Dogman isn't subtle at all in its approach, but it's well acted, very intense, and often quite pretty.
This has Oscar nominee written all over it. That's not necessarily a positive or a negative just an observation. I think it comes down to the the setting - the unfiltered, gritty streets of Naples just sounds like something that Academy go crazy for. The on-the-nose symbolism is also something that seems to be a staple for nominees. Not that I didn't enjoy it, but it's pretty obvious. No post viewing YouTube deep dive required.
The performances are are the focus and the glue holding
Dogman together. The two main characters in this are Marcello and Simone played by Marcello Fonte and Edoardo Pesce. They're both fantastic and polar opposites. Marcello is very small and meek, but he's kind and well mannered. Simone is massive and complete train wreck of a human being. He's an aggressive, drug-addicted bully who has no friends except for Marcello.
That brings me to my issue with the film and it's a pretty significant plot related one.. Despite the film showing us that Marcello has some appreciation for Simone, including him on things, taking him to the club, etc. he has no reason to keep him around. Simeone uses him for drugs and ends up getting him in serious trouble and the entire time Marcello has his back. It just makes no sense to me. Sure, there'd be no movie if that weren't the case, but there has to be some sense of logic and there just isn't any.
I'm not sure how I feel about the very end of the movie either. Again, it's almost too on-the-nose to work so I can't help but feel that I'm watching something that was constructed to make me feel a certain way instead of a presentation that ended up manifesting those feelings voluntarily if that makes sense.
Still.
Dogman is a fun, short crime movie with some great performances and an interesting setting for someone like me who needs to see more of the world.
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