ALPHA DOG
Tales Of A "Scarface" Jr. Wanna-Be (or, Say Goodnight To My
Little Friend)
PopcornReel.com Film Review: "Alpha Dog"
By Omar P.L. Moore/January 12, 2007
THE GOOD
THE BAD
THE UGLY
The Good: Sharon Stone as Olivia; The
Bad: Bad boy Frankie (a hooded Justin Timberlake) with Zack (Anton Yelchin);
The Ugly: Jake (Ben Foster) and Johnny (Emile Hirsch)
(Photos: Darren Michaels/Universal Pictures)
Nick Cassavettes' film "Alpha Dog" is a riveting, ambitious
work based on the true story of Johnny Truelove (aka "Jesse James Hollywood"),
who in 1999 was responsible for the murder of the brother of a rival
drug-dealer. Truelove was a fugitive on the lam from the L.A. police and
the Federal Bureau of Investigation, whom finally had the pleasure of removing
him from their most wanted list after his capture on August 10, 2005.
"Alpha Dog" chronicles in documentary-like fashion, the road leading to both the
murder of Zack and the capture of Truelove. Emile Hirsch plyas Truelove,
and Anton Yelchin plays Zack Mazursky, the young man ultimately murdered as a
pawn in the bloody chess game of drugs and revenge, between Truelove and Jake
Mazursky, a bitter rival (played by Ben Foster). The film features some
good acting at times, particularly from Hirsch, but especially from Mr. Yelchin
and Justin Timberlake, who plays a stable-mate of Truelove's who befriends Zack.
The cavalcade of girls, drugs, manhood challenges, hysterical battles and
anguish are all on display - and some of that seeps into the filmmaking style of
Mr. Cassavettes, who tries to marry both the fictional narrative (done well)
with the documentary style approach (not done so successfully). The
efforts, albeit well-intended, dilute the body and heart of the film a little
too much. Perhaps the performances would have stood out much more -- Ben
Foster's wildly over-acted characterization could have been muted (even if
indeed the real-life character was the same way) -- if the documentary approach
had been shelved.
Nonetheless, "Alpha Dog" isn't bad at all. A scene near the film's end
with Sharon Stone (who plays the mother of Zack) -- when she talks to the
documentary questioner (the film's co-producer Matthew Barry) is powerful and
disturbing, shot in a lurid and tightly-lensed way.
Occasionally overwrought, and occasionally good, "Alpha Dog" also features Bruce
Willis, Harry Dean Stanton, Dominique Swain, and former boxer Fernando Vargas,
and opens today in North America.
"Alpha Dog" is rated R by the Motion Picture Association of
America for pervasive drug use and language, strong violence, sexuality and
nudity. The film's duration is two hours and two minutes.
Copyright 2007. The Popcorn Reel. PopcornReel.com. All Rights
Reserved.