Customer Reviews

Dogtown [VHS]

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

Dogtown is a tail of two cities, as befits a shaggy dog story. It is Small Town USA vs. Hollywood--except it is the IDEA of Hollywood they are fighting, while Philip Van Horn (Trevor St. John) has seen it up close and knows that it is a dirty little city. Though he went there and failed to become a big star with a star on Hollywood Boulevard and his footprints at Grauman's Chinese Theater, to the people who have never left Cuba (AKA Dogtown, a small southern town, not the country) he is seen as the guy who escaped, who got out of Dodge--I mean Dogtown--and returned a big star.

Nothing could be further from the truth, but whenever he tries to claim otherwise, they just won't listen. Bad teeth and bad luck have taken their toll on the townsfolk, especially Curtis Lasky (Rory Cochrane) and Ezra Good (Jon Favreau); and to them he might as well be a Hollywood Star. Ezra, or E.Z., ironically, is especially resentful when it comes to the affections of Dorothy Sternen (Mary Stuart Masterson). There is going to be a showdown between E.Z. and Philip, and it will not be pretty.

Rory and Jon really uglied up for this role. Hard to believe that Favreau was only a year out from making Swingers. He is tough, bitter, and not concerned with making the audience like his character. Rory's Curtis is broken and beaten down, but he still harbors dreams of a better life. You almost feel sorry for the two, Curtis more so than E.Z., stuck in a small Dogtown where dreams go to die.

Mary Stuart Masterson is a master of playing mentally damaged women, like Joon in Benny & Joon. Her portrayal of Dorothy Sternen in Dogtown was more successful than her turn as Joon because it had the gritty backdrop of reality while Benny & Joon wavered between tragedy and screwball comedy. Here any redemption she gathers is earned, the hard way, and the audience is not cheated with a fake Hollywood feel good happy sappy ending. Philip has carried a torch for her since they met in the first grade, but his idealized vision of her doesn't include the loneliness and suicidal depression that haunts her.

Contributing to the gloomy atmosphere is Rose Van Horn (Karen Black), Philip's mother, who has had a hard life, and seeks salvation singing with a rock band that practices in their living room early in the morning. She does some of her worst singing since Rayette Dipesto obsessed over Tammy Wynette's "Stand by Your Man" in Five Easy Pieces.

This was the final film of Harold Russell, who won 2 Oscars for his role in the 1946 film The Best Years of Our Lives. While training paratroopers some TNT exploded and he lost both hands. He won the Oscars for best supporting actor and received an honorary Oscar for being an inspiration for disabled war veterans throughout the U.S. No other actor has ever earned two Oscars for the same role, or had such a non prolific career. He was in only 4 films in a career that spanned 50 years. He really stood out in Dogtown. He had a tremendous stage presence that was totally authentic. He seemed like a real person, not an actor, and brought a heightened sense of reality to the whole drama. Blessed William was a blessing on the whole Dogtown production.

JON FAVREAU .... EZRA GOOD

Iron Man (Single-Disc Edition) (2008) .... Hogan
The Break-Up (2006) .... Johnny O
Something's Gotta Give (2003) .... Leo
Elf (2003) .... Doctor
Daredevil (2003) .... Franklin 'Foggy' Nelson
Made (2001) .... Bobby Ricigliano
Swingers (1996) .... Mike Peters

MAUREEN McCORMICK .... DIDI SCHMIDT

Jane White Is Sick and Twisted (2002) .... Nancy
"The Brady Bunch" .... Marcia Brady (116 episodes, 1969-1974)
- The Hair-Brained Scheme (1974) TV episode .... Marcia Brady
- The Hustler (1974) TV episode .... Marcia Brady
- The Snooperstar (1974) TV episode .... Marcia Brady
- Top Secret (1974) TV episode .... Marcia Brady
- Two Petes in a Pod (1974) TV episode .... Marcia Brady
(111 more)
"My Three Sons" .... Sylvia Walters (1 episode, 1967)
- Ernie, the Bluebeard (1967) TV episode .... Sylvia Walters
"I Dream of Jeannie" .... Susan (1 episode, 1966)
- My Master, the Doctor (1966) TV episode .... Susan
"Camp Runamuck" .... Maureen Sullivan (2 episodes, 1965-1966)
- Tomboy (1966) TV episode .... Maureen Sullivan
- Runamuck (1965) TV episode .... Maureen Sullivan
"Honey West" .... Margaret Mary Driscoll (1 episode, 1965)
- In the Bag (1965) TV episode .... Margaret Mary Driscoll
"Bewitched" .... Little Endora / ... (2 episodes, 1964-1965)
- Trick or Treat (1965) TV episode .... Young Endora - Girl
- And Something Makes Three (1964) TV episode (uncredited) .... Little Endora
"The Farmer's Daughter" .... Christine (1 episode, 1965)
- Why Don't They Ever Pick Me? (1965) TV episode .... Christine

MARY STUART MASTERSON .... DOROTHY STERNEN

Radioland Murders (1994) .... Penny Henderson
Bad Girls (1994/I) .... Anita Crown
Benny and Joon (1993) .... Juniper 'Joon' Pearl
Fried Green Tomatoes (Widescreen Collector's Edition) (1991) .... Idgie Threadgoode

TREVOR ST. JOHN .... PHILIP VAN HORN

Bio-Dome (1996) .... Parker

RORY COCHRAN .... CURTIS LASKY

A Scanner Darkly (2006) .... Charles Freck
Southlander: Diary of a Desperate Musician (2001) .... Chance
Sunset Strip (2000) .... Felix
Dazed & Confused (Widescreen Flashback Edition) (1993) .... Ron Slater

HAROLD RUSSELL .... BLESSED WILLIAM

The Best Years of Our Lives (1946) .... Homer Parrish
Inside Moves (1980) .... Wings
Payback (1990) .... Policeman

KAREN BLACK .... ROSE VAN HORN

The Blue Tooth Virgin (2008) .... Zena
Contamination (2008) .... Mavis
One Long Night (2007) .... Barbara
Suffering Man's Charity (2007) .... Renee
Read You Like a Book (2006) .... Kate
Hollywood Dreams (2006) .... Luna
Whitepaddy (2006) .... Mrs. Leider
Firecracker (2005) .... Sandra/Eleanor
My Suicidal Sweetheart (2005) .... Grace's Mom
Compartment (2005/I) (voice) .... Kate Burns
Dr. Rage (2005) .... Molly
Birth of Industry (2004) .... Sara
America Brown (2004) .... Marianne Brown
Curse of the Forty-Niner (2003) .... Aunt Nelly
Summer Solstice (2003) .... Dr. McDermott
Paris (2003) .... Chantelle
House of 1000 Corpses (2003) .... Mother Firefly
A Light in the Darkness (2002) .... Mrs. Melnick
Buttleman (2002) .... Mrs. Buttleman
Teknolust (2002) .... Dirty Dick
Soulkeeper (2001) .... Magnificent Martha
Hard Luck (2001) .... Aunt Judy
Gypsy 83 (2001) .... Bambi LeBleau
Red Dirt (2000) .... Aunt Summer
The Donor (2000) .... Mrs. Springle
Inviati speciali (2000)
Oliver Twisted (2000) .... Mrs. Mary Happ
The Underground Comedy Movie (1999) .... Mother
Mascara (1999) .... Aunt Eloise
Paradise Cove (1999) .... Ma
Charades (1998) .... Jude
Bury the Evidence (1998) .... The Mother
Sugar: The Fall of the West (1998)
Stripping for Jesus (1998)
Light Speed (1998)
Fallen Arches (1998) .... Lucy Romano
Waiting for Dr. MacGuffin (1998) .... Dental Assistant
I Woke Up Early the Day I Died ( Ed Wood's I Woke Up Early the Day I Died ) ( I Awoke Early the Day I Died ) [ NON-USA FORMAT, PAL, Reg.2 Import - Spain ] (1998) .... Whip Lady
... aka Ed Wood's I Woke Up Early the Day I Died
Men (1997) .... Alex
Conceiving Ada (1997) .... Lady Byron/Mother Coer
... aka Leidenschaftliche Berechnung (Germany)
Stir (1997) .... Dr. Gabrielle Kessler
Malaika (1997) .... Jessica Martin
Modern Rhapsody (1997)
Crimetime (1996) .... Millicent
Cries of Silence (1996) .... Rose Walsh
Every Minute Is Goodbye (1996) .... Schubert
Movies Money Murder (1996) .... Bettie
Dinosaur Valley Girls (1996) .... Ro-Kell
Starstruck (1995) .... Bertha
The Wacky Adventures of Dr. Boris and Nurse Shirley (1995) .... Evelyn
Too Bad About Jack (1994)
Plan 10 from Outer Space (1994) .... Nehor
Dark Blood (1993) .... Motel Woman
The Trust (1993) .... Maria Vandermeer
Tuesday Never Comes (1993) .... Michelle
Caged Fear (1992) .... Blanche
Auntie Lee's Meat Pies (1992) .... Auntie Lee
Bound and Gagged: A Love Story (1992) .... Carla
Dead Girls Don't Tango (1992) .... Insp. Wilson
Legend of the Roller Blade Seven (1992) .... Tarot
Final Judgement (1992) .... Mrs. Sorrel
Return of the Roller Blade Seven (1992) .... Tarot
Haunting Fear (1991) .... Dr. Julia Harcourt
Children of the Night (1991) .... Karen Thompson
The Killer's Edge (1991) .... Barrett
Rubin and Ed (1991) .... Rula
The Roller Blade Seven (1991) .... Tarot
Night Angel (1990) .... Rita
Twisted Justice (1990) .... Mrs. Granger
Club Fed (1990) .... Sally Rich
The Children (1990) .... Sybil Lullmer
Fatal Encounter (1990)
Mirror Mirror (1990) .... Susan Gordon
Evil Spirits (1990) .... Ella Purdy
Homer and Eddie (1989) .... Belle
Out of the Dark (1989) .... Ruth Wilson
Judgement (1989) .... Tiffany Powers
Dixie Lanes (1988) .... Zelma Putnam
The Invisible Kid (1988) .... Mom
The Legendary Life of Ernest Hemingway (1988)
Platinum Blonde (1988)
Hostage (1987) .... Laura Lawrence
It's Alive III: Island of the Alive (1987) .... Ellen Jarvis
Flight of the Spruce Goose (1986) .... Gloria
... aka Lot swierkowej gesi (Poland)
Invaders from Mars (1986) .... Linda Magnusson
Savage Dawn (1985) .... Rachel
Inferno in diretta (1985) .... Karin
Growing Pains (1984) .... Gladys Fitzpatrick
Martin's Day (1984) .... Karen
A Stroke of Genius (1984)
Can She Bake a Cherry Pie? (1983) .... Zee
Come Back to the Five and Dime, Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean (1982) .... Joanne
Donna giusta, La (1982) .... Amy
Chanel Solitaire (1981) .... Emilienne d'Alençon
Gräset sjunger (1981) .... Mary Turner
Separate Ways (1981) .... Valentine Colby
The Last Word (1980) .... Paula Herbert
Killer Fish (1979) .... Kate Neville
The Squeeze (1978) .... Clarisse Saunders
In Praise of Older Women (1978) .... Maya
Capricorn One (1978) .... Judy Drinkwater
Burnt Offerings (1976) .... Marian Rolf
Family Plot (1976) .... Fran
Ace Up My Sleeve (1976) .... Susan Winters
Nashville (1975) .... Connie White
The Day of the Locust (1975) .... Faye Greener
Airport 1975 (1974) .... Nancy Pryor
Law and Disorder (1974) .... Gloria
The Great Gatsby (1974) .... Myrtle Wilson
Rhinoceros (1974) .... Daisy
The Outfit (1973) .... Bett Harrow
The Pyx (1973) .... Elizabeth Lucy
Little Laura and Big John (1973) .... Laura
Portnoy's Complaint (1972) .... Mary Jane Reid (The Monkey)
Cisco Pike (1972) .... Sue
Born to Win (1971) .... Parm
A Gunfight (1971) .... Jenny Simms
Drive, He Said (1971) .... Olive
Five Easy Pieces (1970) .... Rayette Dipesto
Easy Rider (1969) .... Karen
Hard Contract (1969) .... Ellen
You're a Big Boy Now (1966) .... Amy Partlett
The Prime Time (1960) .... Painted woman

This movie has been getting panned for it's location and racial slurs. Let me, as I am from Missouri, tell you this movie, while filmed in California, does absolute justice to the backwoods and Ozark area of where this movie is based. This is how people are there, folks. While it doesn't always look like the Ozarks, the flat plains of rural country towards the end of the film are a good depiction.

This movie is a gem. It's one of Trevor's most powerful performances and it showed without a shadow of a doubt that he was and still is a contender. Even on screen with John Faveroue he still commanded the attention. Mary Stuart Masterson turns in a helluva performances, as does Karen Black and the character of mentally challenged Sarah Rose was played by such a wonderful actress. She was really something.

This movie is a must see. It's a sad tale of lost dreams, hopes and time. It's a strange place and yet, so real and so a matter of fact that it's hard to not feel sorry for everyone involved.

The hook of the film is Trevor, though. His character, Philip, is such an endearing, very translatable, guy. He loved a girl "Mary Masterson" in school, she never gave him the time of day. Her boyfriend "Faveroue" is still her boyfriend to this day and both are waste heads. Trevor St John comes back to town after his many failed auditions. They believe him to be a celebrity and he runs away with it, all in an attempt to finally win this One girl's attention. After all these years.

The movie takes on a very real and very sorrow filled shape after you realize he's done some things he's not proud of and still failed. In his own way he's as big of a failure as the very town he grew up in. He can just hide it better. But that's what I loved about it and him. He let his guard down and the pay off is Trevor's best work. He's such a gifted guy. He's such a talent. I really do feel he needs to branch out of Day Time TV and take Hollywood in his hands and crush it. Because he has it. He embodies emotion like few can. He can say so little, yet read the entire book by his looks alone.

I cannot recommend this movie enough. Get past the setting. Get past the racial slurs. Get past the assumptions that this is what Hollywood thinks of the midwest, because this is a very small film. Almost unheard of. Hollywood had little to do with it, trust me. The mood in this movie makes you want it to end... Not because it's a bad movie, but because the town, the characters and the realizations of it all being so very real and so very sad makes you want to never see it again. Just like Trevor St. John's character, Philip.

Watch this damn movie!!!!!!!!

Mary Stuart Masterson is an actress of substantial range. Her performance in this film was its one plus. The characters seemed 2-dimensional, the screenplay was mediocre, and the seen where we find out that "Blessed William" died was a poor imitation of "The Last Picture Show." Its amazing how unexceptional a film can be and yet still win awards at a minor film festival.

From IMDB.com: "Two guys. One girl. Someone loses. Philip Van Horn, who left his small town a long time ago to become a Hollywood actor and hasn't had any success at that, returns to the town for a visit. There he is uniformally met like some kind of celebrity and movie star. He uses it to impress his (and everybody's) school love Dorothy, her life now a grey boring experience."

This movie started off a little slow, but once I got into it, the film blew me away. A very powerful love story about people struggling in a small Missouri town. The performance are incredible and Mary Stuart Masterson should have won an Oscar for her role in this. How come this film was never in theaters? What a crime. Definitely check this one out. It'll have you crying in the end.

Dogtown is about a former resident turned movie star, Trevor St. John (Payback '99 and Tv's One Life To Live), who returns to his home town inw hich he sees how it hasn't changed one bit. His former school mates havent changed and his family hasnt changed also. His mother is played by Karen Black (House Of 1000 Corpses, Airport 1975) and his sister is played by Natasha Gregson Wagner (Urban Legend, Stranger Than Fiction)...his sister is autistic. The bullies of his past, Rory Cochrane (Tv's CSI:Miami, Empire Records) and Jon Favreau (Swingers, The Big Empty), though you cant understand half of what they say threw out. Favreau and Cochrane skrap up dead animals off the side of the road..hmm. The quiet studdly actor also remembers he had a crush on the once beauty queen, Mary Stuart Masterson, now turned hairstylist who still lives with her abusive drunken dad and her sister. Trevor St. John gives a silent effective performance but the movie drones on with it's sillyness and Favreau chews up everyscene he is in with his racist slurs and his southern tobacco spitting cocky attitude and you just want someone to kill the guy. Also starring Maureen McCormick (TV's Becker).

Another reviewer stated this is "a midwesterner's view of the midwest...". That's crap.... As someone from Missouri and who's been to Cuba this movie is about as real (and insulting) if they had done Boyz in the Hood with middle aged white guys in blackface.

I don't know if this is "Hollywood's View of the midwest," or if the director and writer just happen to have head injuries.

The movie is not spectacular, but not bad either...
but THE DIRECTOR IS FROM MISSOURI. This is not "Hollywood's View of the midwest," rather a midwesterner's view of the midwest...

By the way, Hickenlooper has apologized numerous times for not filming this in Missouri. He, as many do many viewers, feels that it hurt the film to be shot in California.

I did some growing up in Missouri and I feel I don't ever have to go back to visit again. All I have to do is put this little slice of hokum in my DVD player (or try to force it into the VCR ) and golly, I'm back in a good ole show me state of mind. Where, according to this movie, most of the population has a hard time spelling "DVD". Did the filmmakers cut up the funny papers and use Lil' Abner for storyboards? Who backed this film? Skoal? The whole cast should have been ab-duckted and given an anal probing because this group is exactly the type aliens love to visit. Maybe these same little green fellers can reverse time and get me my two hours back.

For starters, the movie was shot in Torrence California which looks nothing like Cuba Misourri or any other town in the Ozarks. I guess any flat area would do-- and what's the difference? Right? Oh well. We were also supposed to ignore the palm trees that made their way into at least two scenes. Added on to that, was the obscene depiction of rural people. The director and writer really made no bones about their view of those of us who come from the South and Midwest;according to them, we are all a bunch of racists and hillbilly waste products(the characters played by John Favreau and Rory Cochran were straight out of the TOXIC AVENGER) I am guessing that not a whole lot of research went into the making of this opus. And as a result, we got a B movie disguised as an edgy, indie, arthouse flick, made by a cast and crew, who think they are just so hip and so enlightened. The truth is,all they really are is intellectually lazy, and socially unaware.