rebuild it. But unfortunately the film fails to make a likeable character out of Skreech, from one disastrous life choice to the next.

So Skreech is a dad to a little baby called Sid, someone who is seen very little throughout the film, at first glance I though the film was being told out of order, but no, he is seen talking to his child and then taking off to Copenhagen to compete in a skating contest, and after that he has a girlfriend, not the mother of his child, but someone he met continuously over a few years. He spends his time with a band of misfit skateboarders who quite frankly are more interesting than he is.

A particular case of his reckless behaviour is himself and his girlfriend driving along a highway, smoking a bong, he truly is painted as someone who has very little regard for anyone but himself.

While the documentary in essence is very well presented, the material is just not concerning enough to care. The cinematography is amateur but this is done purposely to capture a more lifelike and POV of Skreech and is happenings, along with a very punk-rock attitude of a soundtrack, as a style of filmmaking this is top notch and entertaining, from the chaptered moments of Skreech and his foibles to the fast paced cuts in the film.

The most difficult thing when watching this documentary is trying to figure out what we are supposed to take away from it, if anything. This person does seem to live his life how he sees fit, with no repercussions to his existing girlfriend or even his child, who he has only taken out alone once. While is girlfriend seems to grow increasingly sorry for her boyfriend, well, at least someone does.

Certainly a unique style of filming, but the material doesn't do this style any justice, and its hard to feel any emotions towards someone who seems to be irresponsible of every action he takes. With little to take away from the film, it could be a forgettable affair indeed.