Alpha Dog is an uneven film. It glorifies the very lifestyle it tries to condemn, and the editing feels dated. However, it is worth watching for two reasons: the late Anton Yelchin’s heartbreaking innocence as Zack, and Justin Timberlake’s proof that he is a character actor trapped in a pop star’s body.
★★★☆☆ (3.5/5) Performance Rating for Timberlake: ★★★★☆ (4.5/5) alpha dog castellano
Fans of Kids , Bully , or anyone who wants to see Justin Timberlake cry better than most drama school graduates. Watch it in Castellano for a different cultural flavor, but ensure the dub retains the shaky, raw energy of Frankie’s breakdown. Alpha Dog is an uneven film
The review’s focus must land on the last twenty minutes. When Frankie discovers that Johnny actually intends to murder the 15-year-old hostage, Timberlake’s physical acting peaks. He stops playing a "character" and becomes a portrait of sheer terror. His delivery of the line, "This isn't supposed to happen... he's just a kid" (or the Castellano equivalent: "Esto no tenía que pasar... él es solo un chico" ) is the film's moral core. ★★★☆☆ (3
While Hirsch’s Johnny Truelove is the cold sun the film orbits, Timberlake’s Frankie is the terrified moon. He isn't the alpha; he is the omega . He is the kid who laughs too loud at bad jokes because he is terrified of being beaten up. Timberlake masters the art of the nervous chuckle. In the film’s most famous sequence—the "Mellow Yellow" drive—Frankie tries to keep the kidnapped Zack (Yelchin) calm by taking him on a surreal, drug-fueled road trip.
