Lords of Dogtown (**1/2)

This movie has more talent behind the cameras than you would think. Although the movie teeters on the edge of just a bunch of kids going around being "extreme," it's saved by Catherine Hardwicke's spectacular directing. She previously directed Thirteen and here, she captures the thrill of skateboarding in its early days by giving you an upfront seat the action, and really nails the 70's atmosphere. Heath Ledger is also fantastic in a supporting role. I liked it, but the movie lost focus when the boys started getting famous. The subject was almost too big for an hour and a half movie. I never got a sense of how their style of skateboarding caught on with the world. Much better than I thought it would be though.