Ray Wood

If you ever spent any time in a beach community you quickly recognize "Moondog." I grew up around characters just like Moondog, except they never really were able to reach the heights we imagined for them. You quickly realize that you have to take a leap of faith with The Beach Bum, you have to let go of your thinking that these peoples are all losers of one sort or another. Chasing what is left of their freedom from one drunken hotel night to another spent under an overpass. These things we hold onto somehow keep us grounded while our imaginations dream up what we hope all that freedom lead to instead of the reality. The Beach Bum is a wonderful film that questions our own meanings of fame and what it is like to truly be the rebel we dreamed of these really unknown, sad, and lonely alcoholic, drug addled, losers who are still out there partying when we all moved on. I enjoyed this movie once I realized that I can form whatever narrative I chose. I think that Matthew does an incredible job on "moondog" and I swear I knew that guy like I know myself. We grew up with them out at the beach working the fryers, showering at the beach restrooms, working their way to the next 12 pack and angling for your weed. The Beach bum could have maybe used some editing to make it shorter, but for me I enjoyed it enough to actually write this review and I appreciate that Harmony Korine wrote such vivid characters and took the time to explore these tragic Peter Pans and I feel kind of at peace with those times and those people.