Ahoy, squirts! Quint here with another review of Nick Cassavetes' ALPHA DOG, which got pretty good word out of Sundance, especially towards Justin Timberlake's performance. I've seen bits of his work in Richard Kelly's SOUTHLAND TALES (more on that in the very near future) and I think we're about to see geekhood stunned a bit. "Did I really just think that Justin Timberlake was fuckin' cool?" Etc. I know it's hard to imagine, but I swear to you it's true. Anyway, here's a spy named Francis who caught the film in Houston last night with his thoughts. Enjoy!
Hey Harry, last time I posted a review it was over A Scanner Darkly and heaven has granted me with another screening. Tonight they screened Alpha Dog in Houston, and I was one of the few white people in the theatre, so i felt a bit awkward! Alpha Dog stars Emile Hirsch (sp?), Justin Timberlake, and has brief appearances from Bruce Willis, Sharon Stone and Harry Dean Stanton from Wild at Heart. Apparently its based off of a true story about a crime boss kid who kidnaps a guys brother to settle a debt. Kinda sounds like Chumscrubber, only its not shit, and has a much better story. Oh! and Nick Cassavetes directed it, that helped a bit too.
Overall the film was pretty good. Its hard to explain because it touches on so many different genres and messages, but I mean I guess I'll try. Emile Hirsch plays Johnny Truelove, which I thought was a ridiculous name, even if its a true story. Equipped with side burns and a "badass" attitude, we find out he runs a little weed distribution between his friends, all of which smoke every minute of the day. We also find out that he gets this weed from his father played by Bruce Willis. At one of their parties, an aquaintance named Jake comes by to tell Johnny Truelove that he didnt make the money he promised Johnny he would make. They get in a scuffle and from there on out the kidnapping happens and everything spins out of control like you would expect.
The acting is much better than I thought it would be. Emile Hirsch has done better, but the best part about his character is that he puts on such a huge front that you realize he truly has no power, which he pushes upon all of his friends. That is so important, because honestly, can many of you imagine Emile Hirsch as a thugged out, always has a gun, calling bitches ho's, old car driving wigger? I cant either. However, I can believe that he has erectile dysfunction....seriously you will see. Anton Yelchin from House of D does a good job as well as the little brother who gets kidnapped but doesnt really want to go home. The supporting roles done by Bruce Willis and Sharon Stone are very small, but used very effectively and played well. Sharon Stone has a moment in the end that is probably the best performance I've seen from her, its a shame her role wasnt bigger. Nobody did a particularly bad job, everyone blended in fine.
My absolute favorite part of this movie however, is Justin Timberlake. I knew it, I knew when I read he was doing an "edgy" role that he would do a good job. Has anybody SERIOUSLY listened to Justified? Justin surprised me, I'm not saying he's going to win an Oscar for this role, but when this is released people will note his performance probably as the best in the film next to Anton Yelchin. Im expecting to be scrutinized, but dont judge it until you see it. I can say, in all honesty that Justin Timberlake almost made me cry. WTF
The music is ok, Im sure it was temporary. The cinematography was cool, but they tried to do an edgy "Requiem for a Dream" type shot that shows up the first couple of minutes in the film and then all of a sudden disappears. Even when they did use it, it had no significance at all.
The only real problems I had with this movie is the very end, they do a very cliche where are they now sort of ending that just really doesnt fit in with the rest of the film. Also the first half of the movie, pre-abduction, could be a trimmed a little because this is a somewhat lengthy movie. Other than that I think they have a good film on their hands, it looks hard to promote though. I was in a focus group and they asked "how would we reccomend the film to our friends". I guess they dont know either. Good luck with Penthouse, I can finally claim to read the articles.
-Francis Buxton
