John Stockwell directs Kate Bosworth, Michelle Rodriguez and Sanoe Lake in this gritty surfing flick.

It comes as no shock that actor turned director Stockwell made his bones in Top Gun. That movies’ narrative arc and Tony Scott eye for sexy visual sun warp are a touchstone here. This has aged rather well. A character study with a hard earned empowerment message. The sports movie stuff is formulaic but the life detail the envelops it are fought for and true. I can take or leave Bosworth (though physically she does bring it in all but “the world’s best surfer” impossible shots). Rodriquez and Lake are indelible, believable presences though. I have seen far worse teen flicks grow into cult gems.

7

Perfect Double Bill: Soul Surfer (2011)

I write regular features about live comedy for British Comedy Guide here https://www.comedy.co.uk/people/bobby_carroll/features/ and my own Substack https://substack.com/@edinburghlaughterbulletin