CHASING MAVERICKS

US, 2013, 160 minutes, Colour.
Gerard Butler, Johnny Weston, Elizabeth Shue, Abigail Spencer.
Directed by Curtis Hanson and Michael Apted.

Chasing Mavericks is a rather inspiring film, especially for those who have any interest in surfing.

The film was based on a true story, the life, short life, Jay Moriarty, who trained with an expert surfer, Frosty, who acted as a technical adviser to this film. Jay Moriarty was 15 when he rode a giant wave on the Pacific coast of California. He continued to surf professionally but, sadly, died by drowning while surfing in the Maldives.

Much of the film is about training and surfing, plenty for enthusiasts. And there is some magnificent photography of coastlines, beaches and waves, both small and immense.

In many ways the film is quite straightforward with its presentation of the young Jay, his life with his mother, missing his absent father, finding a father-figure in Frosty, developing his skills, relating to a young friend whom he eventually married, the film highlighting his achievement in riding the wave at such a young age.

Johnny Weston is gently sympathetic as Jay. Gerard Butler is earnest as Frosty. Elizabeth Shue is Jay’s mother. The director was Curtis Hanson, director of some fine thrillers like The Hand that Rocked the Cradle, Bad Influence, Wonder Boys and, his masterpiece, LA Confidential. He became ill at the end of the filming and the direction was taken over by veteran Michael Apted (thrillers like Gorky Park, a number of comedies, but, especially, the Seven Up series).

1. The title, the reference to huge waves? Surfing? Based on the true story? The human dimensions of the story, and adolescent, a father-figure, mentor?

2. The US West Coast, the towns, homes, pizza parlour, the streets? The coast and the crags, rocks, the beaches, the waves, the immensity of the waves?

3. The photography, of the waves, within the waves, the surfers and the rides? The overview of the coast, the waves and beaches? The musical score?

4. The story of Jay Moriarty, as a little boy and his friendship with Kim, rescuing the dog, the bond between them? Jay as an adolescent, living with his mother, love for her, his father’s leaving and his letter, his not opening it until the end, his being introduced to surfing, his feeling at home in the water? The encounter with Frosty, talking, surfing, his house and family, his shed with the equipment, following him on the top of the car, seeing the El Niño waves?

5. The agreement with Frosty, the secrecy about the waves? 12 weeks for him to train? Kim forging the note from his mother? The regime, the roster, on time, paddling, breathing underwater, distance paddling, his chart and his marking off his achievement his achievement? Learning how to serve, balance, positioning of weight, the waves? Jay as a boy, his statistics, timing the waves and his conclusions, Frosty impressed?

6. Jay and his mother, her borrowing money, hard work, love him, frightened when she saw him in the bath, his holding his breath, repayment of the money, her support of him? Her explanation about her husband leaving her but not leaving him? At the end and her knowing about the note and his training?

7. The friendship with Kim, being older, but seeing her as a soul-mate? The meetings with her, the sharing? Listening to Frosty, sharing with his wife? Kim not wanting to be seen with Jay, his being upset, her coming to apologise? The following him in his quest? The marriage, her final grief?

8. Frosty, his demands of Jay, writing essays, their not been good enough, Jay writing about his relationship with Kim, about the waves? His friend getting his book, the young men who had taunted him reading it aloud?

9. His relationship with his friend? Their working at the pizza parlour, introduction to surfing, ups and downs? The adolescents around town, taunting and criticising? Final acknowledgement of what Jay could do?

10. Frosty, his relationship with his wife, his love for her, and knowing about his going to the waves? The children? A wise and patient woman? The discussions with Kim? Admiration for her husband? Her collapse, the stroke, Jay ringing 911? The funeral, Frosty’s grief, his being urged to be a father to his children? His daughter growing up, the baby, the daughter going to the final quest?

11. The effect of the preparation of Jay, Frosty asking what he was afraid of? His final acknowledgement of his fears? Ready for riding the wave?

12. The group going, Frosty not riding, Kim present, the photographers, the friends? The size of the waves? Jay sick on the way? Going out, on the waves, his being overwhelmed, fears that he had been drowned, his emerging, getting a new board from the boats who were keeping watch for safety surveillance,
coming again, riding the wave? The personal triumph?

13. The final information, his continued success, surfing in the Maldives, his drowning? His being a role model for young surfers?