12 O'Clock Boys

Released Jan 31, 2014

1h 14m

Documentary

List

92%

Tomatometer

50 Reviews

65%

Audience Score

1,000+ Ratings

A Baltimore boy named Pug idolizes a group of dirt-bike riders who raise havoc on city streets. Lacking any other significant male role models, Pug hopes to join their ranks one day.

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Critics Consensus

Visually striking and grippingly fast-paced, 12 O'Clock Boys asks thought-provoking questions with admirable subtlety and restraint.

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Ty Burr

Boston Globe

A short, pungent, ambiguous portrait of the poorer sections of Baltimore and the young men who get their kicks riding dirt bikes through the streets en masse, popping wheelies and dodging the police.

Rated: 2.5/4

Feb 13, 2014

Full Review

Chris Nashawaty

Entertainment Weekly

Documentary filmmaker Lotfy Nathan explores the outlaw appeal of an inner-city Baltimore dirt-bike gang through the eyes of a 13-year-old wannabe member named Pug.

Rated: B

Feb 10, 2014

Full Review

Kimber Myers

The Playlist

An exciting, beautifully shot look at a subculture through the eyes of one of its most devoted admirers.

Rated: B

Jan 31, 2014

Full Review

Richard Crouse

Richard Crouse

This show-me, don't-tell-me doc is an effective, poignant but slightly depressing look at one young man's struggle to find the right path.

Rated: 3.5/5

Feb 1, 2021

Full Review

Jordan M. Smith

IONCINEMA.com

Nathan's onscreen portrayal of Baltimore is a grim, but wholly alive piece of documentary filmmaking.

Rated: 3.5/5

Nov 4, 2020

Full Review

Nathan Bartlebaugh

The Film Stage

The filmmaking on 12 O'Clock Boys is masterfully even-handed and fastidiously detailed.

Rated: B+

Jun 21, 2016

Full Review

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michelle c

A well done documentary observing a fraction of life in the hood for an 11 year old boy who has taken an interest in the bike life sub-culture as a means of emotional & psychological release. I'm not surprised to see a review from a half-wit, nutcase referring to these kids as "a waste of life." You have to be pretty ignorant and full of hate to make a determination like that, but that's why this documentary is so important. The producers don't judge the decision of the male riders, but instead chooses to place a spotlight on both sides of this sub-culture, allowing us to see it from both perspectives - the police & the bike packs. The circumstances surrounding Pug's life is an important aspect shaping his decisions, and he's funny af - a real old soul trapped in a child's body. These same family circumstances are obviously true for many of the riders coming from low-income families. Instead of a waste of life this film lets us see just a little bit of the raw, amazing, talent and abilities trapped within the confines of hood life. Make no mistake about it, the 12 0'Clock boys did not get their names or exclusive member rights in the pack without being able to demonstrate how practiced, skilled, and talented they are on those bikes. To be able to lift and stand a moving motor cycle / dirt bike / or 4 wheeler straight up - vertically - in the air while balancing their bodies, moving their feet in fancy ways, standing up fully, dodging police, and every other obstacle presented on a busy street - is no less fascinating than watching cast members at the Cirque du soliel. They are amazing. From Pug's pre-teen narrow point of view it seems it seems there's not much else to do, & it's easy to understand his decision to join a bike pack as a main goal. He's young & full of energy. Instead of finding ways to kill them legally, chase them, hate them, and take their bikes away from them - a city that truly cares about them would find a way to help them do what they love in a safer way. You can box the spirit and the genius in hoods all across the country, but you won't be able to control or contain the dynamic and divine energy in their dna - so you might as well find a way to accommodate all of that bright energy, allowing them to do what they need to do to feel alive, appreciated, and valued in this sport. This is a problem that can surely be solved. I'm glad someone focused on what it's like for them from the inside. I grew up in an inner city and the bikes always got everyone's attention from the young to the old. It was like a breath of fresh air to see them flying by doing their tricks and being so free. The film captured the essence of this well. Periodically, accidents can happen, and fatal ones at that, as you will witness in this film - but to be honest - accidents happen all kinds of ways, bikes or not. It's bigger than us. A great watch.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

Audience Member

I’m a huge documentary fan, but this one didn’t do it for me.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

01/13/20

Full Review

Audience Member

It's a documentary the way it should be done, it doesn't try to push an agenda on you or condone the illegal activities nor show disdain for it, it just show you the way it is and how they use the riding as a release for whatever problems they have got going on.I saw the movie last night and I've been thinking about Pug and his family ever since. It's been a year or so since they were filmed and I was wondering if there were any updates? Their personal lives past the film may be none of my business, but I can't help but wonder and care. His story moved me so much, I hope he's able to feel free while staying out of trouble.The piece is beautifully done, and gives us a glimpse into this particular setting. Young people have been doing this for years in every kind of community. I rode dirt bikes out on Long Island when I was a teenager, but it was on land that wasn't set aside for dirt riding. We eventually got chased out. These kids are in the streets. That is dangerous, but just about everything in the inner cities are dangerous. I think if they get injured or they injure others, there is a problem to be solved, but instead of bringing the hammer down on them, perhaps we can find a way to give them some of what they need. I'm not ignoring that the behavior is dangerous and not just to themselves. If they get caught, the bikes should be confiscated, kind of a social Darwinism at work. The safest and best riders keep riding, while the rest get shelved.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/02/23

Full Review

Audience Member

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Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

02/22/23

Full Review

Audience Member

One of the best documentaries I have ever seen!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/31/23

Full Review

Audience Member

This is like a 2 hour long youtube video of guys doing wheelies on motorbikes. Save yourself the time and see the 3 minute version.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

02/16/23

Full Review

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Lotfy Nathan

Director

Lotfy Nathan

Writer

Lotfy Nathan

Producer

John Kassab

Producer

Eric Blair

Producer

Tom Colley

Producer

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Synopsis

A Baltimore boy named Pug idolizes a group of dirt-bike riders who raise havoc on city streets. Lacking any other significant male role models, Pug hopes to join their ranks one day.

Director: Lotfy Nathan
Producer: Taylor Gillespie, David Laub, Daniel Berger
Screenwriter: Lotfy Nathan
Distributor: Oscilloscope Pictures
Production Co: Mission Pictures
Genre: Documentary
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jan 31, 2014, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 10, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $44.1K
Runtime: 1h 14m

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