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"Alpha Dog? More
Like Alpha Male! He Gets
an A for Effort." |
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Directed by Nick
Cassavetes - Written by
Nick Cassavetes
Starring Ben Foster,
Shawn Hatosy, Emile
Hirsch, Christopher
Marquette
Sharon Stone, Justin
Timberlake, Anton
Yelchin, Bruce Willis
Distributed by Universal -
2007 - 122m - Rated R |
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I did not want to see “Alpha Dog.” |
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But as part of my duty
to Independent Critics, I sucked it up and bought my ticket. Low and
behold, “Alpha Dog” was actually the stronger of the two films I saw
that day (the other being the vastly overrated “Dreamgirls”).
Considering that this is a January release starring Justin
Timberlake, this is high praise, indeed.
“Alpha Dog” is not a great film, but it is a highly competent and
entertaining film. The fact that it is based on a true story (a very
recent true story) adds a level of disturbing reality to the
proceedings.
The twisted storyline follows Johnny Truelove (Emile Hirsch), a
twenty year old drug dealer who abducts Zack Mazursky (Anton
Yelchin) because his older brother Jake (Ben Foster) can’t pay a
debt. Zack is placed in the care of Frankie (Justin Timberlake), who
introduces the kid to his wild lifestyle. Eventually, things spiral
out of control and lead to murder.
Writer-Director Nick Cassavetes (son of John) keeps the story moving
at an incredibly fast pace, even allowing a lot of comedy to
permeate an otherwise pitch-dark story. More importantly, he allows
this cast made up entirely of morally depleted characters to become
real and often likable. We are allowed the courtesy of understanding
WHY these characters are so corrupt.
If there is a real problem with the film, it is that Cassavetes
never truly gets under these characters skin. We like them, we hate
them, but we can never sympathize or love. There is no real
connection to these characters.
However, “Alpha Dog” is well worth seeing if just for the cast,
which showcases some of the best young talent working today. Hirsch
and Yelchin are both great and Foster steals the whole show as a
violent and emotionally unstable drug addict. Even Timberlake, who I
was prepared to hate, gives a solid performance.
This is not a film to rush out and see, but in the dead month of
January, it is a bit of a revelation. |
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© Written by Jacob Hall -
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TC Candler's Comment
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Richard Propes' Comment
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