AKenjiB
Badass
Posts: 1,047 
Likes: 653
|
Post by AKenjiB on Apr 15, 2017 7:25:57 GMT
It's not a perfect movie. Some performances are better than others, the opening credits feel a bit heavy-handed, Ben Foster's martial arts fight feels so tonally confusing and the ending is in really bad taste (playing Tec-9 in the credits). But I honestly really love the film. It captures a sort of douche-bro culture which makes virtually all of the characters pretty irritating but I still find the film so fascinating.
Its basically about a bunch of spoiled and stupid kids doing stupid things and at times almost sinks into dark comedy when you see just how stupid the characters are. But I think the film really shines in some of the happier scenes when Zack is smoking, drinking and bonding with the group. At first it feels a bit too glamorous but it ends up being really effective at making the story all the more tragic.
I honestly enjoyed most of the performances. Emile Hirsch is so good at playing such a despicable, spoiled man-child. Justin Timberlake does a really good job at creating this empathetic, likable guy which makes the last third of the film all the more frustrating. Anton Yelchin absolutely breaks your heart. I still can't believe he's gone. He was such a talent. And of course Ben Foster is great as usual. It's over the top but it fits the character so well.
I can definitely understand why some might dislike Alpha Dog but I think the straightforward storytelling makes it a really intriguing watch. The film is definitely frustrating but that's what I love about it. And even if it does seem to revel in the high life of their spoiled party lifestyles a bit too much, I felt showing the rise before the fall was important and it ultimately did good at deconstructing their lifestyle.
Anyways, that's just me. I'd love to hear what others think.
|
|
|
|
Post by tenenbaumkingdom on Apr 15, 2017 8:32:34 GMT
I haven't seen this movie in about ten years (when it initially was released), but I remember enjoying it. With such a large ensemble cast (including Bruce Willis, Sharon Stone, Emile Hirsch, Ben Foster, Olivia Wilde, Amanda Seyfried, Anton Yelchin, etc), I found the strongest performance in that whole movie to be Justin Timberlake's breakthrough performance. He genuinely surprised me in this film. It shows his promise as an actor, which of course led to a great performance in The Social Network, as well as his good turns in Inside Llewyn Davis, Friends with Benefits and In Time.
Might need to give this one another viewing soon, if I can get my hands on it.
|
|
|
|
Post by jakesully on Apr 15, 2017 10:08:46 GMT
What makes it so disturbing and chilling is that all of this actually happened (based on a true story) . The folks at Dateline did a great segment on this many years back and I couldn't believe how tragic it was . I agree with ya that Yelchin gives such a heart breaking performance . I was also surprised to see that the director of this also directed The Notebook.
Overall I quite liked this (plus Olivia Wilde gets nude in it) 7.5/10
|
|
|
|
Post by ibbi on Apr 15, 2017 20:31:55 GMT
Ben Foster is truly heinous, and Sharon Stone's final scene is so farcical she almost derails the entire movie, but other than that it's good, powerful stuff. Among the cast it was definitely Timberlake who surprised me the most.
|
|
|
|
Post by stephen on Apr 15, 2017 20:35:39 GMT
Ben Foster is truly heinous, and Sharon Stone's final scene is so farcical she almost derails the entire movie, but other than that it's good, powerful stuff. Among the cast it was definitely Timberlake who surprised me the most. |
|
|
|
Post by ibbi on Apr 15, 2017 20:50:00 GMT
Ben Foster is truly heinous, and Sharon Stone's final scene is so farcical she almost derails the entire movie, but other than that it's good, powerful stuff. Among the cast it was definitely Timberlake who surprised me the most.  |
|
AKenjiB
Badass
Posts: 1,047
Likes: 653
|
Post by AKenjiB on Apr 15, 2017 21:40:00 GMT
I haven't seen this movie in about ten years (when it initially was released), but I remember enjoying it. With such a large ensemble cast (including Bruce Willis, Sharon Stone, Emile Hirsch, Ben Foster, Olivia Wilde, Amanda Seyfried, Anton Yelchin, etc), I found the strongest performance in that whole movie to be Justin Timberlake's breakthrough performance. He genuinely surprised me in this film. It shows his promise as an actor, which of course led to a great performance in The Social Network, as well as his good turns in Inside Llewyn Davis, Friends with Benefits and In Time. Might need to give this one another viewing soon, if I can get my hands on it. I honestly think it's Justin Timberlake's best performance to date. His scenes with Anton Yelchin are some of the highlights |
|
AKenjiB
Badass
Posts: 1,047
Likes: 653
|
Post by AKenjiB on Apr 15, 2017 21:41:34 GMT
Ben Foster is truly heinous, and Sharon Stone's final scene is so farcical she almost derails the entire movie, but other than that it's good, powerful stuff. Among the cast it was definitely Timberlake who surprised me the most. Haha, I thought Ben foster's tics were so great in the movie personally. ("I'm totally fucking straight, man!"). Reminds me of the drug users who used to come into my dad's store when I was a kid. What were your thoughts on the movie as a whole, Stephen? |
|
|
|
Post by stephen on Apr 15, 2017 21:54:32 GMT
Haha, I thought Ben foster's tics were so great in the movie personally. ("I'm totally fucking straight, man!"). Reminds me of the drug users who used to come into my dad's store when I was a kid. What were your thoughts on the movie as a whole, Stephen? "I NEED THIS FUCKING JOB! FUCK YOUUUUUUUUU!" I think that it's a very strong ensemble piece, and while yes, it can get a bit overcooked at times, I feel that it largely earns it. |
|
|
|
Post by bobbystarks on Apr 15, 2017 22:37:34 GMT
One of the funniest scenes I've ever seen tbh.
|
|
AKenjiB
Badass
Posts: 1,047
Likes: 653
|
Post by AKenjiB on Apr 15, 2017 23:00:50 GMT
One of the funniest scenes I've ever seen tbh. Yeah I was rewatching it last night for like the 8th time with some friends and I was the highest I had been in awhile and when that scene happened, we erupted in laughter. The scene is hysterical but I have no idea if that was intentional or not. The fact that it's completely fiction (in a film where most of the ridiculous scenes really did happen) doesn't help justify its existence either. |
|
AKenjiB
Badass
Posts: 1,047
Likes: 653
|
Post by AKenjiB on Apr 15, 2017 23:02:55 GMT
What makes it so disturbing and chilling is that all of this actually happened (based on a true story) . The folks at Dateline did a great segment on this many years back and I couldn't believe how tragic it was . I agree with ya that Yelchin gives such a heart breaking performance . I was also surprised to see that the director of this also directed The Notebook. Overall I quite liked this (plus Olivia Wilde gets nude in it) 7.5/10 Yeah it's such a fucked up story about something that could've easily been prevented. If I wasn't aware it was a true story, I probably would've criticized the film for the bizarre logic of the characters. The fact that these people were actually this selfish and stupid is truly horrifying. |
|
|
|
Post by getclutch on Apr 16, 2017 3:18:20 GMT
This is one of the better thought provoking stories based on actual events. It's about bad parenting, and a balance between right and wrong.
|
|
|
|
Post by nic-dreadwolf-marling on Apr 21, 2017 0:59:00 GMT
Immensely tragic tale anchored by excellent performances. Still Ben Foster's second best after Bang Bang You're Dead. Timberlake shines and almost outdoes his Social Network work. Yelchin, per usual, is great. Overall it's a damn good watch.
|
|
|
|
Post by cheesecake on Apr 24, 2017 4:20:16 GMT
Such an effective and disturbing film. Strong ensemble with Foster being my favorite and supporting win for the year.
|
|
