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Alpha Dog
Alpha Dog shows that not all criminals are masterminds and that not all "nerds gone wild" stories have happy endings. Nick Cassavetes should be commended for the unflinching manner in which he tells the story - it packs a punch, although it runs a bit too long to be truly unsettling. There's an art to figuring out when to end a movie and this time Cassavetes doesn't get it right, in my opinion.
Alpha Dog transpires in the late 1990s and focuses on drug dealer Johnny Truelove (Emile Hirsch) and his posse, which includes jokester Frankie Ballenbacher (Justin Timberlake) and gofer Elvis Schmidt (Shaun Hatosy). When Johnny has a falling-out with one of his customers, Jake Mazursky (Ben Foster), who owes him money, all hell breaks loose. The escalating conflict results in a prisoner being taken: Jake's naïve younger brother, Zack (Anton Yelchin), who's the lamb to Johnny's wolves. Although Zack is initially kidnapped, he adapts to his captivity, playing video games with members of Johnny's crew, drinking and doing dope, and flirting with girls. It's paradise for this sheltered lad, and he doesn't want to go back to being Mommy and Daddy's Perfect Boy. However, life lessons for Zack aren't foremost on Johnny's mind. He's trying to figure out the best way to stay out of prison or end up in a body bag, and that may require Zack to be in a position where he can never testify.
It's interesting to watch a movie in which the criminals are idiots and wimps. Most of the time, bad guys in movies such as Alpha Dogs are geniuses and ballsy thugs. Johnny plays at times is a sophisticated badass, but when it comes down to it, he's a fraud. He's not smart and he's intimidated by guns. There are many times when he has a chance to pull the trigger but doesn't. Johnny's playing the role of the gangster until one of many unintelligent decisions puts him in a situation in which the consequences are severe.
Most of the characters are not the kinds of people the average person would feel comfortable spending a couple of hours with. Then comes Zack. He's a good guy whose situation is not of his own making. He happens to have a crazy half brother who's in debt to Johnny.
The movie bypasses the perfect ending point - a mock-interview with Sharon Stone as Zack's mother - and instead spends 15 extra minutes with Johnny and his gang. This part of the movie is unneeded and drags the on a bit. While Alpha Dog may start out being about Johnny, it quickly becomes about Zack and Zack's developing friendship with Frankie.
As Zack, Anton Yelchin develops a sweet, baby-faced character in which bookworms everywhere will relate. Zack is every high school student who spent more time studying than socializing. It's an effective performance, right to the end. Also strong, which did somehwat surprise me, is Justin Timberlake as Frankie. It doesn't take long for him to get rid of his reputation and do some real acting. Frankie is a tragic figure - a boy who's in way over his head. Ben Foster is brilliant as Jake and was one of the stand out performances from the movie. Emile Hirsch is decent as Johnny, but it's neither a memorable or a compelling performance. A little star power is provided by Bruce Willis in a small role as Johnny's dad and Sharon Stone as Zack's mom. Both play very little roles and apart from an interview with Sharon Stone at the end, they have very little screen time.
Cassavetes approaches the subject matter with a clear eye and a very dark sense of humor. Most of Alpha Dog's jokes are dark, darker, and darkest. The film is designed to make viewers feel uncomfortable and it achieves this with a shocking ending, which although predictable, is like a punch to the stomach. Cassavetes isn't interested in generating suspense; this is more of a study of human nature. The picture he paints isn't pretty but it's accurate. Alpha Dog isn't a happy movie, but it's solid and the impressions it leaves will not be easily shaken away.
Alpha Dog shows that not all criminals are masterminds and that not all "nerds gone wild" stories have happy endings. Nick Cassavetes should be commended for the unflinching manner in which he tells the story - it packs a punch, although it runs a bit too long to be truly unsettling. There's an art to figuring out when to end a movie and this time Cassavetes doesn't get it right, in my opinion.
Alpha Dog transpires in the late 1990s and focuses on drug dealer Johnny Truelove (Emile Hirsch) and his posse, which includes jokester Frankie Ballenbacher (Justin Timberlake) and gofer Elvis Schmidt (Shaun Hatosy). When Johnny has a falling-out with one of his customers, Jake Mazursky (Ben Foster), who owes him money, all hell breaks loose. The escalating conflict results in a prisoner being taken: Jake's naïve younger brother, Zack (Anton Yelchin), who's the lamb to Johnny's wolves. Although Zack is initially kidnapped, he adapts to his captivity, playing video games with members of Johnny's crew, drinking and doing dope, and flirting with girls. It's paradise for this sheltered lad, and he doesn't want to go back to being Mommy and Daddy's Perfect Boy. However, life lessons for Zack aren't foremost on Johnny's mind. He's trying to figure out the best way to stay out of prison or end up in a body bag, and that may require Zack to be in a position where he can never testify.
It's interesting to watch a movie in which the criminals are idiots and wimps. Most of the time, bad guys in movies such as Alpha Dogs are geniuses and ballsy thugs. Johnny plays at times is a sophisticated badass, but when it comes down to it, he's a fraud. He's not smart and he's intimidated by guns. There are many times when he has a chance to pull the trigger but doesn't. Johnny's playing the role of the gangster until one of many unintelligent decisions puts him in a situation in which the consequences are severe.
Most of the characters are not the kinds of people the average person would feel comfortable spending a couple of hours with. Then comes Zack. He's a good guy whose situation is not of his own making. He happens to have a crazy half brother who's in debt to Johnny.
The movie bypasses the perfect ending point - a mock-interview with Sharon Stone as Zack's mother - and instead spends 15 extra minutes with Johnny and his gang. This part of the movie is unneeded and drags the on a bit. While Alpha Dog may start out being about Johnny, it quickly becomes about Zack and Zack's developing friendship with Frankie.
As Zack, Anton Yelchin develops a sweet, baby-faced character in which bookworms everywhere will relate. Zack is every high school student who spent more time studying than socializing. It's an effective performance, right to the end. Also strong, which did somehwat surprise me, is Justin Timberlake as Frankie. It doesn't take long for him to get rid of his reputation and do some real acting. Frankie is a tragic figure - a boy who's in way over his head. Ben Foster is brilliant as Jake and was one of the stand out performances from the movie. Emile Hirsch is decent as Johnny, but it's neither a memorable or a compelling performance. A little star power is provided by Bruce Willis in a small role as Johnny's dad and Sharon Stone as Zack's mom. Both play very little roles and apart from an interview with Sharon Stone at the end, they have very little screen time.
Cassavetes approaches the subject matter with a clear eye and a very dark sense of humor. Most of Alpha Dog's jokes are dark, darker, and darkest. The film is designed to make viewers feel uncomfortable and it achieves this with a shocking ending, which although predictable, is like a punch to the stomach. Cassavetes isn't interested in generating suspense; this is more of a study of human nature. The picture he paints isn't pretty but it's accurate. Alpha Dog isn't a happy movie, but it's solid and the impressions it leaves will not be easily shaken away.