Customer Reviews

Sleeping Dogs Lie

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

 

 

Who would have thought that Bob Goldwait was capable of writing and directing such a tender movie? Not me before watching this movie about what is takes to sustain a real relationship.

The movie starts out with an extremely disturbing sexual incident that thankfully takes place off camera (otherwise it would be rated "X"). We then watch Amy move past this youthful mistake and end up engaged to a young man who keeps asking her to share her dirtiest little secret. Amy wants to tell him since he has bared his soul to her and she doesn't want there to be any secrets between them but she's afraid he'll be disgusted. When they visit her dysfunctional family, Amy learns from her mother the sexual secrets she's been keeping and her mother's burden over keeping them all these years. Amy decides to tell and her fiancée is horrified and disgusted by her revelation. Unfortunately, he is not the only one who has heard her confession. Amy's tweeker brother happily uses her indiscretion to disgrace her in the eyes of their prim and proper parents who have fawned over her since childhood. The car ride home is filled with tense silence. Her parents are sickened by her past, her fiancée is appalled and Amy is disgusted with herself. The fiancée eventually forgives Amy but ends up insulting her by asking her to perform the same sexual act that he was revolted by in the first place. This scene is heartbreaking.

This movie seriously addresses the issues faced in all relationships. How much do you share with your partner? Are certain secrets best left buried? These and many more questions are answered in a thoughtful manner by none other then Bobcat, go figure............ This movie is worth viewing for its moving message about love and relationships but be warned, it contains crude sexual discussions.

For a film from Bob "Bobcat" Goldthwait, there is a sweet, human warmth underlying the story, which may be somewhat surprising for those more familiar with "Windy City Heat" and "Shakes the Clown". Shot on a budget more suited to a student's senior project, with help from Goldthwait's and producer Marty Pasetta's friends, borrowed equipment, props and wardrobe, and often on "found" locations, and in HD video, there is a feeling to the film that the intent was to get this film made, even if it never even made to to DVD or theaters. Goldthwait mentioned, in his remarks at the screening at Sundance 2006, that he expected to be showing this to his friends at home, not as a selection for the drama category.
Melinda Page Hamilton carries the film, portraying her character, Amy, deftly and eliciting sympathy and understanding from the viewers. Jack Plotnick, playing her tweeker brother, provides the tension and the undercurrent of family dynamics required to clarify Amy's persona.

From the outside people can right this off and make a lot of assumptions. Those are mostly a disservice unless you are assuming that it is a fun heartwarming film.
Yes, it is for Adults but give it a chance, it's worth it.
I saw it at a preview with Bobcat and I've been championing it ever since.
So low budget that they had to "borrow" equipment from the Man Show and costumes from Desperate housewives. The garage scene is shot in a vacant house that was up for sale.
Watch out for Bobcat's Cameo.
Great film!

"Sleeping Dogs Lie" is not a bad little romantic comedy. It's sort of in the vein of a Kevin Smith ("Chasing Amy") or Judd Apatow ("Knocked Up") movie: lots of gross, over-the-top humor which cleverly hides a fairly sweet story. The movie probably would have done better, however, if the cute woman's big secret involved something that maybe one in a thousand women might try, as opposed to something one in a million might undertake. The problem isn't so much that her big secret is gross and disgusting (though you won't find me making a strong defense that it isn't those things), but that it's goofily unbelievable. At least for the character we get to know here. But the movie's basically a goofy comedy, so goofy shouldn't be a deal breaker, right?

The movie's bargain basement budget is somewhat apparent in the production values, though things never get close to shoddy looking. In fact, the movie is generally well shot, acted, and lit, as well as sensitively directed. There's a nice little soundtrack, too. Definitely not bad for the twelve cents they had to spend.

On DVD, "Sleeping Dogs Lie" features a solid picture and good sound. The DVD also includes an interesting and often charming commentary track, rich with entertaining anecdotes, by writer/director Bobcat Goldthwait, and several trailers for other indie comedies. No behind-the-scenes featurettes, however.

Though ultimately taking a cynical view of the importance of complete honesty in a relationship (in fact, the message seems to be that you'll be walking into a minefield if you even try to be completely honest), "Sleeping Dogs Lie" is funny and moving, and a nice surprise to discover on DVD.

This is a very funny/serious movie. Should lovers tell each other all of their deep, dark secrets, no matter what? It's worth watching the movie just to find out the deep dark secret!

Sleeping Dogs Lie is a film written and directed by comedian Bobcat Goldthwait whose brand of comedy I've never found remotely appealing; but, I can certainly recognize the uniqueness and even moderate mainstream appeal of his personality. Surprisingly, that is all negligible here because if I were to close my eyes and try really hard to imagine what a film directed and written by Goldthwait would look like, I would never have pictured this strangely funny and touching little film. Evidently, Goldthwait has some wonderful tricks up his sleeve. Sleeping Dogs Lie is a short (only 87 minutes) low-budget independent film that was released in 2006 and got very little exposure. Only now did it finally come under my radar, and I always look for weird movies like this.

A seemingly normal young woman named Amy seems to have something bothering her despite having a promising future and great potential. Her fiance is perfect, and she is the true favorite among her siblings in the eyes of her conservative parents. Her fiance wants to be as honest with her as possible, and after being encouraged to reveal all the possible skeletons in her closet, Amy tells her fiance her dark secret. She impulsively and inexplicably performed fellatio on her dog when she was eighteen years old. This revelation travels fast and shatters her existence entirely.

My compliments to the performances here for understanding fully when the humor was intended and when to turn on the actual drama. That is obviously a tremendous compliment to the film's director as well. Melinda Page Hamilton as Amy is especially strong and has some truly great acting moments. I couldn't help but be reminded of director Todd Solondz (Happiness, Palindromes, Storytelling) while watching this. Solondz has an extremely dark sense of humor but in the moments when his stories are awkwardly dramatic it is often done to be further critical of his characters, as if to almost laugh at how pathetic they can actually get. Goldthwait doesn't go there; he tells the story of this girl as if she is some kind of angel who simply made a terrible mistake that just happens to be so extreme we cannot help but laugh a little bit. Furthermore, to not only laugh at her mistake but also the way the issue destroys all the relationships in her life. Therein lies the diabolical humor. I always say I feel guilty watching movies like this and maybe I should. By the film's conclusion I did feel much more rewarded then I might after one of Solondz movies. Despite the dark subject matter, Sleeping Dogs Lie is unique, funny, and has surprisingly authentic and sensitive moments.

this is a brilliant movie. the acting is suprisingly tender in places.
these characters and their plights are easily believable and thoughtfully portrayed. you'll laugh and maybe even almost cry.....i won't waste any more words except to say this movie is right up there on my short-list of must-see movies this year.

If you can get past the subject matter, (referances to mild acts of bestiality by a young woman) you will love this movie. You almost get the feeling you are looking at a bit of someone's real life. It just has that feel. My hat is off to Bobcat for a truly unique movie.

Please note: there is implied bestiality referred to in this movie several times. That doesn't bother me, but if that squicks you, go find another movie to watch. Really.

For the most part, I really enjoyed this movie. I really wasn't expecting much. I mean, Bobcat Goldthwaite? So, the end result was quite a pleasant surprise.

There are some incredibly nuanced family moments scattered throughout the movie. Melinda Page Hamilton puts in a good enough performance for an unknown that I can see she will be really great in the right part.

Amy's brother was played so kooky as to border on caricature, though his reaction to the news at the prison was particularly well done.

The friendship-at-work chemistry between Amy and Ed was really great, and I would have loved to see that relationship grow into something really intimate, as friends. Once they crossed the line into a romance, they were just not convincing. The speed with which Amy "recovered" from breaking up with John and moved into something with Ed was completely ridiculous. Though the film ended on a Happily Ever After note, I know that's one relationship that isn't going to last long.

Regardless of how unbelievable I felt their relationship to be, I enjoyed this film quite a bit.

I really have very little to say......I watched a movie called "Smiley Face" and this was a preview on that movie. I was intrigued......I rented.........I loved. What a refreshing break.