/oxEvnbNAr1BFWX8XQ6KBU35uWN8.jpg
CrimeDramaThriller

Alpha Dog

- One crime. 38 witnesses. No way back.

Johnny Truelove likes to see himself as tough. He's the son of an underworld figure and a drug dealer. Johnny also likes to get tough when things don't go his way. When Jake Mazursky fails to pay up for Johnny, things get worse for the Mazursky family, as Johnny and his 'gang' kidnap Jake's 15 year old brother and holds him hostage. Problem now is what to do with 'stolen boy?'

Release Date : 2006-01-27

Language :English

Adult : false

Status : Released

Production Company : A-Mark EntertainmentUniversal PicturesSidney Kimmel EntertainmentCapitol FilmsVIP 2 Medienfonds

Production Country : GermanyUnited KingdomUnited States of America

Alternative Titles :

Cast

Emile Hirsch

Character Name : Johnny Truelove

Original Name : Emile Hirsch

Gender : Male

Bruce Willis

Character Name : Sonny Truelove

Original Name : Bruce Willis

Gender : Male

Amanda Seyfried

Character Name : Julie Beckley

Original Name : Amanda Seyfried

Gender : Female

Justin Timberlake

Character Name : Frankie Ballenbacher

Original Name : Justin Timberlake

Gender : Male

Shawn Hatosy

Character Name : Elvis Schmidt

Original Name : Shawn Hatosy

Gender : Male

Ben Foster

Character Name : Jake Mazursky

Original Name : Ben Foster

Gender : Male

Harry Dean Stanton

Character Name : Cosmo Gadabeeti

Original Name : Harry Dean Stanton

Gender : Male

Matthew Barry

Character Name : Interviewer (as Matt Barry)

Original Name : Matthew Barry

Gender : Male

Fernando Vargas

Character Name : Tiko "TKO" Martinez

Original Name : Fernando Vargas

Gender : Male

Vincent Kartheiser

Character Name : Pick Giaimo

Original Name : Vincent Kartheiser

Gender : Male

Alex Solowitz

Character Name : Bobby "911"

Original Name : Alex Solowitz

Gender : Male

Alec Vigil

Character Name : P.J. Truelove

Original Name : Alec Vigil

Gender : Male

Frank Cassavetes

Character Name : Adrian Jones

Original Name : Frank Cassavetes

Gender : Male

Nicole Dubos

Character Name : Neighborhood Girl on Couch

Original Name : Nicole Dubos

Gender : Female

Regina Rice

Character Name : Dance Bitch Girl

Original Name : Regina Rice

Gender : Male

Laura Nativo

Character Name : Party Girl

Original Name : Laura Nativo

Gender : Female

Amber Heard

Character Name : Alma

Original Name : Amber Heard

Gender : Female

Anton Yelchin

Character Name : Zack Mazursky

Original Name : Anton Yelchin

Gender : Male

David Thornton

Character Name : Butch Mazursky

Original Name : David Thornton

Gender : Male

Sharon Stone

Character Name : Olivia Mazursky

Original Name : Sharon Stone

Gender : Female

Olivia Wilde

Character Name : Angela Holden

Original Name : Olivia Wilde

Gender : Female

Heather Wahlquist

Character Name : Wanda Haynes

Original Name : Heather Wahlquist

Gender : Female

Shera Danese

Character Name : Abby

Original Name : Shera Danese

Gender : Female

Nancy De Mayo

Character Name : Dale Dierker (as Nancy DeMayo)

Original Name : Nancy De Mayo

Gender : Female

Xan Cassavetes

Character Name : Jonna Kirshner

Original Name : Xan Cassavetes

Gender : Female

Dominique Swain

Character Name : Susan Hartunian

Original Name : Dominique Swain

Gender : Female

Charity Shea

Character Name : Sabrina Pope

Original Name : Charity Shea

Gender : Female

Lukas Haas

Character Name : Buzz Fecske

Original Name : Lukas Haas

Gender : Male

Heather Elizabeth Parkhurst

Character Name : Bartender (as Heather-Elizabeth Parkhurst)

Original Name : Heather Elizabeth Parkhurst

Gender : Female

Jesse Erwin

Character Name : Employee

Original Name : Jesse Erwin

Gender : Male

Paul Johansson

Character Name : Peter Johansson

Original Name : Paul Johansson

Gender : Male

Danny A. Abeckaser

Character Name : Latino Youth (as Danny Abeckaser)

Original Name : Danny A. Abeckaser

Gender : Male

James Molina

Character Name : Latino Youth (as James A. Molina)

Original Name : James Molina

Gender : Male

Chuck Pacheco

Character Name : Chucky Mota

Original Name : Chuck Pacheco

Gender : Male

Frank Peluso

Character Name : Gay "Lumpy" Yeager

Original Name : Frank Peluso

Gender : Male

Joshua Alba

Character Name : Klemash

Original Name : Joshua Alba

Gender : Male

Chris Kinkade

Character Name : Juergen Ballenbacher

Original Name : Chris Kinkade

Gender : Male

Christopher Rodriguez Marquette

Character Name : Keith Stratten

Original Name : Christopher Rodriguez Marquette

Gender : Male

Alex Kingston

Character Name : Tiffany Hartunian

Original Name : Alex Kingston

Gender : Female

Bobby Cooper

Character Name : Bob Nolder

Original Name : Bobby Cooper

Gender : Male

Janet Jones

Character Name : Elaine Holden (as Janet Jones Gretzky)

Original Name : Janet Jones

Gender : Female

Alan Thicke

Character Name : Douglas Holden

Original Name : Alan Thicke

Gender : Male

Rick Salomon

Character Name : Salesman

Original Name : Rick Salomon

Gender : Male

Adrianna Belan

Character Name : Leigh Fecske

Original Name : Adrianna Belan

Gender : Female

Holt McCallany

Character Name : Detective Tom Finnegan

Original Name : Holt McCallany

Gender : Male

Shirley Kurata

Character Name : Lu

Original Name : Shirley Kurata

Gender : Female

Mario Ardila, Jr.

Character Name : Santa Fe Kid (uncredited)

Original Name : Mario Ardila, Jr.

Gender : Male

Matt Borlenghi

Character Name : John Kirschner (uncredited)

Original Name : Matt Borlenghi

Gender : Male

Curt Clendenin

Character Name : Bar Patron (uncredited)

Original Name : Curt Clendenin

Gender : Male

Angela Meryl

Character Name : Party Girl (uncredited)

Original Name : Angela Meryl

Gender : Female

Bernadette Pérez

Character Name : Bar Girl (uncredited)

Original Name : Bernadette Pérez

Gender : Female

Emilio Roso

Character Name : Undercover Cop (uncredited)

Original Name : Emilio Roso

Gender : Male

Kristen Williams

Character Name : Reporter (uncredited)

Original Name : Kristen Williams

Gender : Female

Greg Williams

Character Name : De Rosa

Original Name : Greg Williams

Gender : Male

Devin Kamin

Character Name : Additional VO (uncredited)

Original Name : Devin Kamin

Gender : Male

Patrick Nguyen

Character Name : V.C.

Original Name : Patrick Nguyen

Gender : Male

Natasha Elliott

Character Name : Bathroom Party Girl

Original Name : Natasha Elliott

Gender : Male

Stephanie A. Fowler

Character Name : Delores Stratten (as Stephanie Fowler)

Original Name : Stephanie A. Fowler

Gender : Female

Sadie

Character Name : Dale Dierker's Dog (uncredited)

Original Name : Sadie

Gender : Male

Reviews

J

J4stringthang

@J4stringthang

2021-06-23

OK Timberlake fans and haters alike, Calm Down! Largely regarded as "you know, that movie with Timberlake in it." Alpha Dog was enjoyable. And Timberlake did a great job. He is definitely all grown up now. A strong supporting cast of Sharon Stone and Bruce Willis sure didn't hurt. I loved how the cast worked so good together. They were very believable. The movie did a great job of showing us just how crazy and out of control a simple misunderstanding can get. Hopeful Hollywood does force Ben Foster down our throat! Small doses please! NOTE: Alpha Dog has a lot of language in it.

D

DoryDarko

@DoryDarko

2021-06-23

Going into this film, I had no idea what it was about, only that it was based on a true story. And the more I think about this fact, the truth behind it all, the more it saddens me. The story that unfolded before my eyes last night is not one I'm likely to forget anytime soon. The characters, as I understand, are eerily like the real life people depicted, and all of the actors have done a great job terrifying me, surprising me, and making me feel sadder than any other film I can remember in recent history. Which is by no means meant to discourage you from watching this film, as I believe it is an absolute must-see for anyone who cares about the society we live in. Jake Mazursky, an explosively charged skinhead, owes a large sum of drug money to a young thug called Johnny Truelove. After they get into a fight, Jake retaliates by trashing Johnny's house. Johnny then takes revenge by kidnapping Jake's 15-year-old brother Zack. Surprisingly though, Zack is OK with this, as he trusts his brother to come up with the ransom. In the meantime, Zack forms an unlikely friendship with one of Johnny's cronies, Frankie. But then, as fear starts to spread of having to do hard time, Johnny and his allies make a decision that spins the situation horribly out of control... The character of Jake is played by Ben Foster, and I think he did an amazing job. Some people have suggested that he overacted his part, but I disagree. I think he was very convincing as a strung-out, aggressive, creep of a skinhead. Johnny Truelove, the young gangster, is played by Emile Hirsch, and his role is light years removed from anything he's done so far, and he's as equally impressive and convincing as Ben Foster - just as menacing and intimidating. Actually, he appears almost as though it's not a part he's playing, he's really some thug they plucked off the streets and put in front of a camera. Very impressive. This character in real life is known as Jesse James Hollywood, and he is the youngest person ever to be on the FBI's 'most wanted' list. Zack is played by Anton Yelchin, and he's is everything his character requires him to be; young, naive, even a little endearing, and most of all desperate for a little excitement in his life. The role of Frankie is performed by Justin Timberlake, and I must admit, he was better than I would have initially given him credit for. Actually, there wasn't a single actor or actress who was miscast in my opinion. All roles, big and small, were equally well played. I must not forget to mention the parents: Johnny's father is played by Bruce Willis, and even though his part is small, is it crucial. Sharon Stone plays Zack's mother, in a role that is gut wrenchingly emotional and very well played. Although there is one scene at the end where she wears a fat suit, and it's so obvious that it's distracting, and this is a discredit to an otherwise excellent and very important scene (but that's not her fault, of course). What makes Alpha Dog so important, I think, is that's it's a testament of the times we live in. A time where, apparently nobody seems to be shocked anymore about the fact that young people in their teens and twenties lead a lifestyle of drugs and guns and no respect whatsoever for other people's lives and wellbeing. The ease with which some ideas and actions are executed, exemplifies and also amplifies the anarchy and devil-may-care attitude that lives within the hearts and minds of these people. Who cares if you beat a person to within an inch of his life. Who cares if you hurt, damage or even kill another human being, just so long as you can save your own neck. It's dog eat dog in the hierarchical food chain that is life, and this film is a disturbing reminder of that. I thought we'd moved on since the Dark Ages, but apparently I'm mistaken. Aside from the heavy, moral message of this film (which, for once didn't tick me off, but really engaged me), I must also praise it on a technical level. It really is very well made, and it draws you in from the very first second with the beautifully edited opening scene. Director Nick Cassavetes ('John Q') has constructed the story into a balanced, properly paced whole, seemingly letting his actors run free and do what they do best, creating a spontaneous, natural feel and environment. The music is excellent and well dosed. Alpha Dog is a film that you must see at least once if you care about this world and the people in it. It is a portrait of frighteningly laconic individuals and the shockingly low bar to unnecessary violence, and it shows just how easy it is for young people to get involved with all the wrong influences, simply because they have not yet lived enough to know any better, or lack the proper role models to show them alternative ways. I cannot recommend this film enough. It's heavy - but very, very much worth it. _(October 2012)_

J

John Chard

@John Chard

2024-05-16

You ever have that dream: the one where you did something... You don't know why, but you can never go back? Alpha Dog is a filmic interpretation of the real life Jesse James Hollywood/Nicholas Markowitz case of 2000. We are in the company of young dope dealers, a group of wannabe gangsters who ultimately are way out of their depth, whose decisions are so moronically misguided they form the basis for what is the tragedy of this story. Directed by Nick Cassavetes, the pic has serious intentions but never quite gets to reach the greatest heights for dramatic verve purpose. Yet for all that, after being in the company of genuine lost boys and girls, watching them as 24 hour party people bluster for majority of the piece, it means that once the tragedy strikes the film has done its job. It becomes something to last in the memory, where Cassavetes' flashy techniques (split-screens - freeze frames etc) don't detract from the harsh reality of it all. There's a bunch of committed exuberant performances on show, with a roll call of then up and coming young actors to note. 7/10