“When I have a past, I prefer multiple choice,” says the Joker in one of the monologues that appear in the graphic novel. The deadly jokeby Alan Moore. Likewise, it is a position that the protagonist expresses with more words and fewer words Dog mana man in a wheelchair who is closely related to him at the start of this crime drama jokerby Todd Phillips – is presented to us as a criminal disguised as a woman who is taken into custody by the police.
This enigmatic subject named Douglas claims to disguise himself to invent a new past, which arouses the curiosity of Evelyn, the psychiatrist in charge of the interrogation and who, together with the public, will discover his origins and his intimate bond with him dozens of dogs stealing cameras, whether because of their tenderness or their deadly quality.
Candidate at the Venice Film Festival 2023, Dog man is the latest film Luc Besson (The perfect assassin), which made its world premiere just months after the prominent filmmaker was cleared of all charges of alleged sexual assault he had faced since before the pandemic. After being on the verge of cancellation, it’s perhaps no coincidence that his new feature film focuses on a social outcast who wants to make peace with God, the world and himself.
On the other hand, it should be remembered that the issue of marginalized youth is usually associated with the present Cinema du Lookwhich Besson was associated with at the beginning of his career in the 80s. In this sense Dog man maybe it will feel like a return to square one; a kind of renaissance that has divided critics, but which undoubtedly boasts several successes that deserve recognition.
Read more: Dogman – film review
Method actor Caleb Landry Jones (Flee!) delves deep into the psyche of the deranged Douglas and the result is outstanding, to say the least. This performance is probably one of the best of the last year, or at least one of the most attractive given the demands of the role. Yes Dog man Had the film been released on time in the US – away from any controversy surrounding the director – there would have been plenty of reasons for Jones to be in a solid position in the current awards season.
Douglas shows the frugality and unwavering madness of Hannibal Lecter. But he is also a stage actor himself, which gives Jones the opportunity to act according to the way his character behaves on stage. One of the most irresistible sequences Dog man – equipped with a wonderful rhythmic montage – has to do with a musical and theatrical spectacle within the film, in which Douglas completely mutates into an iconic singer of the 20th century.
It is the tables where the protagonist finds his church. His Bible is Shakespeare and the hundred dogs he leads are the manifestation of divine power. Not for nothing Dog man It begins with a quote from the French writer Alphonse De Lamartine that says: “Wherever there is an unhappy person, God sends a dog.” For Douglas, the dogs are a family, but also a punishment for those who call themselves good Christians are just greedy thugs or incorrigible sadists.
So the film tells us to be afraid of dogs? Not really. None of the main character’s “pets” compare to Stephen King’s terrifying Cujo. Strangely enough, they are always very friendly, even in moments when they want to attack and kill.
Read more: Dogman – film review
At the end, Dog man becomes a “vigilante above the law” type film; one that could even flirt with the film trilogy composed by The protected one, Fragmented And Glass. And it would be interesting to see it integrated into M. Night Shyamalan’s fictional universe. As far as pop culture references go, there’s also an essence of Burton’s Catwoman that permeates Douglas, as well as extremely direct references to it The Godfatherby Francis Ford Coppola, and the legend of Robin Hood, in this case due to the protagonist’s desire to contribute to the redistribution of wealth.
Think about Cruella or even in Lassie Thanks to the dog’s heart that beats in this production, it’s not a disposable item either. According to the director, around 115 trained dogs were needed for filming, which makes some robbery and survival sequences an absolute pleasure.
Luc Besson’s return to the big screen is playful in nature, with an extremely seductive aura of light and color, although there is widespread criticism of its lack of substance. If we try to appreciate it as a character study, it’s true Dog man it is neither entirely convincing nor perceptive. His unsuccessful fabulist ambitions only underline a superficiality that will displease many. That’s why it’s better not to expect a film that moves, that makes you think or that opens up new perspectives. Above all, it is a stylish exercise with a great star and the potential to satisfy any dog lover.
