Chasing Mavericks is the true story of Santa Cruz teen surfing prodigy Jay Moriarty being mentored by a veteran surfer so he can challenge Mavericks, the mythic surf spot near Half Moon Bay, California. Moriarty was a kid left with just one unreliable parent who developed his passion with the help of a surrogate father, himself a damaged soul. It’s a good story and heartwarming, if predictable – but exceptional in two respects.
First, the scenes of Mavericks are awe-inspiring. Michael Apted took over when director Curtis Hanson became ill. Whichever one of them shot the scenes at Mavericks deserves significant recognition. As anyone has taken an amateur snapshot of the Grand Canyon knows, it’s tough to convey colossal scale in a photograph without a person or familiar object for comparison. In Chasing Mavericks, we do see the surfers, tiny against the 30 foot faces of the waves. But we also see the massive swells alone, erasing the coastline as they rise – and it is an unforgettable experience. My one criticism of the surfing scenes is that almost every shot is less than 4 seconds, which doesn’t allow for full appreciation of long rides.
Second, the movie was shot on location at Mavericks and at many Santa Cruz locations, including Lighthouse Point, Steamer Lane and Seacliff. The depiction of the locale and the local surfing culture will especially resonate with anyone familiar with the area.
Surfing is a sport that has inspired superb documentaries (Riding Giants, Step into Liquid, and the Endless Summer films) and generally putrid life action fictional films (Blue Crush and the Beach Party drek). For all of its limitations, Chasing Mavericks may be the best ever non-documentary surfing feature.
Chasing Mavericks is just OK for most movie-goers , but if you’re into surfing and/or have an interest in the Santa Cruz and San Mateo coast, it’s a Must See.