Quartile rating: 7/10 · 1 rating
A wide-ranging, definitive look at Hawk’s life and iconic career, and his relationship with the sport with which he’s been synonymous for decades, featuring unprecedented access, never-before-seen footage, and interviews with Hawk and prominent figures in the sport including Stacy Peralta, Rodney Mullen, Mike McGill, Lance Mountain, Steve Caballero, Neil Blender, Andy MacDonald, Duane Peters, Sean Mortimer, and Christian Hosoi.
A solid, well-crafted sports documentary that benefits from unprecedented access and rich archive footage spanning Hawk's entire career. The interviews with skateboarding legends add depth and authenticity, and the film goes beyond surface-level hagiography to explore Hawk's obsessive drive and complicated relationship with fame. However, it largely follows the conventional rise-and-triumph biographical documentary format without formally reinventing the genre. Cinematography is functional and competent, mixing archival material with talking-head interviews in standard fashion. Acting is not applicable in the traditional sense, but interview subjects are candid and compelling. The ending offers emotional resonance but no particular surprise. A respectful, thorough portrait that will satisfy fans and general audiences alike, without breaking new documentary ground.