DogMan
A boy, bruised by life, finds his salvation through the love of his dogs.
- Released: 2023-06-15
- Runtime: 113 minutes
- Genre: Action, Drama, Western
- Stars: Caleb Landry Jones, Marisa Berenson, Christopher Denham, Jojo T. Gibbs, James Payton, Frédéric Guérin, Bennett Saltzman, Gwyneth Anne Trumbore, Derek Siow, Avant Strangel, Corinne Delacour, Naima Hebrail Kidjo, Luing Andrews, Aven Campau, Jeff Mantel, William Sciortino, C.C. DeNeira, Genevieve O'Neal, Laetitia Mampaka, Michael Garza
- Director: Luc Besson
Comments
- h_wave - 5 June 2024
A Dark and Gritty Tale of Survival
"DogMan," directed by Matteo Garrone, is a gritty and intense drama that explores the darker aspects of human nature and the struggle for dignity in a harsh environment. While the film offers a powerful central performance and a compelling narrative, it ultimately falls short of achieving greatness due to its uneven pacing and grim atmosphere.
Marcello Fonte stars as Marcello, a mild-mannered dog groomer living in a rundown neighborhood. Fonte's portrayal of Marcello is deeply affecting, capturing the character's vulnerability, kindness, and quiet desperation. His performance is the heart and soul of the film, making it easy for the audience to empathize with his plight.
The film's setting is bleak and oppressive, effectively conveying the sense of decay and hopelessness that permeates Marcello's world. Garrone's direction is unflinching, presenting the raw and brutal reality of life in this marginalized community. The cinematography is stark and gritty, enhancing the film's overall tone and atmosphere.
The plot centers around Marcello's relationship with the volatile and menacing Simoncino, played by Edoardo Pesce. As Marcello becomes increasingly entangled in Simoncino's criminal activities, the tension escalates, leading to a harrowing and violent climax. The dynamics between the two characters are complex and fraught with tension, providing a compelling narrative drive.
However, "DogMan" struggles with pacing issues, particularly in the middle act. The film occasionally drags, and some scenes feel repetitive, detracting from the overall impact. Additionally, the relentless grimness of the story can be overwhelming, leaving little room for moments of relief or hope.
Despite its flaws, "DogMan" is a film worth watching for Marcello Fonte's standout performance and Matteo Garrone's stark portrayal of a man's struggle for dignity and survival. The film's exploration of themes such as loyalty, betrayal, and the quest for justice is thought-provoking, even if the execution is not always consistent.
In conclusion, "DogMan" is a dark and gritty tale that offers a compelling narrative and a powerful central performance. While it may not be for everyone, particularly those who prefer lighter fare, it provides a raw and unflinching look at the human condition in the face of adversity. It's a film that lingers in the mind, despite its shortcomings. - norbert-plan-618-715813 - 11 May 2024
A fine piece of work, with subtle dialogues for the two main characters
Even if the pachydermic dramaturgy is still there, Luc Besson introduces subtlety into his cinema. And he writes some fine dialogues for the two main characters, Caleb Landry Jones and Jojo T. Gibbs, i.e. The DogMan of the title and the psychiatrist who interrogates him at the police station, for scenes of dialogue between these two characters, which are very successful. The richness of the film lies in the beautiful scenes in the police station between these two characters. The film is a succession of flashbacks in which Caleb Landry Jones tells his story to the psychiatrist. Also noteworthy are the psychiatrist's dialogues with her mother: a fine performance by Jojo T. Gibbs as the psychiatrist. Very fine writing.
The film is full of emotional moments, with both main characters moving in turn. The screenplay avoids certain clichés (the psychiatrist's tension with her ex could have led to the DogMan dealing with the ex, but it doesn't). As does the ending, which takes the film into a certain unreality.
The film is a pleasant surprise. The richness of the two main characters, the idea of using dogs, the performance of Caleb Landry Jones, all rest on a classicism of form; there's no hysteria about the form. Just a story of his life told by Caleb Landry Jones. His childhood (a rather unsubtle passage, but it's hard to be light-hearted), books and Shakespeare, cabaret and so on.
A calm, thoughtful film. - searchanddestroy-1 - 3 April 2024
What happened to Luc Besson?
It's not a negative question that I have asked. I am so surprised by such a gloomy, depressing, moving, poignant film from such a director. So far, except concerning LEON and JEANNE D'ARC, Luc Besson had never been so dark, painful. I hardly believe it. I expected far worse from such a director about whom my feeling and expectations have rarely been very optimistic and hopeful. Don't confound it with Matteo Garonne's film from 2018: DOGMAN, a movie as dark as this one. Speaking of dogs, since JE SUIS UN SOLDAT, I have never been such a powerful and engrossing feature. Before this there was Samuel Fuller's WHITE DOG. This Luc Besson's feature is really good, riveting, gripping. One of Luc Besson's best for me.
