Review of Alpha Dog (2006) by Emily G — 03 Aug 2010

Now, as a note, there is absolutely nothing that I can say that can describe this movie to you, really. But, all I can say is that the writing is genius. It paints such a dark picture of a demographic that is lost in their parents' affluence, the homogeneity of their upper-middle class suburban sterile lifestyle, who mirror the children of lower class families. but where crack dealers and pimps seem to get their out of being poor, lack of opportunity, and lack of education, these kids have too much money, have been in the best schools, and have every opportunity in the world... argument: it all comes down to parenting.

If you are loved, whether or not you have a single mother, are adopted, have two daddies, whatever, if you are loved and treated with respect and have the attention of your parents, you will probably be okay.

It is scary, I supposed, because I am all too familair with the boredom and unrest that exists in front of a big screen tv. People want excitement and challenges in their life, and when rich white boys start dressing up as street-wise gangsters, grabbing their half-dropped junk, and playing with their daddy's guns, a kind of tragedy occurs that leaves you with no catharsis, no justification, and no illusions about the importance of love in a person's life.

Also, to put it out there, Justin Timberlake was a pleasant surprise, Emile Hirsch was wonderfully horrible, Bruce Willis was terrifying, Ben Foster (who I haven't seen since X3 as "Angel") was fantastic, and Anton Yelchin (who you'll recognize as Chekov from the newest "Star Trek" movie) brings the most heart-breaking performance of any movie I have ever seen.

Forget any expectations you have about this movie, go in with an open mind, but pay attention. It is worth your time.

Cheers.