MOVIE TITLE:     Off The Line

This indie sports drama premieres on May 8 in Los Angeles, and will be available on digital platforms on May 13, 2025 via Random Media.

RATING:     PG-13 (profanity)

LENGTH:  2 hours 8 minutes

IN A NUTSHELL:

Off the Line, written, produced, and directed by teenage filmmaker Samuel L. Pierce, is an ambitious indie sports drama that dives into the niche world of inline speed skating. That’s so amazing and impressive he made a feature film at his age!  Samuel’s film isn’t perfect, but he has vision, talent, and a bright future!

The story follows Mark Stevenson (played by Pierce himself), a determined young skater eager to make his mark in the sport. It’s a passion project that wears its heart on its sleeve, celebrating resilience and the pursuit of dreams.

When the chance arises to compete in the prestigious European Grand Prix 24-hour race against fierce rivals Tropen Racing, Mark and his friend Jake Flyer (Forrest Campbell) embark on a grueling journey of training, guided by a troubled former coach. Set against a backdrop of sports, romance, and personal growth, the film aims to capture the thrill of competition and the chaos of youth.

TIPS FOR PARENTS:

• Some profanity
• Lots of alcohol is consumed
• We see a shirtless teen
• A guy punches out another guy
• Several examples of dishonesty

THEMES:

• Inline speed skating
• Believing in yourself and in others
• Tenacity
• Careers in sports
• Going for your dreams
• Second chances

THINGS I LIKED:

• The race scenes we see during the opening title credits are fantastic.  They’re provided by the National Speedskating Circuit (NSC) and get you really excited to watch the movie.
• The racing scenes are the film’s heartbeat, showcasing the raw speed and physicality of inline skating—a sport rarely spotlighted on screen. The skating sequences were filmed at real rinks like El Centro Skate Rink and a Tacoma city park.  
• Pierce himself shines as Mark, bringing a relatable mix of grit and vulnerability, though his acting occasionally betrays his youth.
• The rest of the cast includes Forrest Campbell, Doran Danielson, Jeremy Moller, Aaron Doran, Christopher Noordman, and more.
• There’s a race scene where we see AI/CGI people in the stands.  It made me laugh but I thought “Good for you” for the director’s ability to stretch his meager budget and utilize available tech.
• We learn the true meaning of the title of the film in the last 2 lines of the movie.
• Before the final rolling credits, a screen card tells us that the NSC is a real brand that is used by many of the nation’s top athletes, although the movie’s portrayal of the NSC was fictious.  (There were 4 typos, revealing the director’s youth again.) 

THINGS I DIDN’T LIKE:

• For a teenage filmmaker, Pierce’s achievement is remarkable. Directing while still in high school, he navigated logistical tasks and delivered a cohesive film through his company, Electric Shock Productions. Yet, the film’s DIY spirit is a double-edged sword. The production values are noticeably lean, with uneven sound design and editing that could’ve been tighter. These flaws don’t derail the experience but remind you of the film’s grassroots origins.
• It was really hard to understand what everyone was saying.  The audio picked up background noises well, but not the dialogue at the same level.
• Amateur acting. It looks like the writer/director cast all of his buddies in the film. That’s completely understandable and I would have done the same thing at his age. Some of the actors frequently looked in the camera and had awkward movements, which is to be expected for newbie actors.
• Bad camerawork and framing.
• Poor editing.
• The movie is simply way too long to say what it needs to say. That often happens with new filmmakers who haven’t yet learned to “kill their darlings”. So many scenes could have easily been cut without changing the story, yet the pacing would have been tightened.
• The dialogue can be earnest to a fault, with many lines landing as more cliché than profound.
• The film is filled with underdog sports tropes.
• The audio-to-video didn’t match when the announcer spoke during the first racing competition scene around the 47-minute mark.
• The opening music and vibe felt very 1980s in the opening scroll but then changed throughout the film. It’s hard to pinpoint which decade the film was supposed to take place.
• None of these criticisms is meant to discourage the young director – the complete opposite is my intention.  I think he is going to learn from each film he makes and do great things!  Congratulations on this project!

FUNNY LINES:

• “Kids these days” – spoken by a guy who clearly looks like a teenager himself

INTERESTING LINES:

•  “To consistently win, to be a champion, you have to have a fire…a will to win at any cost.” –  Winston Law    (Jeremy Moller)
• “Sometimes, you gotta stop playing the victim in life.” – Peterson’s old teammate

MOVIES about teens in sports LIKE THIS YOU ALSO MIGHT LIKE:

• The Long Game: https://moviereviewmom.com/the-long-game-movie-review/
• Rule Breakers: https://moviereviewmom.com/rule-breakers-movie-review-by-movie-review-mom/
• Warrior Strong: https://moviereviewmom.com/warrior-strong-movie-review/

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