All This Mayhem (2014)

Slow pace in the most part of the movie.

Not even bad in a good way

It's a mild crowd pleaser for people who are exhausted by blockbusters.

One of the film's great tricks is that, for a time, you think it will go down a rabbit hole of unrealistic glorification.

As an American, when someone brings up the topic of skateboarding, the first thing that comes to mind is Tony Hawk. I remember him growing up. He was the prodigy for this newer sport that sort of blew up in the 80s/90s. He was very much the face of the sport, but was he the best and most adventurous? Tas Pappas would tell you "fuck no!"The docu was quite interesting. I'm a sports fan, but gave up paying attention to skateboarding years ago. I guess I grew out of it. Regardless, I still respect the sport, and what the pros are able to do.Before watching this documentary, I wasn't sure if I remember who the Pappas brothers were, but after watching the documentary, I won't forget. Tony Hawk started as a purist skateboarder just like any skateboarder, but eventually he became, what felt like, bigger than the sport. Tony the skating phenom turned into Tony the marketing guru mighty quick.The movie isn't about Tony much, but it's just interesting how much differently him and the Pappas brothers managed their relationship with the sport. Ben and Tas were purists through and through, and this story gives a detailed overview of their lives, and how they impacted the sport in a different way.There was a stretch in time where they were ranked higher than Tony, and they were constantly one upping each other. They had the competitive spirit thing figured out from birth, it seemed. They explain where the spirit comes from early on in the film.In their hey day, they lived the lifestyle that you would only see in the movies. With that came the downfall. Definitely a very solid watch.

This is the first time I've felt compelled to write a review on IMDb.Just a tiny bit about myself, I'm from the US, born in '87 and grew up a dyed-in-wool BMXer with skater friends. Even tho people talk about rivalry between camps really we all had camaraderie and a sense that we were part of a revolution or movement. The Tappas brothers(upon whom this documentary is centered) were instrumental in a way that I'm only beginning to understand or appreciate. For the record, their names were a faint memory from the X games for me. This gets off to a slow start but the historical knowledge alone was compelling. Can you imagine a determined Australian kid whose sole mission on earth is to defeat Tony Hawk at skateboarding? Now can you imagine that he eventually actually did it, but was to humble(or injured...) to even appreciate the moment? That's only beginning to scratch the surface. The way Tony Hawk is painted as a villainous character( & at least partially I feel now, righteously so) seemed like slaughtering a sacred cow on first impression after faithfully watching the X games growing up but now I have a deeper understanding of how money and grown man rivalries complicate everything.In summation, this movie is ultimately a a grim spectacle. It gets way more bleak and desperate than you might ever expect. There's a murder of some sort. LSD, Cocaine, Prison Stints. It's ultimately pretty dark but that's the how the story happened.

As they say, truth is much stranger than fiction and coinciding with that perfectly, truth is often far more interesting than fiction which in the case of this fantastic documentary is absolutely the case. For those like myself who knew very little about the skateboarding scene in the early 90's and in particular the often unbelievable story of Australian siblings the Pappas brothers. Eddie Martin's informative and well-crafted documentary will take you on an unforgettable journey to the highest highs (sometimes quite literally) and the lowest lows of an equally inspiring and tragic tale set around the world of competitive skateboarding.All This Mayhem is a film that allows those of us who may not care for skateboarding to not only get sucked into the world of half pipes, vert ramps and 900's but to care for the those inhabiting it. Filled to the brim with homemade and professional stock footage director Martin does a wonderful job of moulding in clips between talking heads, radio interviews and news broadcasts to create a cohesive and unbiased look into the life and times of the Pappas brothers, two bogan (recommend you look this word up on google) brothers from the rough suburbs of Melbourne who not only dreamed big but achieved big in a journey that must be witnessed to be believed.Tas and Ben Pappas are what you'd call the quintessential red blooded Aussie, bull-headed, at times arrogant, fierce competitors and against all odds completely likable. There the type of characters that despite there penitence for a rough as guts exterior, you know deep down there the type of people that would have your back no matter what the odds. The brother's rise through the ranks of the skateboarding world (right through to their dealings with the snobbish sell out that seems to be Tony Hawk) is something utterly unique and compelling and the brothers remain throughout, figures you can't help but be glued to. Martin has compiled at once a great mix of friends, past associates and film clips to create a world that at times feels like a narrative feature not a documentary and it's a credit to the filmmaker's talent that he can draw such true emotion from an undeniably affecting tale.What transpires throughout All This Mayhem can be described as an emotional roller-coaster full of ups and downs and expect to be moved to tears by elements of this real life tale, a tale that against all odds acts as a cautionary tale of what the fall from great heights can look like. An at times joyous and fun ride but also an equally moving and compassionate one, come the final heartbreaking statement from Tas Pappas you'll be well aware that All This Mayhem is not only one of if not the year's best documentaries but one of the year's best films period. Get your skates on and track down a copy today! 4 and a half awkward Hey Hey It's Saturday appearances out of 5

I decided to go see this film after seeing the craziness of the advert and knowing almost nothing about the Pappas brothers and I was not at all disappointed with what I saw.From a rather wild childhood and young years skating through crazy pro skating years and many struggles there after, this documentary brilliantly takes you along the journey with both Ben and Tus Pappas as things steadily somehow go more out of the control by the second. With interviews from many at the time and a lot of footage, this documentary gives a very real and honest view of pro skating, drugs, travelling alone to new countries at a young age and all that goes with it. Definitely worth a watch for anyone whether interested in skateboarding or seeing a truly wild side of life and living.