12 O'Clock Boys

The opening sequence of filmmaker Lofty Nathan's documentary 12 O'Clock Boys is flat-out bizarre: the sight of perhaps 20 or 25 dirt bikes and other small but muscular off-road vehicles tearing through the streets of Baltimore—shutting down traffic, aggressively overtaking passenger cars, and eluding police in a surreal and terrifying burst of antisocial anarchy. But this is no stunt; it's a real phenomenon and longtime problem for Baltimore since the first outlaw riders—the eponymous 12 O'Clock Boys, named for their ability to point their bikes straight up, like the hands of a clock—appeared years ago, becoming legends to younger kids in some of the city's toughest neighborhoods. Nathan follows the path of one wide-eyed admirer, Pug, from age 13 to 16 as he aspires to become one of the Boys. Along the way, Pug turns from a sweetheart to a lout, embittered by a world of violence, loss, and police brutality, in which he feels trapped. Along the way, Pug's mother struggles, suffering the death of one child while trying to keep her four remaining kids out of trouble. Nathan also offers profiles of some of the Boys—who take pride in their dirt-bike mastery on urban terrain—capturing mesmerizing images of riders keeping one step ahead of the police and popping wheelies as if riding wild horses. A strange, exhilarating, and disturbing documentary, this is highly recommended. [Note: DVD extras include select video commentary by director Lotfy Nathan, outtakes (9 min.), a “Bad Bitches Drop It Low” GoPro bikers video (3 min.), and trailers. Bottom line: a solid extras package for a fine doc.] (T. Keogh)