Alpha Dog (HD DVD and Standard DVD Combo)
Starring: Bruce Willis, Matthew Barry, Emile Hirsch, Fernando Vargas (II), Vincent KartheiserDirector: Nick Cassavetes
Studio: Universal Studios
MPAA Rating: R (Restricted)
Format: AC-3, Color, Dolby, Dubbed, Subtitled, Widescreen
Running Time: 118 minutes
DVD Release: May 1st 2007
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DVD Review
With harrowing intensity, Alpha Dog dramatizes one of the most tragically notorious murders in recent history. Ripped from the headlines, writer-director Nick Cassavetes' flawed but riveting crime drama (a polar opposite to his previous film, the romantic hit The Notebook) is based on the real-life case of Jesse James Hollywood, a drug dealer in California's San Gabriel Valley who, in 2000, became one of the youngest men to appear on the FBI's Ten Most Wanted list. Names and details have been changed, but the criminal circumstances remain the same: With family links to organized crime, Johnny Truelove (Emile Hirsch) is on the warpath against Jake Mazursky (Ben Foster), a sleazebag addict who owes him money. Fate intervenes when Johnny and his stoner pals including Frankie (Justin Timberlake) encounter Jake's 15-year-old half-brother Zack (Anton Yelchin) and hold him as collateral until Jake pays his debts. What begins as a casual, seemingly harmless situation escalates into a crisis of capital crime, as Alpha Dog employs split-screen, docudrama, and mock-documentary interviews to chronicle a tragic tailspin of reckless events and lawless behavior.
Cassavetes himself became part of the real-life drama when prosecutors (hoping to locate then-fugitive Jesse James Hollywood, who was captured in 2005) gave him legally controversial access to their case files. Alpha Dog clearly benefits from this inside information, and while the film's grueling depiction of underage squalor (including rampant drug and alcohol abuse) is inevitably off-putting and at least partially exploitative, there's no denying that Cassavetes has worked wonders with a well-chosen ensemble cast including Timberlake, who contrasts his music-industry stardom with a convincing performance as a likable, not-too-bright party animal who quickly gets in over his head. The film is ultimately compromised by Cassavetes' ambitious attempt to cover too much dramatic territory, but like his father John before him, he demonstrates a remarkable skill with actors (including Sharon Stone, Bruce Willis, and Harry Dean Stanton in supporting roles), and Alpha Dog is full of powerful, dangerous moments that aren't easily forgotten. --Jeff Shannon
User Reviews
Not as bad as I thought... - Rating: 5/5
I watched this movie a lot later, when it was on demand, because it didnt seem like a movie that I would be interested in. The intrigue comes when you realize it was based on true events. You know that names have been changed, but not being from the area and knowing nothing about the case, I didnt know about the outcome. It starts out a little annoying I must say, just kids constantly getting high and cussing a lot. It then climaxes when the innocent brother of our drug dealers rival is kidnapped and then you cant help but watch to see what happens next. Once the drug dealer realizes what the sentence is for just kidnapping the kid and demanding ransom, things get really sticky.
A movie worth seeing, and Justin Timberlake gave a surprisingly good performance. Just make sure you dont cut out before the end. :)
I really liked this movie - Rating: 5/5
I saw this movie on HBO a couple of days ago and I really enjoyed it. It really shows the vapidness of the SoCal culture. A lot of reveiwers are criticizing it because they say its derivative of other movies but since I haven't seen those other movies, I can only say what I have seen.
The actors are unknown and do a great job. I would highly recommend it. I was surprised about how much I really liked it.
Ahhh, youth - Rating: 4/5
Surprisingly good take on the true story of Jesse James Hollywood's antics as a suburban drug dealer and his kidnapping a business colleague's younger brother to settle a debt. The names are changed but the story is very accurate. So accurate that the DA was removed from the case because he served as a consultant on the film and apparently leaked several unauthorized documents to director Nick Cassavettes.
The performances alone make this one worth watching. Very strong turn-outs by Emille Hirsch as Johnny Truelove (Hollywood), Justin Timberlake as his loyal and good natured friend, but it's Ben Foster who nearly steals this entire film from everyone. One drawback to the film is that we never have any closure with Foster's character after everything goes down. I think the reason for this is because it is a true story. Another director may have taken a more commercial approach and given Foster a final scene to chew but Cassavettes holds true to the story and instead focuses on the wasted youth and the culture they live. It makes for a compelling argument that we parents who work hard to provide for our children must not forget the moral compass that must be taught as well.
WOW. - Rating: 5/5
This movie is AMAZING. When you watch this movie, you also learn about the REAL story behind it. The acting is great. Im gonna buy this as soon as i can.
sometimes you never see it coming - Rating: 5/5
Sometimes a good movie can come out of nowhere and really surprise you, even when you've read the description for said movie beforehand and get a picture in your mind what the plot is going to be like. Alpha Dog is that movie.
While it takes a long time for the story to eventually get going, the story is about a group of young gang adults who kidnap a younger guy who's part of another gang (two enemy gangs clashing). Of course, once the other gang finds out one of their guys has been kidnapped, they understandably get angry. That's exactly what happens here.
The violence is really extreme for the most part. There's lot of fighting going on ALL the time. The same can be said for the swear words. I've NEVER heard so many F words used in all my life! Just about every sentence you will hear them. If that bothers you, don't even think about watching the movie.
But what made the story so interesting was how a good amount of time was devoted on the main characters, so you always know who was who. When the one guy gets kidnapped, you'll be surprised how he reacts to it, and what happens at the end of the film. It's based on a true story, and just in case you forget about that, pay close attention to the final 15 minutes of the movie. You'll be pretty shocked at what you're seeing.
I recommend watching it. Bruce Willis' character didn't appear often, but just enough to get an idea who he was. He wasn't supposed to be one of the major characters, so it all makes sense.
