Alpha Dog - 2 Scoops

Movie Review (2 out of 4)

You watch "Alpha Dog" in the conflicted grip of fascination, horror and, to be honest, depression. Writer-director Nick Cassavetes takes a viewer into a heart of darkness that exists right in Southern California's San Fernando Valley among mostly white, suburban young people adrift in a sea of drugs, sex, booze and violence. Parents are either "cool" with this or clueless. Traditional social structure has broken down, replaced by a hedonistic youth culture and "gangsta" lifestyle utterly lacking in any moral sensibility or control. What's worse, this is a true story.

This is a well-made ensemble movie in which actors take chances with uncomfortably repulsive characters or roles unlike any previous performances. Make no mistake though: This will be a hard sell for New Line. The gangsta element and hip-hop soundtrack might be selling points, but is that really the right crowd for this movie? Critical acclaim will help, but the film's dispassionate point of view might cause mixed reactions.

Interviews with several characters are seen throughout the movie as if a documentary about this story were in the works. But the film itself is no docudrama. Despite such stylistic devises as split screens and shifting frame sizes, "Alpha Dog" is pretty conventional. Cassavetes simply plunges you into an unhealthy environment of social disintegration and never eases up. The movie is based on a news story of a few years ago about Jesse James Hollywood, a middle-level drug dealer who became one of the youngest men ever to land on the FBI's most-wanted list. Here, he is known as Johnny Truelove (Emile Hirsch), whose father (Bruce Willis) helps supply the merchandise and whose posse is completely loyal, especially the slavishly devoted Elvis (Shawn Hatosy).

But he is more insecure and paranoid than he lets on. When he has a falling out with a competitor, Jake Marzursky (Ben Foster), who cheats him out of $1,200, he recognizes that Jake is a maniacal and ruthless adversary. So payback presents a problem. Johnny solves this with a truly stupid idea. He kidnaps Jake's 15-year-old half brother, Zack (Anton Yelchin). The youngster, who has grown restless with his normal life of doting parents and homework, admires his brother's on-the-edge lifestyle, so he is up for a few days of partying and boozing with this seemingly hip crew. But as Jake vows revenge, and others point out the legal repercussions of kidnapping, Johnny and his loyal lieutenant, Frankie (an almost unrecognizable Justin Timberlake), grow increasingly antsy. Meanwhile, Zack remains oblivious to his pending fate.

Most of the characters share the dual afflictions of poor education and a serious lack of smarts. Hirsch's ringleader moves in often jerky and hyperkinetic movements, but his mental processes are slow. Although he does less drugs than others, he can't seem to think through any problem. Timberlake's Frankie has much more brains and sensitivity, but male loyalty trumps common sense. Foster presents an astonishing portrait of lethal rage. Willis as the bad father and Sharon Stone as Zack's emotionally overwrought mother deliver outstanding performances.