Most of us hardly even notice the physical structures we encounter everyday such as benches, railings, or curbs. But when the subjects of the documentary Bones Brigade: An Autobiography see these same structures, they see art.
Bones Brigade is based around the groundbreaking skateboarding team whose name shares the film’s title. Though the topic of skateboarding seems like a market niche, it is appealing to more than just skate fanatics. Director Stacey Peralta’s first home run comes from the candid home videos that document the early days of the groups’ formation. Clips of a nine year old Tony Hawk learning the “ins and outs” of the sport he would eventually become the face of are encouraging and thought provoking.
The rise and fall of the team is told using compelling commentary by Brigades very own skaters, artists and, managers. One of their takeaway points is that at the time, there was no credible future in the sport. The multi-million dollar skateboarding industry was an alien concept. In fact, skateboarding was deemed “dead” and it’s lone magazine bankrupt. It was not until Peralta paired his vision with skate genius Rodney Mullen did the sport really take off. Though Tony Hawk is by far the most well-known of the bunch, it is Mullen who was the group’s leader and the docs most interesting character. Having invented some of today’s most well-known skate tricks before he reached the age of fifteen, Randy Mullen was an eccentric, yet tender, mad genius. His open dialogue about the mental illness that forced him to quit skating at the height of his career was the most fascinating point in the film. It is this tragedy, climax, and, drama that makes for such a great watch, even to those of us with no real skate interest. Mullen is also responsible for the most provocative quote when he states “Skateboarding has nothing to do with competition or sport. It has to do with trying to stay as immature as you can for the rest of your life.”
Bones Brigade was the Beatles of skateboarding and their story is done justice by being depicted in such a raw and honest manner. And like all great sports films, it has a lot of heart.
Rating: One of the best autobiographical documentaries of the year (9/10)
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