Bosch & Rockit

Likeable storyline of father trying to be a good father to his surf mad teenager son.

Mother is sadly having her own issues.

Unfortunately, the dark side of the father is his drug dealing and mixing with bad criminals.

The filming locations are really awesome along the East coast, especially around Byron bay and other fantastic coastal ocean locations !

Not sure whether the teenager actor was actually doing the surfing, however the surfing shots were believable.

Teenager character is also believable through good casting.

The teenage actor has such great, very long hair that girls would go crazy !

Good story base but drawn out screenplay just weighs it down. The Dad's character is well acted and as much of an antihero as also a guy you want to have a beer with.

Rockit, the illiterate son who is in need of Adderall or a heavy dose of stun gun--almost ruins the stellar acting on his own. It's heavy handed in goofiness even when it should be time for some serious times. It's a serious fragmented family drama with beautiful backdrop of the Australian coastlines, coupled with fantastic surf footage isn't lost but the child actor and his heavy dose of shrill just ruined what appeared to be a troubled but unique father son as "buds" story arc. The music/score was also distracting and intrusive seemingly happening every 90 seconds at that-- with sappy music blaring over what could be reflective character moments.

5.5/10.

The title "Bosch & Rockit" combine two Frank Zappa' song titles, which per se is pretty cool.

Written and directed by actor/surfer Tyler Atkins, B&R is a charming story about a teenager growing up in the beautiful Australian landscape between his passion for surfing and two disfuncional parents. While the drama side of the story could have easily made this a heavy watch, Atkins infuses the whole movie with a charming and ethereal quality that is engrossing.

The surfing scenes and overall scenery are breathtaking. Luke Hemsworth (Bosch) and pro-surfer Rasmus King (Rockit) did a stellar job in protraying their characters, and while Hemsworth's talent is well-known to anyone by now, King's acting here is nothing short of a revelation. Photography is great and the soundtrack prompted me to look it up when the movie ended.

I read somewhere that Atkins stated during a Q&A that this film is essentially about the heavy consequences of the unconscious decisions that parents make. Well, that is exactly the first thing that you'll be pondering on by the end, but also and more importantly, it leaves us with an important and often overlooked truth: it is NOT what happens to us that define us, but it is how we respond to it.

Catch it if you can.

The title "Bosch & Rockit" may be misleading.

On one hand you might think this is a new fusion lettuce salad or a fancy electrical/farming appliance.

The reality is it's one of the best Aussie movies to feature the surf scene since Simon Bakers' "Breath" based on the Tim Winton best seller.

This drama was the star of the recent Gold Coast Film Festival and is set in the summer of 1990 along the New South Wales North Coast, The eldest of the Hemsworth acting male siblings, Luke, plays "Bosch", a dead beat dad who despite everything loves his son "Rockit".

The son is cast with a fresh new Aussie actor Rasmus King in the role.

He's actually from Byron Bay and is a pro surfer who's used to the nomadic lifestyle he plays in this movie...it was almost made for him.

Dads a farmer, of sorts, and once his crop goes up in smoke (Cheech & Chong style) the pair flee the scene and take cover in Rasmus' birth place, Byron Bay.

Fun Fact: the Motel featured in this movie is actually in Brunswick Heads.

With crooked cop "Derek" played by "Blue Heelers" star Martin Sacks (he's been in a good paddock) hot on his heels the father and son manage to make NSW's thin blue line look like Keystone Cops.

Ironically Isabel Lucas as "Deb" plays "Boschs" lover.

In real life, Luke younger brother Chris "Thor" Hemsworth was an item with Lucas after starring in a movie together.

Families are complicated.

"Rockit" is a very naive young teen who believes his alcoholic mum (Leeanna Walsman as "Elizabeth") is coming back to their tight little family.

This is the same lad mercilessly bullied at school, who believes he is on a magical surf holiday and not on the run with his drug dealer dad.

Life is like a box of chocolates for "Rockit".

Watch out for: Up and coming stunning Aussie (triple threat) model, actress, dancer Savannah La Rain as "Rockits" blooming love interest "Ash Ash" and find out how her character got her name.

All of this heartfelt storyline is backed by an Aussie BBQ soundtrack that rocks harder than a Bunnings sausage sizzle.

Unfortunately the finale of this movie is it's Achilles heel.

At its core the film feels like it's just a showcase for Director & Story Writer Tyler Atkins' calling card into Hollywood.

Shame because the surf cinematography is stunning and Australia is the winner as the backdrop.

However I can't forgive a movie that doesn't have a conclusive ending.

All screenplays need a beginning, a middle and an end.

It's not rocket surgery.

Just a great Aussie movie. Imperfect characters interacting with the best Australia has to offer as a scenic backdrop. I couldn't find a weak point or character, and the ending left me wanting more but also glad that the future of the characters was up to my own speculation.

Rockit, Bosch, Ash-Ash and Sacks from Blue Heelers are fantastic

The surf and coastal towns showcase the best Australia has to offer, and it was fantastic trying to pick the locations.

Do yourself a favour and watch a great Aussie flick that doesn't try and get preachy or lost in wokeness.

Purple Monkey Dishwasher (Simpsons reference for word count)