Customer Reviews

The Drifter

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I saw the full length movie at a select screening event before release.. still waiting for the DVD.

To be totally and completely honest, I was a little disappointed. Yes, some beautiful shots. Yeah, some funny parts and stuff that you wonder how on earth they got the footage because it couldn't have been staged.

But.. 60 minute run time on a movie that I know had hours and hours more of raw surfing footage that could have been included is kind of a let down, especially after dragging down HD cams and all it just seems like they could have made it in to twice what they did with the cinematographic opportunities around them. They spent way too much time filming Rob in various headstands and contorted poses in a tent and hotel room when they should have filled it with more surfing and imagery. Speaking of actual surf footage, there is almost none.. I would say maybe 5 minutes worth? A majority of the time is either Rob in a tent, or Rob in a field, or Rob on a bike.. which.. unless they went a little deeper psychologically, just ends up feeling like they are wasting time instead of getting to the point.

No Blu-Ray release either? Totally crazy. Lame surf movies like "The Pursuit" have recently come out on both DVD and Blu-Ray in the same jacket yet this one with all of it's beautiful footage is limited to DVD. *sigh*

Yes.. Machado is the man. Big ups and massive respect to him and Poor Specimen for turning out beautiful surf films. But.. just don't be expecting a be all end all spiritual experience in this one like was hyped up to be. After shaking in my baggies for months watching the trailer and waiting for this to come out, I felt like I had just driven 3 hours to surf hurricane swell only to stare at 2' wind blown mush.

Yup, saw this movie last week after salivating over the trailer for months... though the soundtrack is outstanding - great indie bands - there is a bit too much of "Rob" and I would bet he'll look back on it in a few years and be a bit embarrassed. I'll wait and buy it for $3 as a used disc. Bali is one beautiful country, but you really do see the limits in following around one dude, even if he is the putative coolest guy in the world.

Movie is an overall downer :( With the exception of possibly one of the best (visual) tube rides captured on film, this movie sucks. This movie makes you think Machado is a P.O.S., which is not the case at all. Rob is actually a radical down to earth dude. They need to make a documentary that captures the greatness of this guy, not a documentary on his state of mind while contemplating the worst event of his life...divorce. The only saving grace of this movie is the fact that Machado surfs amazing!

I have a lot of respect for Rob Machado, but have to be honest when I say this movie is bad. The message: gotta get away from the rat race, touch base with yourself, "drift", etc. is done in a very unconvincing, cheesy way.

The scenery and soundtrack- awesome. The one liners that are meant to be inspiring, profound, and insightful are... not so awesome.

Rob is a great guy and great surfer. He is not an actor, nor is Taylor Steele a movie director that can bring out a conclusive, powerful story. Unfortunately, this is proven in the Drifter. It should have been a documentary of Rob traveling, meeting great locals, and surfing in Bali, with his "take" on life sprinkled into it- not a movie that has dumb things like throwing a cell phone to the side of the road for effect.

Again, the scenery and soundtrack are great, and even though this is not meant to be a "surf vid", the footage is great.

I really loved the movie, its exactly what I expected, I knew it was not going to be a typical surfing movie, it has some insight which I think i was able to appreciate. I am one of those 'weirdos' that needs to be alone from time to time so i understood the message Rob was trying to explore, sometimes when we stay away from mainstream we become sensible individuals that enjoy the simple yet beautiful things that surround us.

I thought this film was a disappointment. I always liked Machado's surfing style and I respect that he doesn't like contests, but this film portrays him not as a guy who would just rather free surf, but a guy who just wants to be "away" from everybody. I'm all for adventure and going off alone if that's how you want it, but this was more like an "escape" than an "adventure" as I had hoped.

His character comes across as a moody, unfulfilled guy that can't deal with being famous. I want to be alone sometimes too, but I want to be alone in a stand-up barrel, not in a tent on a hill somewhere. They emphasize how "disconnected" he prefers to be by not returning his "urgent" voicemail, but why check your voicemail at all then? It's just meant to prove a point: Rob needs an escape from his overcrowded life. Why not just hire an agent or PA to answer your phone then?

He's always finding a group of kids to play with, too. Who does that? In most cultures people would probably look at you funny for heading to the playground and joining in a soccer game with a bunch of 10-year-olds. It just portrayed to me that he wants to be a kid again without all the responsibilities that his talent brought him. After a while I just felt like telling him to grow up and deal with it. I would happily spend my days traveling and surfing (which I have done) and guess what... I enjoy every minute of it without acting so depressed because at the end of the day I need to go back to work to earn my next trip. I don't get paid for doing it.

So cheer up Rob, you rip way harder than I could ever dream of.

I don't know if Rob is really like that or if the movie is just scripted to portray him that way. It was hard to tell, so I wouldn't make any assumptions about him as a person from this, but as a character in a film I just wasn't feeling it. Maybe some teenage "EMO" kids will relate because they want to run away from home.

I have only read the first couple of reviews on this page, and I'm disappointed in all of you. First off, "The Drifter" was a great film, and you idiots clearly have no idea of it's premise so I don't know why you would make yourself look stupid by writing a review. Rob was in Bali for a competition with no film crew following him when he became tired of the crowded surf locations and just the general way of living. So he went on a trek by himself with his board island hopping and became emearsed in the culture and the local people of Indonesia. He had such an experience that he went back with a camra crew and re-did his adventure. It's not supposed to be a movie of exclusive surfing footage, it's about the journey he'd had. Know what your talking about fools. Just saying.

Wow,

we got this movie expecting to see a good balance of cinematography and surfing, and although we got that, the almost cheesy 'storyline' was unbearable. Actually in the end I gave up watching half way through, because although the film does make some good points about the local people and escaping from the intensity of Kuta, its quite self indulgent (maybe because the film was trying to appeal to mainstream audience?) it just didn't really get the message across that I think he intended?

Still if you can bare the cheese, there's some good surfing shots, nice music and some great shots of the Indonesian scenery.

I read some complaints about this DVD/film not having enough surf footage but that (to me) is what makes it such a good film. I love surfing, and I love film... this is a great example of both and unlike most "surfing films" it doesn't get bogged down in simply showing surfing footage. To me surfing isn't just about catching waves... there's a cultural thing going on and friendships are formed not only in the surf but travelling with mates down the highway early in the morning or afternoon, looking for waves, talking about the day, missing out on good days, or sharing great ones.
This film is the yarn in the pub at the end of a good day.