Film Review: Now Days
Someday is now in women's surfing — and it looks so good
Every once in a while, a surf film comes along and defines an era. And that’s exactly what Red Bull’s new release Now Days has done.
Starring six of the world’s top women, the film showcases their free surfing in good waves all over the world to a banging soundtrack. So, basically, all the ingredients of you’d expect of a surf film.
But the surfing sets this film apart from everything you’ve ever seen. This is the women’s surf film we’ve all been waiting for.
I watched this thing on my laptop in my office which is exactly the wrong way to watch a surf film, especially an era-defining surf film.
If we aren’t standing around in the parking lot behind the local shop, did we even watch a surf film at all? It is my firm stance that surf films should be watched together with as many people as possible.
I guess what I’m saying is, you should call up some friends, get some appropriate food and drink, and watch this film together.
A moody segment shot on film stock — or made to look like it — opens the film. “This new generation never goes outside,” says a mechanical-sounding narrator. Each surfer’s eye appears in close-up cut with frolics in a warm-lit ocean. It’s seductive and hypnotic. It can’t last.
“This generation needs to wake up.”
And wake up, they do. The opener is set to Circle Jerks “Wild in the Streets,” and from there, it’s a full-speed shred-fest around the world. There’s carves and blow tails and big fucking barrels. To their credit, Red Bull threw a solid budget into the project, and the women score good waves from Indo to J-Bay to Mexico.
The cast includes a set of hitters: Erin Brooks, Sky Brown, Sierra Kerr, Caroline Marks, Molly Picklum, and Caity Simmers.
I didn’t really need to read the credits to see the beautiful handprint of Patti Films on this project. Her unique vision is present in the dreamy opener. There’s a lovely segment of Sky pushing through Los Angeles, that sets a stunning contrast between the concrete monoliths of the river’s flood control and a sidewalk dotted with color from an outdoor flower market. In another clip, Sky skates in a pastel-colored pool.
The film is especially adept at tone-shifts, and Patti isn’t afraid to get weird (she’s made a western-themed skate-surf film). The intro to Molly’s section is hilarious and the perfect match for her out-going personality. For Caity, there’s a wondrously surreal framing that — well, actually, I’m not going to spoil it. I’ll just say, it is an unexpected joy. Kai Neville’s editing ensures that the thing hums — nothing is out of place.
To find a similarly star-studded, era-defining women’s film, we have to go back more than ten years. In 2013, Aaron Lieber and Jason Kenworthy produced Leave A Message for Nike. Among that film’s stars were Lakey Peterson, Sally Fitzgibbons, Coco Ho, Malia Manuel, and a young Carissa Moore, who rightly got the ender.
The Leave A Message generation surfed faster than the women before them, threw the fins loose, and began launching airs.
Now Days takes it to the moon. The foundations laid by women like Rochelle Ballard and Keala Kennelly in heavy barrels and like Carissa with her progression above the lip are evident in the surfing in Now Days.
But the new generation has taken what we thought was possible in women’s surfing and given it a big fucking shove — and it sure looks good on the other side.
Erin and Sierra launch massive, stylish airs. Molly and Caity are fearless and flawless in the barrel — and not only front side. I love Molly’s carves — that nonchalant, two-handed drag looks so good. Caroline’s turns are crisp and perfect every time. And Sky’s skate-influenced turns and airs have a dynamic character.
There’s something for everyone here — and it’s hard to find a weak point in their collective approach.
For me, though, Caity will always be the stand-out. There’s a magic individualism and creativity to her surfing that’s all her own. Her surfing looks at once spontaneous and intentional. And the ender where she and Sierra exchange giant barrels in Mexico is legit, giant-killer stuff.
I claimed at the outset that this was a review, but I lied, actually. I’ll be honest and say that I love this film. The production is lovely, creative, and top-level. And I’m super hyped to see a full-length women’s surf film that showcases great surfing in beautiful waves.
We’ve all waited a long time for this. Too long in fact!
So, get some friends together and watch this thing. Then watch it again.
And don’t forget to go surfing. The surfing part — that’s the essential part. ✨