All This Mayhem (2014) User Reviews

Bold and Compelling

[bbstring · 8/10 · 21 August 2014]

I went into a cinema without a clue what I was going to watch! For the first ten minutes I was hesitant and didn't know if I would sit through the entire movie. I have no particular love for skating but can relate to that ethos from teenage years.

In the end I stayed and began to enjoy the roller-coaster that this doc takes you on.

The use of well sourced actual footage of their childhood/teenage days up to to the pros and after paints a vivid account and perfectly documented time line of their lives and careers. The added PTC's from Tas Pappas and others add that missing dimension and beautifully tie it all together in a classic doc style.

Utterly compelling and keeps a great level of suspense. Really enjoyed this movie. NOW I like skating!

An absorbing and moving doco. A must watch!

[eddie_baggins · 9/10 · 7 October 2014]

As they say, truth is much stranger than fiction and coinciding with that perfectly, truth is often far more interesting than fiction which in the case of this fantastic documentary is absolutely the case. For those like myself who knew very little about the skateboarding scene in the early 90's and in particular the often unbelievable story of Australian siblings the Pappas brothers. Eddie Martin's informative and well-crafted documentary will take you on an unforgettable journey to the highest highs (sometimes quite literally) and the lowest lows of an equally inspiring and tragic tale set around the world of competitive skateboarding.

All This Mayhem is a film that allows those of us who may not care for skateboarding to not only get sucked into the world of half pipes, vert ramps and 900's but to care for the those inhabiting it. Filled to the brim with homemade and professional stock footage director Martin does a wonderful job of moulding in clips between talking heads, radio interviews and news broadcasts to create a cohesive and unbiased look into the life and times of the Pappas brothers, two bogan (recommend you look this word up on google) brothers from the rough suburbs of Melbourne who not only dreamed big but achieved big in a journey that must be witnessed to be believed.

Tas and Ben Pappas are what you'd call the quintessential red blooded Aussie, bull-headed, at times arrogant, fierce competitors and against all odds completely likable. There the type of characters that despite there penitence for a rough as guts exterior, you know deep down there the type of people that would have your back no matter what the odds. The brother's rise through the ranks of the skateboarding world (right through to their dealings with the snobbish sell out that seems to be Tony Hawk) is something utterly unique and compelling and the brothers remain throughout, figures you can't help but be glued to. Martin has compiled at once a great mix of friends, past associates and film clips to create a world that at times feels like a narrative feature not a documentary and it's a credit to the filmmaker's talent that he can draw such true emotion from an undeniably affecting tale.

What transpires throughout All This Mayhem can be described as an emotional roller-coaster full of ups and downs and expect to be moved to tears by elements of this real life tale, a tale that against all odds acts as a cautionary tale of what the fall from great heights can look like. An at times joyous and fun ride but also an equally moving and compassionate one, come the final heartbreaking statement from Tas Pappas you'll be well aware that All This Mayhem is not only one of if not the year's best documentaries but one of the year's best films period. Get your skates on and track down a copy today!

4 and a half awkward Hey Hey It's Saturday appearances out of 5

Complete mayhem

[rik-taylor-72-242302 · 8/10 · 15 August 2014]

I decided to go see this film after seeing the craziness of the advert and knowing almost nothing about the Pappas brothers and I was not at all disappointed with what I saw.

From a rather wild childhood and young years skating through crazy pro skating years and many struggles there after, this documentary brilliantly takes you along the journey with both Ben and Tus Pappas as things steadily somehow go more out of the control by the second. With interviews from many at the time and a lot of footage, this documentary gives a very real and honest view of pro skating, drugs, travelling alone to new countries at a young age and all that goes with it.

Definitely worth a watch for anyone whether interested in skateboarding or seeing a truly wild side of life and living.

Hits so close to home...

[delusionsofgrandeur-29542 · 10/10 · 9 March 2015]

I wasn't friends with the Pappas brothers, only ever watched them skate when they would come to town, but growing up a skater myself with many of the same freedoms and benefits that come along with getting paid to do it, this documentary is all too real.

This is a must-see regardless of your craft or sport, because unlike many documentaries about famous athletes who fall to addiction, depression and/or violence, you feel a real connection to these kids. They're your neighbors kids, your classmates, your friends, your bullies... No matter how you relate, there's a genuine feel that will grab your emotions and make you pray there's a happy ending. Although in your gut you know in the end there won't be the Pappas brothers holding hands and skipping into the sunset to Leslie Gore's "Sunshine, Lollipops and Rainbows".

My only negative about the documentary is the soundtrack. Just awful.

Cried my eyes out

[zade-08592 · 8/10 · 29 August 2015]

I Don't normally bother with reviews. Loved this though. Great highs and great lows for sure. Cried my eyes out. I really hope this film does well for Tas and that he has a chance to be at peace with himself and be a good father to his kids and partner to their mums. I suffer from the self destructive stuff myself. Never thought I would have admiration for an Aussie either, this is a brilliant documentary. There are not many films where I can say i have laughed out loud and then had tears welling up almost at the same time. Also I guess a good guide of what to try and avoid when making it big in any arena of your life. I will recommend this documentary to others.

Wonderfully made documentary

[cekadah · 9/10 · 22 March 2015]

Rags to riches to rags ---- an all too familiar story!

Tas and Ben Pappas, two Australian brothers, through their personal drive and commitment, become stars in Australia on the skateboard circuit. They both have talent and ambition to make it as a team. And they do! In Europe they reach the top and then the tumble begins. It's a sad story to witness youth gain so much then loose so much.

If you are a skateboarding enthusiast this is a top documentary to watch. Director Eddie Martin doesn't hold back on anything while telling the ten years of Tas and Ben Pappas rise and fall.

I wondered just how can two achieve so much even while indulging in drugs and other substances but their youth kept them going - youth passes by and they were unprepared for that fact.

Wonderful and Absorbing

[DeeboCools · 10/10 · 26 May 2015]

This is the first time I've felt compelled to write a review on IMDb.

Just a tiny bit about myself, I'm from the US, born in '87 and grew up a dyed-in-wool BMXer with skater friends. Even tho people talk about rivalry between camps really we all had camaraderie and a sense that we were part of a revolution or movement. The Tappas brothers(upon whom this documentary is centered) were instrumental in a way that I'm only beginning to understand or appreciate. For the record, their names were a faint memory from the X games for me. This gets off to a slow start but the historical knowledge alone was compelling.

Can you imagine a determined Australian kid whose sole mission on earth is to defeat Tony Hawk at skateboarding? Now can you imagine that he eventually actually did it, but was to humble(or injured...) to even appreciate the moment? That's only beginning to scratch the surface. The way Tony Hawk is painted as a villainous character( & at least partially I feel now, righteously so) seemed like slaughtering a sacred cow on first impression after faithfully watching the X games growing up but now I have a deeper understanding of how money and grown man rivalries complicate everything.

In summation, this movie is ultimately a a grim spectacle. It gets way more bleak and desperate than you might ever expect. There's a murder of some sort. LSD, Cocaine, Prison Stints. It's ultimately pretty dark but that's the how the story happened.

Unseen winners in a narcissistic world are deemed as 'losers'

[zkiko · 7/10 · 31 July 2019]

Many people we deem 'winners' or as 'the best' are not. They just were generic enough to fit in the system and wanted the fame more than others (even to the extent of selling their own identity and/or soul for it. The world believed them and so it is so. And vice versa about the so called 'losers'. This is a story that shows this phenomenon and more. I love it when invisible people and their story are made visible, especially those with an authentic story and struggles. Interesting story, impressive.

Was seriously a awesome doco... a must watch

[camnalder · 10/10 · 13 August 2014]

I must say I went to the cinema not expecting to much, But it exceeded expectations to the point where i would put it up to one of the best docos this year easily. It reminds me of "The Lords of Dogtown" documentary. But blows it out of the water. It is a must watch, as it shows a lesser known side of Australian sport. All this Mayhem will appeal to a wide range of people, especially people who played the Tony Hawk games and noticed the Australian Skaters weren't in the games. It has a completely different view on the world of skating and follows the tragic story of, to me are the most influential Australian skaters to date. Enjoy GO WATCH THIS FLICK

Interesting, but I don't like the Tony Hawk bashing

[the_oak · 7/10 · 23 January 2017]

I am not sure why they portray Tony Hawk to be an asshole. The attitude of Tony Hawk in this documentary is not the attitude of an asshole. I think Ben and Tas behaved like assholes at least early in the documentary. I get it that Tony Hawk was boring and sucked up to the money, but the way they behaved, why should they be given a lot of chances? I felt for Tas when Tony Hawk did the 900 that Tas had been rehearsing. Too bad, but it would not have happened if they had been behaving. If they wanted their company to succeed in the first place, they should have done other things than snorting coke all the time. I get it that the makers of the documentary probably thought that they had to make Tony Hawk a bad guy to make the documentary more interesting. But I don't agree. OK, now that I go that off my chest, I respect how honest the documentary is. The brothers are very troubled and it is easier to relate to this than Tony Hawks polished persona. Show me a person who has no demons, and I will show you someone who can not relate to this documentary. The last minutes of the documentary are really great, watching Tas work out in jail, he is in very good shape! Then it was touching to see the love he has for his family, and that there are still women who will stick by a man no matter what he has done, because she believes in him! Tas is a great father it seems, and can you imagine how much his child is loving it to be sitting on his shoulders while he skates down that street in the final moments of the documentary?

Tony Hawk... What a douche... Tas Pappas invented the 900!

[johnsonwill · 10/10 · 22 December 2016]

This is one of the best documentaries I have ever seen. I skated in my late teens through to Uni that led to a pretty wild inter-rail trip at only 17 around Europe and of course via Amsterdam to skate and watch the pros. Had a photo with pro Eric Koston on the train to Berlin from Amsterdam.

I was not familiar with the Pappas bros but I am familiar with some of the other characters in this doc: Tony Hawk and Danny Way - my respect for those guys has completely left the building. I also won't touch another Tony Hawk skateboarding video game.

Although the Pappas brothers are completely mental, incredibly stupid at times (pissed myself at Tas's attempt to smuggle in cocaine) and had massive egos. I couldn't help but laugh and relate to some of the scenes (not the drug smuggling though!) I also missed my times skating and still ponder on buying a new deck but realise that being a 35 year old guy, it just wouldn't be cool anymore.

It was so interesting to see the 'dark underbelly' of professional skateboarding and I can completely see how these guys lost it. They were in the start of what has become incredibly commercial now (check out how commercial it is now, see the Street League competitions sponsored by Monster drinks.) Pappas bros had sponsorship money thrown at them, got to travel and compete, were partying constantly and most likely had skating chicks on their arms constantly. Of course they were going to go off the rails especially when they didn't really have a good mentor in the skateboarding industry or in their family. They were two Bogan brothers from Melbourne who were incredibly talented at everything they did. They made it in professional skateboarding, even in the commercial & corrupt X Games. I wish they had got into a team with more rounded skaters at that time, that might have grounded them. But there are so many skaters who lost it or are nuts. Check out what happened when some jocks offended pro Mike Valley: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X5TTMvY01Is - that was definitely a bad idea.

Absolutely moving I laughed, I swore, I was gutted & I almost cried. It is completely tragic but don't want to let you know everything. Shines a light on drugs and mental illness. I am glad I saw this without knowing the end. Love skating until I die.

Interesting documentary about 2 talented skateoarding brothers, and the lifestyle that came with it.

[green-josha · 7/10 · 18 December 2017]

As an American, when someone brings up the topic of skateboarding, the first thing that comes to mind is Tony Hawk. I remember him growing up. He was the prodigy for this newer sport that sort of blew up in the 80s/90s.

He was very much the face of the sport, but was he the best and most adventurous? Tas Pappas would tell you "fuck no!"

The docu was quite interesting. I'm a sports fan, but gave up paying attention to skateboarding years ago. I guess I grew out of it. Regardless, I still respect the sport, and what the pros are able to do.

Before watching this documentary, I wasn't sure if I remember who the Pappas brothers were, but after watching the documentary, I won't forget. Tony Hawk started as a purist skateboarder just like any skateboarder, but eventually he became, what felt like, bigger than the sport. Tony the skating phenom turned into Tony the marketing guru mighty quick.

The movie isn't about Tony much, but it's just interesting how much differently him and the Pappas brothers managed their relationship with the sport. Ben and Tas were purists through and through, and this story gives a detailed overview of their lives, and how they impacted the sport in a different way.

There was a stretch in time where they were ranked higher than Tony, and they were constantly one upping each other. They had the competitive spirit thing figured out from birth, it seemed. They explain where the spirit comes from early on in the film.

In their hey day, they lived the lifestyle that you would only see in the movies. With that came the downfall. Definitely a very solid watch.

Highly Absorbing Documentary

[851222 · 9/10 · 6 March 2017]

Greetings from Lithuania.

"All This Mayhem" (2014) is a highly absorbing and involving documentary about lives of two brothers skateboarders, who came from Australia to USA and at one point concord the world of skateboarding. There are a lot of skateboarding footage, and i'm not a fan of skateboarding, but i do like to watch it so there was a lot of "wow" moments when these brothers were doing what they did best. And this movie also tells full story, of what those brothers also did aside from skateboarding, and it's truly a sad story.

Overall, "All This Mayhem" is a highly involving documentary even for those who don't like skateboarding itself. At running time 1 h 40 min it never dragged and was highly involving from star till finish and also it tells a very true story. Kinda must see documentary.

Excellent documentary

[jasonpfaff23 · 10/10 · 25 May 2016]

I've been on the fence whether or not I should bother video-taping life in general- This documentary proves a reason to bother. Its incredible how much footage they had, likely not knowing it would come to use for this purpose. The film was put together really well, and the music was placed really well, which is important. I'd keep an eye on this director. Reflecting on the 80's in America: I'd already been reminiscing about the 80's and how it seemed a more exciting and colorful era here in America. People just seemed to take more risks back then. These risk takers were hardcore, not all in a good way, but faithful to their way of life. This film makes Tony Hawk seem like a real dick, but you can read about his response to the film online. I skateboarded for several years as a teen, and I'll tell you "vert" (half-pipe) skating is no joke- I couldn't even 'drop in' on the ramp ( and I was a semi-professional slalom water-skier, ranked 1rst in the Boys Division NY State). Skateboarding is an underrated sport for many reasons: to become good, it's a lot harder than it looks. It is also one of the lowest paying sport professions, alongside Waterskiing and other water-sports. Kleenex alert: elevated

The rollercoaster of Mayhem

[sullybo55 · 9/10 · 17 September 2018]

The world number 1 and 2 skateboarder left for America as children to chase their dream in the sunshine state and they did so. In their drugged up debauchery they slowly lost grips of only part of sanity they had left. A sad story of two champions. A must have watch.