Year of the Dog
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Movie Reviews of Year of the Dog
Movie Review: A Very Good 'Year' For Shannon and White
Summary: 5 Stars
Screenwriter Mike White's "Year of the Dog," which marks his directorial debut, was underappreciated during theatrical release last spring despite its being chockfull of wit, charm, intriguing characters and a fiercely original plot. Molly Shannon strays out of comedic bounds and nails the lead character of Peggy, proving she has a wealth of dramatic talent that has gone largely underused. Now on DVD, her performance is a grand revelation.
Peggy is a typical wallflower working in a typical office building as a typical secretary. In her early 40's, her social calendar is an arctic wilderness yet she is acquiescent, for her supreme pleasure in life is devotion to Pencil, her impossibly adorable pet beagle. Pencil dies in a needless accident, however, and Peggy is sent into a harrowing tailspin. The death of a house pet may not seem more like an unfortunate event than a grand trauma, but viewers with this mindset are in for a surprise - the realization of Pencil's death is most rattling, and Shannon is a marvel to watch as her ensuing devastation twists and jerks throughout the course of the movie affecting all aspects of her life.
No one is able to empathize with her sad state, which puts her at odds with the world. Her friend and co-worker Layla, a Type A personality portrayed by the incomparable Regina King, insists that Peggy pursue a romantic life, loosen up and "stop shacking up with dogs." Her brother Pier and sister-in-law Bret, played with [...]-retentive relish by Thomas McCarthey and Laura Dern, expect her to move on quickly and avoid saying "d-e-a-t-h" in front of their first-grader. Meanwhile, her self-involved boss Robin, played to archetypal tight-wound perfection by Josh Pais, expects an early Christmas bonus should ease her troubles. Her neighbor Al, played by the always reliable John C. Reilly, hardly offers her any comfort either - never mind that he may be indirectly responsible for Pencil's death.
Then a light suddenly shines on Peggy in the form Newt, an ASPCA volunteer played by Peter Sarsgaard. As a result of their interactions and commonalities Peggy begins to feel parts of herself humanized that had before been merely dismissed, and soon embarks on a long, arduous journey that tests her willpower and inner spirit, not to mention her values.
"I've always been disappointed by people. I've really only been able to count on my pets," she says. "But it's enough."
Many will chastise White's script and question if PETA helped fund "Year of the Dog" due to its uncompromising look at the early stages that result in beef stew on the family table (though it never gets graphic) and animal rights issues in general. However, there are definite checks and balances within the script, which tells a story not about animals but about how one woman's deep love for them puts her on a path of self-discovery.
"There are so many kinds of life in this life - so many things to love," says Peggy. "This is my love. It is mine."
The idea that the definition of love is different for all people certainly warrants a movie of its own, and "Year of the Dog" does it justice many times over. Will it burn up the Oscars? Probably not. Rent it anyway.
Movie Review: Great movie: Should have received Oscar consideration
Summary: 5 Stars
I saw the trailer for this movie on an old DVD recently and wondered, "Did this ever come out?" Sure enough, it had -- two years ago -- and I'd completely missed it. Huh. So I checked out the Amazon reviews, which were a "mixed bag" to say the least. Focusing on the 1-star reviews, you'll notice that half of them are from PETA members who say this movie is not for animal lovers, it's too cruel; and the other half from people convinced that it's a piece of "PETA propaganda" (exact phrase used more than once). Given these contradictory views among those who hated it, I figured it was probably a good film -- and I wasn't disappointed. In fact, this one of the best movies I've seen in a long time, with some of the most outstanding acting you'll ever see.
First, is the movie for animal lovers? Perhaps not. There are a lot of pet deaths that are pretty emotional for an average person (such as myself) -- I could see how they'd be traumatic to a real animal lover. And the movie also examines subjects such as animal testing, factory farming, etc. It isn't a pure comedy by any means, and could be too disturbing for some animal lovers, I guess. And, for any crazies out there, you might be offended by the portrayal of some obsessed pet owners that could hit too-close-to-home.
Secondly, is the movie "PETA propaganda"? Absolutely not! I do not agree with PETA in the least, being a pro-property rights libertarian, and I did not see this film as "PETA propaganda" in the least. For one, the hunter (played expertly as always by John C. Reilly) is in no way a villain -- unless solely being a hunter makes one a villain. He's a perfectly nice guy, and it is Molly Shannon's appraisal of him that's off-the-deep end. Furthermore, there is a scene when Molly Shannon is taking her niece to a factory farm and her niece says, "What would happen to all the animals if we didn't eat them," and Molly Shannon says, "Uh... I don't know." END SCENE. This isn't propaganda; it actually is a very even-handed appraisal of "animal rights" concerns. I'll add in that Molly Shannon's boss, a character who is thoroughly likable by the end of the film, dismisses her crusade against animal testing by saying, "This is how we make medical breakthroughs, we don't do it because it's fun." If this were PETA propaganda, then the boss and the hunter would be portrayed as evil and heartless, not as animal lovers themselves.
What this film is is an intense character study of an animal lover, as played by Molly Shannon. She should have received Oscar consideration. Regina King is also excellent as her friend, and Peter Sarsgaard is great as an asexual animal trainer and vegan. But the best performance of all is the understated role of Molly's boss, played by Josh Pais. His performance and the handling of this character in general were perfect. The movie itself may have been a box-office bomb, but it will be a cherished gem for true movie lovers to discover over the years and decades to come, and a towering triumph of creativity by all those involved in its making. 5 Stars!
Movie Review: Serious AND Entertaining!!!
Summary: 5 Stars
Director Mike White hit a home run with this little gem of a movie. In Year of the Dog, actor Molly Shannon plays Peggy, a middle-aged woman more successful in forming relationships with animals than people. Peggy has a HUGE heart, and is always thinking of others... doughnuts for her coworkers, presents for her niece and nephew, and a listening post for those who need a friendly ear. At home, however, her life revolves around her dog, Pencil. A tragic accident sets into motion a series of experiences that have profound affects on Peggy, affecting every aspect of her life.
Peggy has a passion, and all passions can seem foolish, or trivial, or childish to others. Peggy will have none of this. She comes to believe that animals have a fundamental right to a cruelty-free existence. For a shy person, the actions precipitated by this belief seem out of character.
A few years ago, HBO had a dramatic feature called "To Love or To Kill." This 70 minute production sampled the wide range of interactions people have with animals: food, loved companions, sport, religious icons, research subjects, and helpers. How can we demonstrate such a wide variation in our values and attitudes? Why do we save the whales and eat the cows? Why avoid fur and wear leather? Why do some avoid beef yet eat chicken?
Tough questions! I look forward to this movie having a wide distribution, and encourage a vigorous and thoughtful discussion afterwards. I don't know that it has a rating, but it is probably PG... it probably doesn't deal with animal issues in ways more disturbing than, say, the movie Babe. However, in Year of the Dog, the focus clearly is on people, not animals.
Expect to hear the critics of animal use praise the film, and others to avoid it. And that would be a shame... this is one of those movies that works to make the viewers evaluate their own philosophies.
Go see it with a vegetarian.
Movie Review: Wonderful, unlike anything you'd expect
Summary: 5 Stars
Year Of The Dog is a type of movie that I grow fonder of the more I think about it, and that's because what won me over about it is what surprises me the most. I expected, I guess, Molly Shannon being another deluded middle-aged woman locked up in suburban patois and lunacy - it is, after all, a movie about a woman who can't come to grips with the death of a very small dog named Pencil. I suppose she is suburban, a little repressed, and a little bit of a lunatic, but as written by Mike White, she's also complicated and human, and more than that, itching to get out in true and genuine ways. I've loved Mike White's scripts like Chuck & Buck and School Of Rock because they take premises that shouldn't succeed but do because their funniest moments are their truest. The scene I remember laughing hardest at here is a moment between Thomas McCarthy and Laura Dern as Shannon's brother and sister-in-law rambling on about the PTA - it's a moment of great heart and humor because it is so accurate of the way that, truly, our friends and loved ones get lost in bourgeois america, but also of the heart and need to connect they still retain. Year Of The Dog follows Shannon's Peggy into the pits of depression over her dead dog, and her decisions verge on the lunatic, alright, but what makes the movie such an accomplishment is that these decisions aren't making us laugh at her like a character on Saturday Night Live, they redeem her - as Peggy becomes a one-woman crusader to love animals, she also unearths the passion that her office job and stale life can't provide. What makes me love Year Of The Dog so much - beyond a performance out of Molly Shannon that, I'm serious, was sensitive and adroit in a way that its year's Oscar nominees for best actress were not - is that it is ultimately a story about being true to your passions and not apologizing for who you are. By the end, Peggy's invigoration is your own.Movie Review: absolutely wonderful !!!
Summary: 5 Stars
i havent laughed so hard at anything since the in-laws the one w peter falk of course--- this is a satire-- so most people dont even get it---- this movie is brilliantly written directed cast and acted-- the art direction and photography- everything adding up to a pitch perfect scathing satire-- making fun of obsessed people, pet owners vegans bizness people people who cant find love accept thru their not always so domesticated pet animals-- but whats most amazing is how straight its played and how funny it is-- this is brilliant work by all-- molly shannon is a revelation to watch--- the close ups are all perfect and hysterical--- satires are what close on saturday night a famous theatre anecdote states-- satires are usually not understood apparently--they require a certain sophistication of thought/ understanding that seems apparently beyond most --certainly the reviews ive read all miss the whole point of this right on gem-----i`m eternally grateful that writers producers etc--havent given up on this genre---- the moments of real drama here are so sharp and well acted-- mollys moment crying uncontrollably in her car-- amazing-- and then followed by such low key understated hysteria-- her bosses reaction to her problem-- the looks on their faces--- the movie is also about how people are in their own worlds and do not connect truly w each other---transferring intimacy to animals etc---- but its how well its all done that makes it so praiseworthy--- for those who will get it-- go get it !!!!! in its own way this is a real gem of a movie----i went from crying along w molly-- to laughing harder than ive laughed in -what ?? years ??!!!!! just moments later--- i truly love this movie--- but i know most wont-- too bad-you have no idea what you are missing- kudos to all involved--sheer brilliance !!!!