Thrashin' (film)

Last updated

Thrashin'
THRASHIN Starring Josh Brolin(Star of this year academy award film NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN ) (Large).JPG
Theatrical release poster
Directed by David Winters
Written byPaul Brown
Alan Sacks
Produced byAlan Sacks
Starring Josh Brolin
Robert Rusler
Pamela Gidley
CinematographyChuck Colwell
Edited byLorenzo DeStefano
Nicholas C. Smith
Music by Barry Goldberg
Production
company
Distributed by Fries Entertainment
Release date
  • August 29, 1986 (1986-08-29)
Running time
92 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Thrashin' (released in the Philippines as Challenge to Win: Thrashin') is a 1986 American skater drama film directed by David Winters and starring Josh Brolin, Robert Rusler, and Pamela Gidley. [1]

Contents

The film features appearances from many famous skaters such as Tony Alva, Tony Hawk, Christian Hosoi and Steve Caballero. The film also stars Sherilyn Fenn, who was cast by the director, together with her boyfriend at the time Johnny Depp, who was later rejected by the producer. [1] [2] The Red Hot Chili Peppers make an appearance in the film as well. The film is considered to be a cult classic.

Plot

Corey Webster is an amateur skateboarder from out of town staying in Los Angeles with friends in hopes of competing and winning a downhill competition for which he has been training. During his stay in LA, he falls for a beautiful blonde named Chrissy, who just happens to be the younger sister of Hook, the leader of "The Daggers", a tough punk rock skateboard gang in the Los Angeles/Venice Beach areas. Chrissy is not a Dagger herself but has come from her home in Indiana to stay with her brother in L.A. for the summer.

Corey and his crew "The Ramp Locals" often have confrontations throughout the film because of Corey's disobedience to Hook when asked not to come around or call Chrissy again. Chrissy, however, can choose her own relationships and has the opposite interest. Corey disobeys and is chased on skateboard through city streets and a parking garage by The Daggers. He barely escapes by boarding a bus and exiting through the back door and onto the roof while the rival gang members search the cabin of the bus. Through all of that memorable scene, the Circle Jerks song "Wild in the Streets" is played, showcasing the connection between '80s hardcore punk rock and skateboarding culture (Vice Squad, Devo, SST Records and Siouxsie and the Banshees T-shirts can be seen on skateboarders throughout the film as well). Upset at Corey, The Daggers find The Ramp Locals' half-pipe and burn it to the ground, thus creating more drama between the two skate crews.

Corey and Hook later meet up that night, after an earlier confrontation, at the "Dagger house" (a punk rock house overrun with Daggers and graffiti, quite common in the 1980s throughout Los Angeles communities). The rivals joust in the Bronson Canyon ditch until Corey is injured and the police arrive. With Corey's arm broken he is convinced he cannot compete in the downhill, and places blame on Chrissy, who wasn't there to assist him in his time of need; she left with the Daggers as the police were arriving, but in protest reminds him that she had begged him not to engage in the duel in the first place. As Chrissy is driving away, Corey runs outside to try to make up with her, but she doesn't hear him behind her. An emotionally upset Chrissy arrives back at the Daggers' house, tells her brother she is going back to Indiana, and asks to be driven to the bus station in the morning; she goes upstairs to pack. Later, Corey skates over to the Daggers' house looking for Chrissy, but Hook's girlfriend tells him that she has already taken Chrissy to the bus station, that she doesn't have a phone number for Chrissy, and that Chrissy was crying inconsolably when she returned. These are all lies; Chrissy is still upstairs packing. Later that night, Chrissy and her brother have a heart to heart about his protectiveness of her as he drives her to the bus station, where she gets on the bus to Indiana.

Meanwhile, Corey mopes around. He starts to miss Chrissy and begins to practice downhill skateboarding. With a broken arm he has to be very cautious and proves to not be able to perform as well. Chrissy, having second thoughts, exits her bus on the highway and hitch-hikes back to Los Angeles just in time to see Corey and Hook battle it out in the last turn of the downhill race. Hook flies over the side of the road and Corey speeds through the finish line at 63 mph off a ramp and into a crowd of fans who cheer him in victory. He is awarded a professional contract with Smash Skates and enough money to rebuild the destroyed ramp burnt by the Daggers. Hook tells Corey that he respects his skill and approves Corey's relationship with Chrissy, seeing Corey as worthy and respectful, and apparently having taken his talk with Chrissy to heart. In respecting Corey, Hook, for the first time, is looked at as respectable as well.

Cast

Production

Director David Winters, upset after being overruled on a casting decision for Thrashin', made the professional decision to control all aspects of future projects he worked on. Winters' first choice was a pre- 21 Jump Street Johnny Depp who was cast in the film together with Depp's girlfriend at the time, Sherilyn Fenn, but after three attempts to get Depp approved by the producer, Winters had no choice but to recast, ultimately casting Robert Rusler. [3]

Winters himself had been in the original cast of West Side Story (on Broadway) as well as appearing in the 1961 film, certainly making him an appropriate choice to direct, given the resemblance between that classic "competing gangs" story – inspired by Shakespeare's Montagues and Capulets – and the plot of this film. [4]

Release

Thrashin' was released in the United States on August 29, 1986. In the Philippines, the film was released as Challenge to Win: Thrashin' by Bell Films on October 9, 1987. [5] [6] [7]

Reception

Sixteen years after the initial film release, the MTV series Jackass , in a February 2002 episode, played homage to the "jousting scene" with "maces and man-purse". [8]

The Board Sport industry continues to describe this film as "legendary". [9]

Soundtrack

The film features a performance from the Freaky Styley incarnation of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, with Cliff Martinez and Hillel Slovak, as well as music by Devo, Circle Jerks and Meat Loaf. Some of the bands featured in the film went on to have number one records.

Collapsible Song List
Song NamePerformed byWritten by 
Thrashin' Meat Loaf Larry Lee, Alan Sacks and Jodi Sacks-Micheli Produced by Larry Lee
That's Good Devo Gerald Casale, Alan and Mark Mothersbaugh (presumably a miscredit to Alan Myers, as there is no Alan Mothersbaugh in Devo)Courtesy of Warner Bros. Records
Tequila Chuck RíoPublished by J.A.T. Music
Arrow Through My Heart Jimmy Demers Mike Piccirillo and Gary Goetzman Produced by Mike Piccirillo
Want You The Bangles Vicki Peterson Courtesy of A&M / IRS Records
Blackeyed Blonde Red Hot Chili Peppers Anthony Kiedis, Michael Balzary, and Cliff Martinez Courtesy of E.M.I. Records
Don't Think Twice France Joli Britta Phillips, Ned Liebman and Derek MeadeProduced by Mike Piccirillo and Gary Goetzman
Touch the Sky White Sister Bernie ShannahanProduced by Mike Piccirillo
Dancin' in JamaicaThe TribeGary Goetzman and Mike PiccirilloProduced by Mike Piccirillo and Gary Goetzman
Playground The Truth Dennis Greaves and Michael ListerCourtesy of IRS Records
Hey Fear Lee Ving Courtesy of Fear / Restless Records
ManiacThe Screaming Sirens Rosie Flores Courtesy of Enigma Records
Let the Love Begin Jimmy Demers and Carol Sue HillGloria Sklerov and Lenny MacalusoProduced by Gloria Sklerov and Lenny Macaluso
Wild in the Streets The Circle Jerks Garland Jeffreys
Burnin' (For You)Rebel FactionT. Quinn and L. HesterProduced by Larry Lee
Staring Down the Demons Animotion Don Kirkpatrick and Randy Sharp Courtesy of Polygram
Couldn't Care More Fine Young Cannibals David Steele and Roland Gift Courtesy of IRS Records

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Skateboarding</span> Action sport on skateboards

Skateboarding is an action sport that involves riding and performing tricks using a skateboard, as well as a recreational activity, an art form, an entertainment industry job, and a method of transportation. Originating in the United States, skateboarding has been shaped and influenced by many skateboarders throughout the years. A 2009 report found that the skateboarding market is worth an estimated $4.8 billion in annual revenue, with 11.08 million active skateboarders in the world. In 2016, it was announced that skateboarding would be represented at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, for both male and female teams.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Johnny Depp</span> American actor (born 1963)

John Christopher Depp II is an American actor and musician. He is the recipient of multiple accolades, including a Golden Globe Award and a Screen Actors Guild Award, and has been nominated for three Academy Awards and two BAFTA awards.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tony Hawk</span> American professional skateboarder (born 1968)

Anthony Frank Hawk, nicknamed Birdman, is an American retired professional skateboarder, entrepreneur and the owner of the skateboard company Birdhouse. A pioneer of modern vertical skateboarding, Hawk completed the first documented "900" skateboarding trick in 1999. He also licensed a skateboarding video game series named after him published by Activision that same year. He retired from competing professionally in 2003 and is regarded as one of the most influential skateboarders of all time.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Half-pipe</span> Structure used in sports

A half-pipe is a structure used in gravity extreme sports such as snowboarding, skateboarding, skiing, freestyle BMX, skating, and scooter riding.

<i>21 Jump Street</i> American crime drama television series (1987–1991)

21 Jump Street is an American police procedural television series that aired on the Fox network and in first-run syndication from April 12, 1987 to April 27, 1991, running for 103 episodes. The series focuses on a squad of youthful-looking undercover police officers investigating crimes in schools, gangs, and other teenage venues. It was originally going to be titled Jump Street Chapel, after the deconsecrated church building in which the unit has its headquarters, but was changed at Fox's request so as not to mislead viewers into thinking it was a religious program.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Longboarding</span> Sport

Longboarding is typically defined as a variation of skateboarding that involves a larger board and softer urethane wheels. Longboards vary in shape and size. Compared to skateboards, longboards are more stable at speed and have more traction, due to larger wheel size and lower wheel durometers. A standard skateboard is typically between 28-34 inches long, whereas a longboard may exceed 50 inches. Many longboards use trucks that have different geometric parameters than skateboards. The skateboards use "traditional kingpin trucks" while longboards often use "reverse kingpin trucks." This hardware change is the key element in the increased stability that longboards offer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Josh Brolin</span> American actor (born 1968)

Josh James Brolin is an American actor. A son of actor James Brolin, he gained fame in his youth for his role in the adventure film The Goonies (1985). After years of decline, Brolin had a resurgence with his starring role in the crime film No Country for Old Men (2007). Brolin received a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for portraying Dan White in the biopic Milk (2008).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sherilyn Fenn</span> American actress (born 1965)

Sherilyn Fenn is an American actress. She came to attention for her performance as Audrey Horne on the television series Twin Peaks for which she was nominated for a Golden Globe Award and an Emmy Award.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Picabo Street</span> American alpine skier

Picabo Street is an American former World Cup alpine ski racer and Olympic gold medalist. She won the super G at the 1998 Winter Olympics and the downhill at the 1996 World Championships, along with three other Olympic and World Championship medals. Street also won World Cup downhill season titles in 1995 and 1996, the first American woman to do so, along with nine World Cup downhill race wins. Street was inducted into the National Ski Hall of Fame in 2004.

<i>Fatal Instinct</i> 1993 American film by Carl Reiner

Fatal Instinct is a 1993 American sex comedy thriller film directed by Carl Reiner. A parody of the erotic thriller genre, which at the time had reached its commercial peak, as well as being a pastiche of 1940s film noir and psychological thriller genres, in particular Double Indemnity, the film stars Armand Assante as lawyer/cop Ned Ravine who has an affair with a woman named Lola Cain. Kate Nelligan stars as Ned's wife and Sherilyn Fenn stars as his secretary. The film title is a combination of Fatal Attraction and Basic Instinct, both of which starred Michael Douglas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Audrey Horne</span> Fictional character

Audrey Horne is a fictional character from the ABC television series Twin Peaks, played by Sherilyn Fenn. The character was created by David Lynch. She was introduced in the pilot. The daughter of Ben and Sylvia Horne, sister of Johnny Horne and half-sister of Donna Hayward, her storylines focused on her infatuation with the series protagonist Dale Cooper, infiltrating the brothel/casino One Eyed Jacks and becoming an activist through civil disobedience.

<i>Two Moon Junction</i> 1988 film by Zalman King

Two Moon Junction is a 1988 American erotic romantic drama film written and directed by Zalman King and starring Sherilyn Fenn and Richard Tyson. The original music score is composed by Jonathan Elias.

<i>Just Write</i> 1997 American film

Just Write is a 1997 American romantic comedy film directed by Andrew Gallerani starring Jeremy Piven, Sherilyn Fenn, JoBeth Williams and Wallace Shawn.

<i>True Grit</i> (novel) 1968 novel by Charles Portis

True Grit is a 1968 novel by Charles Portis that was first published as a 1968 serial in The Saturday Evening Post. The novel is told from the perspective of a woman named Mattie Ross, who recounts the time when she was 14 and sought retribution for the murder of her father by a scoundrel, Tom Chaney. It is considered by some critics to be "one of the great American novels." True Grit is included in the Library of America of Portis' Collected Works.

AKA: Girl Skater is a 2003 documentary about four female professional skateboarders on a skateboarding tour in Australia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">David Winters (choreographer)</span> American choreographer

David Winters was an English-born American actor, dancer, choreographer, producer, distributor, director and screenwriter. At a young age, he acted in film and television projects such as Lux Video Theatre,Naked City; Mister Peepers,Rock, Rock, Rock, and Roogie's Bump. He received some attention in Broadway musicals for his roles in West Side Story (1957) and Gypsy (1959). In the film adaptation of West Side Story (1961) he was one of the few to be re-cast. It became the highest grossing motion picture of that year, and won 10 Academy Awards, including Best Picture.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Flea (musician)</span> Australian musician (born 1962)

Michael Peter Balzary, known professionally as Flea, is an American musician and actor. He is a founding member and bassist of the rock band Red Hot Chili Peppers (RHCP) and, along with vocalist Anthony Kiedis, the only member to appear on every RHCP album.

Alan Sachs is an executive producer, most well known as producer and co-creator of the TV series Welcome Back Kotter. He formerly managed the band Unlocking the truth.

Brooke McCarter was an American actor, producer, director, composer and musician. He is known for the role of Paul in the 1987 vampire horror comedy The Lost Boys.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cliché Skateboards</span> Skateboard company based in Lyon, France

Cliché Skateboards was a skateboard company based in Lyon, France, and distributed by the American company Dwindle Distribution. The company was established in 1997 by French professional skateboarder Jeremie Daclin. In 2001, Cliché was purchased by the France-based Salomon Group which in 2005 became a part of Amer Sports. In 2009, US-based Dwindle Distribution purchased the company from the Salomon Group. In November 2016, Dwindle announced that they would be discontinuing the brand.

References

  1. 1 2 Thrashin' in the TCM database
  2. Thrashin' (Commentary Track). David Winters. MGM Home Video. 2003 [1986]. ASIN   B00009OWJZ. MGM Home Video.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  3. Weekly, L. A. (May 31, 2011). "Still Thrashin' 25 Years Later at Cinefamily (without Johnny Depp)". LA Weekly. Retrieved November 16, 2022.
  4. Della Gatta, Carla (2023). Latinx Shakespeares: Staging US Intracultural Theater. Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Press. p. 53. ISBN   978-0-472-05577-7.
  5. "MTRCB Classification Guide, films reviewed 31 Aug.–4 Sept". Manila Standard . Standard Publications, Inc. September 7, 1987. p. 16. Retrieved January 19, 2021.
  6. "Movie Guide". Manila Standard . Standard Publications, Inc. October 9, 1987. p. 11. Retrieved January 19, 2021. DYNASTY-A.........Challenge to Win
  7. "Movie Guide". Manila Standard . Standard Publications, Inc. October 8, 1987. p. 11. Retrieved January 19, 2021. DYNASTY-A................Red Alert
  8. "Episode 9 Season 3", Jackass Jonez, Spike, MTV, ASIN   B00006JU7X
  9. Transworld Media (February 2002). "The Hollywood Grind" . Retrieved October 1, 2008. Hollywood's previous interpretations of skateboarders in legendary 80s films Thrashin' and Gleaming the Cube.