Chasing Mavericks - recensioni

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Chasing Mavericks

So, is surfing a thing again? Because I don’t remember surfing really being a thing in popular culture since the early 1990s. And maybe that’s appropriate, since not only is Chasing Mavericks set in that time, it feels like it was made back then. And while this means it’s more than a little syrupy, broad, and over-earnest at times, it also means it’s refreshingly free of the irony, “edge”, and pop-culture saturation that are the hallmarks of more modern teen movies.

The story is based on the early career of California surfer Jay Moriarity (Jonny Weston), who showed an early aptitude by working out the relationship between a swell’s period and its magnitude — the longer between waves, the bigger they get — on his own before he was quite nine years old. He also showed an uncommon bravery, or even recklessness, which was noticed by his neighbor, Frosty Hesson (Gerard Butler).

We pick up the main story seven years later, after Jay has come into his own as a competition surfer. But Frosty, he’s noticed, sometimes bugs out early in the morning to parts unknown. Jay follows him to a remote bay where he sees Frosty surfing some enormous waves. Jay wants in, and Frosty decides to train him to survive the experience since he obviously won’t be convinced to stay away.

Alongside the training regimen, we have a slew of sidelines designed to highlight not only Jay’s mental and emotional growth, but that of his mentor as well. Jay’s single mother (Elisabeth Shue) struggles to hold down jobs; his friend (Scott Eastwood) seems to be falling in with a bad crowd; his childhood sweetheart (Leven Rambin) won’t talk to him in public. Meanwhile, Frosty is has difficulty engaging as a husband to his wife (Abigail Spencer) or as a father to his daughter (Maya Raines).

All of this can get pretty saccharine at times, and if you watched many kid-friendly films in the ’80s and ’90s the turns will all be pretty obvious. But there is comfort in these formulas, and the story is accessible to kids while avoiding a descent into either an overly preachy tone or into histrionic teen angst.

Not only are the plot’s tropes drawn from the early ’90s, but the soundtrack is packed with hits from that era’s Southern California alternative rock scene. I don’t know how they resonate with current tastes, but it was a nice little treat to hear once again from The Offspring, Mazzy Star, and, of course, the Butthole Surfers. Maybe this means I’m now the age most people have kids old enough for this movie.

Anyway, the real draw isn’t the somewhat dated plot, but the surfing. And directors Curtis Hanson and Michael Apted capture some amazing footage of the big waves on Maverick’s Point. These thirty- to forty-foot walls of water dwarf the surfers, and the white foam on the surface makes the sport look more like downhill snowboarding. Great, big, booming breakers curl around the actors; an awesome spectacle that reminds us why “tubular” was a slang term, back in the days when surfing was a thing.

Worth It: yes.

Read more: http://weiner1proboardscom.proboards.com/i...4#ixzz28RI5GV17

Un'altra recensione...

CHASING MAVERICKS REVIEW [SPOILERS]

If there is one thing this movie taught me, it is that real life is not scripted like a movie. There were several moments when I was like “why is this even happening it has nothing to do with the plot,” then I remembered it was based on a true story.
The film centers around 15 year old Jay Moriarty (played by Jonny Weston), a surfing prodigy with an alcoholic mother and an absent father. Ever since he was yanked out of the water by his surfer neighbor, Frosty Hesson (Gerard Butler), Jay has loved surfing, and idolized his neighbor. One day, Jay follows Frosty to the water and sees Frosty surfing thirty-foot waves. Being the daredevil that he is, Jay decides he wants to surf them too. It takes some persuasion from his wife, but Frosty eventually agrees to teach him how to “survive” that wave. This training process, and the father-son-like relationship formed in the process, is the focus of this movie, while touching upon how it affects Jay’s relationship with his friends and love interest Kim (Leven Rambin).
Despite being a relatively interesting story, the movie has several faults. One of these faults is how they do not really explain the aspects of surfing in the movie. For example, they never actually say that the giant waves are called Mavericks. Thus, when they stop calling them “giant waves” and start calling them “mavericks,” the movie gets a little confusing until you figure that aspect out. A person who knows little about surfing would have a little bit of a hard time understanding what they were saying at parts.
Another issue is the acting. At times, it’s so bad that the movie is barely watchable. This particularly applies to Weston. Weston’s nasally voice makes him incredibly hard to take seriously, and his face never really only has two expressions: a pouty/angry face, and a happy/confused face. I truly believe that this boy was only cast because he looked the part. Next time, focus on getting a good actor. His love interest, played by Leven Rambin, is not much better. Whether she’s doing a happy, flirty scene with Weston, or a deeper scene with Butler towards the end, she is not convincing. Granted, some of this has to do with the writing that at some times was terribly corny, however they still could have done a lot more.
The one saving grace to the acting is Gerard Butler. Butler plays the mentor role well, and is pretty captivating in the more vulnerable scenes. But even he has moments where his acting is not very good, especially when he’s trying to be angry. He is, however, the catalyst of the overall best scene in the movie, which comes at the very end at Jay’s funeral seven years after the mavericks incident. At the funeral, Frosty throws water in the air yelling “To Jay!” and all the others do the same. It was simple, and very touching. In fact, I feel that I would not have liked the movie much at all if this scene had not been included. It was the most authentic scene acting-wise, and really saved the movie. Without it, this movie would have been just another overly cheesy story of an underdog with a dream.

See It: If you really like surfing, extreme stunts, or inspiring true stories.

Don’t See It: If you can’t handle bad acting.

http://emertainmentmonthly.wordpress.com/2...eview-spoilers/

Piccola recensione positiva dall'antemprima di ieri sera

I had the pleasure of being a part of an audience that got to see an advanced screening of Chasing Mavericks. I wasn’t sure if I’d like this movie (I’m not so high on surfing, I don’t dislike it but in no way am I a huge fan) okay I’m not being fully honest here, I knew I’d enjoy Gerard Butler in a wetsuit but besides that I had no idea what I was getting myself into. See going in I had no expectations, it’s always fun to enter a movie theater that way because then you can’t really be disappointed and if anything at all you can totally be blown away and have your pants or well in this case your wetsuit delighted off. And let me tell you from the moment Chasing Mavericks started I was hooked. Gerard Butler’s Frosty meets young Jay Moriarity and the stage is set for an inspring and very heartwarming film! And ummm the awesome movie soundtrack was just an added bonus. It’s chocked full of great 90’s heavy tracks from the likes of Mazzy Star, Dinosaur Jr, The Lemonheads etc. And it also includes the new jam “I Need An Energy” from Greg Holden that plays during the closing credits. It’s just a great song to be included in a damn enjoyable film. Chasing Mavericks is in theaters 10/26…I highly recommend seeing it. #LiveLikeJay

http://danceyrselfclean.tumblr.com/post/34...rom-the-chasing

Jay Moriarity Successfully Immortalized in 'Chasing Mavericks'

I was fortunate enough to attend the 7:30 p.m. Sunday special screening of Chasing Mavericks, which was shown at Regal Santa Cruz 9, after being filmed in Santa Cruz a year ago.

The movie stars Gerard Butler as surfing mentor Frosty Hesson and Jonny Weston as Jay Moriarity, the local young surfing hero who died way too soon.

To know Jay was to love Jay. Simply put, he always had a smile on his face and life was always really good. His piercing blue eyes warmed your soul. What was not always known was his struggles of life with a single mom and the absence of his father.

Jay would ride his bike up the street on his way to work at Pleasure Pizza on the east side of Santa Cruz. His smile and bright blue eyes always lit up the conversation. He truly saw the best in people, no matter what he always had a positive attitude.

Jay was internationally known for his famous wipe-out while going over the giant falls at Mavericks at 16-years-old, which made the cover of Surfer magazine.

So when news of his passing hit the Santa Cruz surfing community in 2001 it was the gut punch no one had expected. How could this have happened? Why did it happen?

Not too long after Jay had passed, Jim Meenaghan and Brandon Hooper approached Jay's widow, Kim Moriarity, and mentor Frosty Hesson, to bring the story to the big screen. Many other Hollywood offers had come in, but the duo would only participate if the real story could be told.

Years have gone by and here we were standing in line for the premiere of Chasing Mavericks. Over 300 cast, crew and loved ones made their way into the Pacific Avenue theater.

Stars showed up, including Jonny Weston, who posed with Jay's wife Kim Moriarity, and Harley Graham, who played the young Kim and Leven Rambin, who played Kim as an adult.

Local dignitaries included Santa Cruz Mayor Don Lane, County Supervisor John Leopold and Santa Cruz City Council Members Hilary Bryant and Ryan Coonerty to name a few.

It was an amazing opportunity to be surrounded by people that truly loved Jay and the extended circle of people who made Chasing Mavericks. The electricity was thick as big wave surfers, surfboard sharper's, surf photographers and Hollywood mingled with Jay's closest friends and family before and after the movie premier.

I had anxiety about seeing the movie and reliving that period of time. Losing Jay was hard on the Pleasure Point surf community and replaying it on the big screen definitely drummed up old feelings.

As the movie played out, I was put to ease that Chasing Mavericks had encapsulated the spirit of Jay. Jonny Weston nails Jay Moriarity, his bright blue eyes and impeccable smile made me feel like I was watching Jay himself on the big screen.

Too many moments I felt myself laughing and remembering pieces of his life and then other times choking back tears as I saw the story unfold with tragedy that I knew might have existed but were unsure. Immediatly I thought of Kim Moriarity and how this playing out on the big screen might affect her and I became emotional.

Frosty's charachter is strong throughout the movie, and while no stranger to grief, he still maintains his persona to provide the right of passage Jay so desperately needed. Butler perfectly played the strong-minded, emotionally-shielded Hesson who bonds with Jay Moriarity in the absence of Jay's father.

Throughout the movie you get the sense that Frosty is suppressing some past that has made him unable to be involved in his family, a fear he holds. As he prods his young surfing protege to understand the pillars of life, he encourages Jay to face his fears and not panic.

After conquering Mavericks, Jay traveled the world and died while free diving in the Maldives while on location for an O'Neill photo shoot just one day before his birthday. He left behind his childhood sweetheart and recently married wife Kim, it was a tragedy that has stayed with Santa Cruz.

There was some more good from this movie: Locals benefited by being employed as stunt doubles, surfing extras and casting. Santa Cruz Native Craig Comstock was the second assistant director while big wave surfers Peter Mel and Zach Wormhoudt had roles in the movie as elite watermen.

After the movie there was a small after party at El Palomar Restaurant with cast, crew and Jay's family continuing the remembrance of its prince lost too soon.

And in his death Jay Moriarity continues to inspire the community that he left behind to "Live Like Jay."

http://scottsvalley.patch.com/articles/jay...asing-mavericks

E ovviamente.. come quasi tutti i film di Gerry.. il film è bocciato da Rotten Tomatoes (ormai è una tradizione )

www.rottentomatoes.com/m/chasing_mavericks/

31%

it's sweet, gentle, and affably modest, but Chasing Mavericks is ultimately pulled under by an unconvincing script and a puzzling lack of energy.

A quelli che hanno intervistato almeno è piaciuto, speriamo bene

MiracolMovie Review: 'Chasing Mavericks' is inspirational and spectacular

Chasing Mavericks movie review; Cast: Gerard Butler, Jonny Weston, Levin Rambin, Elisabeth Shue, Abigail Spencer; Directors: Curtis Hanson and Michael Apted; Rating: *** 1/2

An inspirational movie, thoroughly warm with human emotions and entertaining, Chasing Mavericks is a guide on 'how to chase your dreams'.

It is a true, touching story of teenage surfing legend - Jay Moriarity and his guru Frosty Hesson, and how they connect way more than on a wave!

The film focuses on Jay (Jonny Weston), a decent kid with a dream, a battered surfboard and a troubled family life. His dad has abandoned him and his mother, played by Elisabeth Shue, is sloshed and depressed most of the time.

As a young boy, Jay is fascinated with huge waves that line up the shores of his home town, Santa Cruz in California. During his spare moments, he times the rhythm of the waves. This hobby gives way to a desire to ride them, when after an accident, he bumps into an irascible surfer Frosty Hesson (Gerard Butler).

As a young boy, during his early surfing sessions, Jay's soon-to-be-friend tells him that "nobody gets it right on their first try" at surfing. This friend mentors him. Jay surfs the waves successfully, but that's not enough for him to ride the gigantic Mavericks.

In his early teens, Jay approaches Frosty with a request to teach him how to ride the Mavericks. After initially refusing to comply with the request, Frosty relents. He agrees to teach Jay how to survive the waves.

As Frosty emphasises on the power of observation and lessons on fear and panic, the film gets it right by showing what's required to surf really big waves. Jay is made to paddleboard long distances and demonstrate that he can hold his breath for four minutes without panic.

For some human conflict, there is a local toughie who has been bullying him since grade school. And on the romantic front, there is Kim (Leven Rambin), the girl he got a crush on at nine and eventually marries.

Blonde, with a chiselled bronzed physique and startling blue eyes, Jonny Weston definitely looks the part of a young surfer on the rise.

Jonny Weston as Frosty is compelling and complex. A fine actor, he struggles in Gerard Butler's dominating presence, whereas he excels in scenes with Rambin, or when he is surfing or when he is alone.

As usual, Butler has shown his great passion for becoming his character. He nailed his role as a compassionate, yet rugged surfing mentor.

Meanwhile, Elisabeth Shue, a fine actress as Weston's drunken mom, is seriously wasted here. Most of the time, she is seen passed out in bed, while Jay cooks and wakes her up when she oversleeps, which is always.

With incredible cinematography by Bill Pope, the film captures the unique view of one of the most beautiful coastlines in northern California along with its hypnotic watery landscape.

The photography itself, particularly of the surf, is spectacular. If the surfing scenes are real, then they're breathtaking; if they're faked, then they've been faked brilliantly.

None of the film's many flaws really matter when Jay or Frosty hop on the surf board and ride the waves. Some of the scenes are fairly predictable, but if you don't know Jay Moriarity's story - yes, he was real, a near legend at 16 and was dead by 23 - then the story is likely not very predictable at all.

If you are familiar with Moriarity's story, it shouldn't negate the emotional impact of the film's ending.

If you're looking for a good film, one that distracts you from everyday hustle and bustle or leaves you feeling better than you did when you came in, then this is it.

See it for the spectacular surfing!o, una recensione positiva

http://www.apunkachoice.com/content/articl...nd_spectacular/