100 Foot Wave

As "100 Foot Wave" (2021 release; 6 episodes of about 60 min. Each) opens, it is "Chapter 1 - Sea Monsters" and we are in Nazare, Portugal, where various talking heads comment on the insanely big waves there. We are then introduced to Garrett McNamara, the Hawaiian extreme surfer who is getting ready to go back to Nazare. Turns out that year ago he retired from the sport, but after running a surf shop for a few years, he just had to get back into the action. One day he is contacted by a local from Nazare who took a picture of what seems to be an impossibly big wave, and would Garrett be interested in checking it out for himself? As if! At this point we are 10 min. Into the opening episode...

Couple of comments: this is the latest from producer-director Chris Smith ("Fyre: The Greatest Party That Never Happened"). Here he teams up with Garrett McNamara to document Garrett's never-ending quest for the next big, bigger, biggest surf wave ever, leading him (and us) to, of all places, a small village in Portugal. Along the way we get a "Extreme Surfing History 101" overview, including the growing role of jet-skis to reach the biggest waves (and serve as a rescue option). The surfing footage we get treated to is spectacular, and that that is the understatement of the year. It is of course the primary reason why most of us (non-surfers) will be watching this. Can't wait for the next episode(s), although I do wonder what the film makers will fill the remaining 5 hrs. Of this series with. Last, but certainly not least: the original score for this mini-series is by none other than Philip Glass, yes, THE Philip Glass. I couldn't hardly believe it. The (mostly electronic) score is reminiscent of his music for "Koyaanisqatsi" and its sequels.

"100 Foot Wave" premiered this weekend on HBO and Episode 1 is now available on HBO On Demand, HBO Max, and Amazon Instant Video. New episodes air Sunday evenings at 10 pm Eastern. If you like extreme sports or you are a fan of Garrett McNamara, I'd readily suggest you check this out, and draw your own conclusion.

*Update 7/28/21* I've now seen Episode 2, where we mostly get what happened when McNamara returns to Nazare for his second season there (in 2011). I am absolutely spellbound by the surfing footage...

*UPDATE 8/23/21* I've now seen all 6 episodes, and I just came to love this more and more as the episodes rolled along. I've upgraded my original rating of 7 stars to 8 stars. I recently read that HBO has green-lighted a second season, which is fantastic news. I want to see more of this!

The 100 foot wave is watching this perfect documentary. Unfortunately kids are too busy watching RealHousewives or whatever else crap there is on TV/Netflix. Thank you for HBO. Kept the quality coming.

I really didn't expect to be so captivated by this docuseries, but the footage is phenomenal and the dynamics captured brings a lot of great energy. Garrett, Cotty, and Al Mennie are captivating subjects and are who I was personally most immediately drawn too, but every person involved really is intriguing, especially the dynamic between Garrett and his wife Nicole.

I highly recommend this to both surfer and non-surfers alike, as the footage really is enough to lure people in on its own.

Never have I surfed a day in my life nor have I ever met anyone that has yet this show had me captivated. Very well done and amazing to see these enormous waves being navigated by us little humans.

Rarely does television bring me to tears. This series has done so several times. Tears of joy, defeat, agony, and fear. I have long wanted to FEEL what it is like to big wave surf - the power, speed, exhilaration, physicality, and fright. I finely have an inkling, due to the superb cinematography, deft editing and sound design, and sublime Philip Glass score. Glass' music raises this documentary filmmaking from excellent to extraordinary.

I usually watch movies and television with calm attention. Throughout '100 Foot Wave,' however, I often found myself cheering, clapping, and gasping at the screen.

Bravo!