Dogfight *** (1991, River Phoenix, Lili Taylor, Richard Panebianco) – Classic Movie Review 4560

Director Nancy Savoca’s 1991 comedy romantic drama stars River Phoenix, who gives a finely judged, tortured performance in this offbeat, bittersweet tale as the 18-year old young marine Eddie Birdlace, who dates a frumpy waitress called Rose (Lili Taylor) for a dare in the early Sixties.

Marine Phoenix comes home from Vietnam with a dishonourable discharge and a mind to dispel his past ghosts, particularly the memory of the dirty game called ‘dogfight’ – how the night before they went off to war in 1963 his gang competed to invite out the plainest girl. All the buddies seek a woman for a party, but the man who finds the ugliest girl, wins a prize.

Lonely anti-war Rose works in a coffee shop, where Eddie asks her out, though she sees through his game. But now Eddie likes her personality and follows her home.

This unfairly little seen movie packs quite a punch thanks to Bob Comfort’s sharp screenplay writing, the acting of a strong ensemble of players and Savoca’s delicate handling.

The film’s good period sense is helped by an effective Sixties pop score.

Also in the cast are Richard Panebianco, Anthony Clark, Mitchell Whitfield, Brendan Fraser and Holly Near.

Phoenix’s 13 films include Explorers (1985), Stand by Me (1986), The Mosquito Coast (1986), A Night in the Life of Jimmy Reardon (1988), Running on Empty (1988), Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989), My Own Private Idaho and Sneakers (1992) .

© Derek Winnert 2016 Classic Movie Review 4560

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