Feel like rooting for the bad guy? Then rent this movie. I loved it. As an independent it doesn't have the polish of the big budget movies, but all the qualities of a good movie it has. It brought all the essential elements of the plot together to a very interesting, tense and suspenseful end. And yes, I was rooting for the bad guy.
If...Dog...Rabbit is an interesting crime-drama about Johnnie Cooper (Matthew Modine, who also wrote and directed this movie) a convicted felon just released on parole. Parole Officer Gilmore (David Keith) has warned him (and continues through the early part of the film) to stay away from his criminally minded family. Though Johnnie has resolved in his mind to lead a clean life, his father (John Hurt) and brother (Kevin J. O'Conner) could care less. In their mind once-a-criminal-always-a-criminal. Johnnie received his prison sentence when his father and brother left him "holding the bag" from a botched robbery, so his relationship with his father is estranged. From this basic premise, a series of incidents leads Johnnie unwillingly then willingly into another crime caper.
I love the dialog. Some of it is absolutely hilarious:
Judy, "Why was your father choking you Johnnie?" Johnnie, "We were playing a little game. Seeing how long I could hold my breath."
I replayed the movie again with my headphones on and no video; I paid more attention to the details of the dialog and it's importance as the movie reached its climax.
It's not a 10 or a 9 and I'm torn between an 8 or a 7.
Thank God for independent movie makers and offering viewers such as myself a wider choice.
Okay. 8 out of 10.
If...Dog...Rabbit is an interesting crime-drama about Johnnie Cooper (Matthew Modine, who also wrote and directed this movie) a convicted felon just released on parole. Parole Officer Gilmore (David Keith) has warned him (and continues through the early part of the film) to stay away from his criminally minded family. Though Johnnie has resolved in his mind to lead a clean life, his father (John Hurt) and brother (Kevin J. O'Conner) could care less. In their mind once-a-criminal-always-a-criminal. Johnnie received his prison sentence when his father and brother left him "holding the bag" from a botched robbery, so his relationship with his father is estranged. From this basic premise, a series of incidents leads Johnnie unwillingly then willingly into another crime caper.
I love the dialog. Some of it is absolutely hilarious:
Judy, "Why was your father choking you Johnnie?" Johnnie, "We were playing a little game. Seeing how long I could hold my breath."
I replayed the movie again with my headphones on and no video; I paid more attention to the details of the dialog and it's importance as the movie reached its climax.
It's not a 10 or a 9 and I'm torn between an 8 or a 7.
Thank God for independent movie makers and offering viewers such as myself a wider choice.
Okay. 8 out of 10.