Alpha Dog
Rated: R
Alpha Dog has a powerful storyline but it keeps swinging around mindlessly as it tries to find the truth behind the real-life slaying of an innocent 15-year-old kid who got caught up in the web of his half-brother's drug-crazed life and the reckless stupidity of a 20-year-old drug dealer. Is it about the parents of these kids that were too lax or too overbearing? Was it the hedonistic culture that fostered these kids? What's upsetting is the true and powerful storyline is so painfully obvious that it's baffling why writer/director Nick Cassavetes can't seem to capture it. Jake (Ben Foster, giving yet another great performance) is a speed freak who owes money to drug-dealing party-child Johnny Truelove (Emile Hirsch, who seems confused about his role and you can't really blame him since the script doesn't know if he's the main character, an external force, or how to develop him beyond a self-centered gangster-wannabe). After Jake crosses the line repeatedly with Johnny, Johnny goes to retaliate, but in an impulsive and tragic twist of fate, comes across Jake's brother Zach (Anton Yelchin) and decides to kidnap him and have him serve as a marker for Jake's debt. What's odd about the story is that Johnny is so stupid; he doesn't know how to kidnap. Instead of understanding the seriousness of his situation, he decides to leave Zack with Frankie (Justin Timberlake), who arises as the film's true protagonist and truly tragic figure. Frankie and Zach party and have a good time until Johnny makes the decision that rather than face any jail time for organizing a kidnapping, he'll just have his boys, including Frankie, kill Zach. Because Johnny's decision to murder Zach doesn't happen till the final act, the meandering party of the second act serves the film by deepening the relationship between Frankie and Zach and had the film focused on the two of them rather than jumping between Jake (whose ultimate fate we never learn, nor that of his real-world counterpart Benjamin Markowitz), Johnny's Mafioso father (Bruce Willis), Johnny's sycophantic friend Elvis (Shawn Hatosy), and all the bullshit in between, Alpha Dog would be a much stronger movie. It's a shame because Timberlake and Yelchin anchor this film with their honest and fascinating performances and relationship. Alpha Dog is a frustrating film because it doesn't have the brains or the balls to ask the tough questions about hedonism, maturity, and most importantly, personal responsibility. The ideas circle the film, but never in a cohesive or compelling fashion. The film also lacks the heart to turn the story completely to Frankie and Zach, instead using a half-assed investigative report to frame the story where it's clear that having Frankie tell the story from jail would set up the film in a more tragic and reflective framework. While the work of Timberlake and Yelchin are good reason to see this film, the way the film bumbles around the story is just too frustrating to deal with for two hours. Words by |