Review of Alpha Dog: This Film Gets a Grade of A-

Based on the true story of Jesse James Hollywood, Alpha Dog employs an array of young and seasoned stars. Among the names in the film, Bruce Willis is probably the most recognizable in the film world. His role in this film does not, however, mimic most of the characters that he has portrayed.

Also included in the cast is Justin Timberlake, a noted pop/rock star, who got his start on the music television show, The Mickey Mouse Club. He went on to join the ranks of boy band 'N Sync, and has since successfully begun a solo career. Timberlake has now tried his hand at motion pictures, portraying Frankie Ballenbacher in this film.

Emile Hirsch portrays Johnny Truelove in a believable performance. His resume includes Lords of Dogtown, The Girls Next Door, and will soon be seen in Into the Wild.

Other notable character portrayals include Shawn Hatosy portraying Elvis Schmidt, Sharon Stone as Olivia Mazursky, and Harry Dean Stanton as Cosmo Gadabeeti.

The story evolves around Truelove and his gang's kidnapping of a foe's younger brother. Having gone too far and marked themselves for prison time, the group of Truelove followers see a short list of options for their future.

Although Truelove initiates the event and for the most part entirely controls his posse, he manages to escape initial sentencing by disappearing.

In the post-story part of the film, it is noted that Truelove was later captured and is currently serving his own sentence in the committed crimes.

The coverage done by Director of Photography Robert Fraisse was brilliant. Because the photography was done so well, the editing was also above par. Editors Shawn Broes and Alan Heim regularly utilized a split-screen effect, simultaneously showing interviews and establishing shots in both close-up and widescreen. This is notable because it gives a much broader sense of the character on screen. By getting close enough to feel emotion, but by also showing a wider version, Broes and Heim allow the viewer to better grasp a character's preferred environment.

Another interesting note on the editor's job was the decision to individually label witnesses to the crime. This really helps to increase the drama of the story by allowing the viewer to partake on the seriousness of the situation. We begin to feel the intensity almost as the characters themselves. The tagline for the film is: "How did a crime with this many witnesses go so far?"

There is little for which to criticize director Nick Cassavetes. He does a wonderful job in getting his actors to take the form of their respective characters. Often times in movies based on true life stories, the audience is easily distracted. Cassavetes was able to keep the visual images and performances interesting enough to maintain interest.

One of my favorite scenes in the film is the interview with the kidnapped boy's mother. There is a great amount of back story covered in this one scene, but it isn't forced upon the viewer, it flows out of the actress in a very natural, emotional way. This scene works well because the entire company of filmmakers are at their best - the photography, directing, acting, lighting, sound, everything.

I would have liked to have been shown the mindset of Truelove himself. We understood most of what the other main characters were feeling, but being that he is the "alpha dog," it would have been nice to get the chance to become more in tune with his reasoning. We also were never allowed to see how he became the "alpha dog" and so well-respected by his peers.

There is only one mention to how Truelove may have the rest of his crew fooled. Since the feelings of Truelove himself are de-emphasized, we are never given the courtesy to experience this on our own. Because of this reason, I give Alpha Dog an A-.