Reviewed by:
Ron Henriques - 01.12.07
Based on yet another "true story", "Alpha Dog" illustrates the continuing evolution of director and former actor Nick Cassavettes, who may one day achieve success of great commercial heights, but shows no sign of eclipsing his legendary father. Giving off one of those the-names-have-been-changed-but-the-story-is-true vibes, "Alpha Dog" examines what happens when a group a stoned, gangsta wannabe White kids decide to kidnap the 15-year-old brother of a rival. Playing Johnny Truelove (based on recently captured fugitive Jesse James Hollywood), Emile Hirsch leads a young cast as the leader of a small group of stoners who makes a small living as a dealer in the shadow of his mob connected dad Bruce Willis. Though Hirsh commands respect and loyalty from followers that include tattooed womanizer Justin Timberlake and lapdog Shawn Hatosy, his aggressive attitude covers up the little boy poser underneath. Able to see right through Hirsch is erratic associate Ben Foster, nearly unrecognizable with a shaved head as a tweaker (heavily tattooed with Hebrew around his neck and a swastika on his chest) who also has a legitimate job as a telemarketer. A physical altercation ensues when Foster refuses to pay his debt to Hirsch on time, resulting in a series of retaliations.
While on their way to a party, Hirsch and his crew spot Foster's younger brother Anton Yelchin walking on the side of the road and decide to grab him as collateral. They don't know exactly what they'll do with him and Yelchin, at odds with his overbearing mother Sharon Stone, doesn't seem to mind. He's just looking for a set of kids to find acceptance with and a place where he'll fit in. More like a playmate than a hostage, Yelchin is babysat by Timberlake, while Hirsch makes demands with Foster, already enraged by what's gone down. Timberlake and his group of stoned homeboys and girlfriends, not only treat Yelchin like one of their own, but initiate him into their world of partying, pot, and promiscuity. But Stone has already reported her son missing and when word gets back to Hirsch that he could be seeing serious jail time just for abducting the kid, his intent turns from monetary to murderous.
Cassavettes wrote Alpha Dog's screenplay himself and he has impressively captured the language and mindset of late nineties spoiled stoners from the San Fernando Valley. Hirsch and his cohorts seem incapable of grasping or even pausing to analyze the gravity of their situation or consequences of even the simplest actions. These unemployed, privileged kids don't know what it means to quit partying and take responsibility. Though the cast represent a culture that exists today, many of the performances are one-note, with everyone operating and thinking on the same level. Though Cassavettes offers an interesting facsimile of real people like this, it is neither insightful nor as powerful as the lost children from the realm of Larry Clark. Portraying a character larger in life than the world of this film, Ben Foster chews nearly everything in his path from his fellow cast members to the sprocket holes of the film itself. As a vicious Jewish/neo-Nazi, his performance is a far cry from his unconvincing villain in "Hostage" and conflicted suitor on TV's "Six Feet Under." Though he may have a degree of a physical presence, the bland Timberlake's attempt to act tough is wearing a hoodie that makes him look like a homeboy Anakin Skywalker. He should have probably studied Foster's work ethic and considered going to more than just an acting coach.
