Gleaming the Cube
Starring
Christian Slater
Rating
Rating within genre
Rated
PG-13 for violence and adult language
Directed by
Graeme Clifford
Written by
Michael Tolkin
Genre
Criminal drama/with action and comedy *independent*
Film
Color; 1 hr. 40 min.
Date of Release
1989
Filming Locations
Garden Grove, CA (USA)
Irvine, CA (USA)
Orange County, CA (USA)
Santa Ana, CA (USA)
Synopsis
During the Vietnam war, a high school skateboarder rallies his crew against the execs of an anti-Communist Vietnamese army, who murdered his adopted brother and made it look like a suicide.
Summary
This is one radical skateboarding flick. 'Gleaming the Cube' provides its audience with comic entertainment jammed in with blow-up crime action and typical skate junkie drama....and somehow they fit in mystery and romance as well. For the girls, Christian Slater from way back when is reeeeally hot, and everyone will love the crowd of idiot boarders that come to his aid in the final showdown. Yes, since it was made in the end of the 80s some of the older male figures in the film wear tighter clothes that are a general turn-off to everyone, but that goes with the time period, does it not? And for that we'll have to give it credit and overlook such details. The story is very good, and the roles are well cast. Whether or not you're into the life-on-wheels scene, this movie is one to be enjoyed.
Notable Quotes
"Can I ask you something personal?" -- Brian
"Sure." -- Tina
"Where's the bathroom?" -- Brian
"I'm not allowed to see American boys, even as friends. And even if I was....Brian, look at you." -- Tina
"How'd you get to be so cynical?" -- Tina
"Practice." -- Brian
Reviews
Stygian Films: "Gleaming the Cube is an awesome movie for skaters. The skateboard action is great (and very funny), the acting is all right, and the storyline is just really good. If you're into grunge you'll like this film."
A Bluffers Guide to Teen Movies: "Gleaming the Cube is the definitive 80's teen-skate-thriller, mainly because there's bugger all to rival it. The title according to the highly informative Leonard Maltin (cheers, Len) is 'skateboard jargon for reaching the ultimate'."
Washington Post: "Slater is up to the role of Brian, vacuously rebellious until his brother's death leads him to clean up his act so he can infiltrate the bad guys' defenses. To young teens, particularly fellow skateboarders, his efforts, both on the board and with a comb, will seem Herculean; the rest of the world will simply wonder what the film's title means (hint: it's very Zen)."
ConverseConnection: "Gleaming the Cube has some great L.A. chase scenes, combining cars, skaters, monocycles, police cars, and trucks in pursuit of each other in hilly residential neighborhoods and out on a freeway. Christian Slater's performance as Brian is a little on the edge but with a sense of humor and cool attitude."
Hollywood.com: "Skateboard stunts are sensational, but the story is by-the-numbers TV stuff."
Cast List
Christian Slater................Brian Kelly
Min Luong......................Tina Trac
Le Tuan..........................Colonel Trac
Steven Bauer..................Officer Lucero
Max Perlich....................Yabbo
Charles Cyphers.............Harvey McGill
Art Chudabala................Vinh Kelly
Ed Lauter........................Mr. Kelly
Micole Mercurio.............Mrs. Kelly
Peter Kwong...................Bobby Nguyen
Richard Herd...................Ed Lawndale
It's time to skate or die.
Also recommended
Rocket Power (animated TV series)
Mumford
Pictures taken from ConverseConnection and The Definitive Christian Slater Site