Dogman * * * *

Marcello looking forward to another visit from Simoncino

         There were five people in the cinema when I saw this and the other four didn't look like the type that were out for a hard-arse Italian gangster film.  I do hope they were not there under false pretenses.  I mean, despite it's title this is not a film about cute puppies. Well, it kind of is, but it's mostly about a man who works with doggies, and it's pretty brutal.  Don't worry the dogs don't get hurt.

       This is the same director who gave us Gomorrah. I liked this one much better. It is more disciplined and much tighter. It's also a lot less populated. It's virtually a two-hander.

         Marcello lives in a poor section of town.  He has a modest business grooming dogs. He also enjoys showing them at dog shows.  His marriage is kaput but he still has a warm relationship with his young daughter. In some ways he comes across as rather meek. He is of small frame and looks the kind that would avoid violent confrontation at any cost.  Yet for some reason the person he knows best is a thug, Simoncino.
        But Simoncino is not nice to Marcello.  He's dominating demanding, nasty and selfish.  All you can think is "Marcello, get this man out of your life!" And I guess that is the drama. It's almost impossible for Marcello to shake off this dominating thug.
        Simoncino is a drug addict who is always make demands on Marcello for either drugs or money.  He pressures Marcello into illegal activities and uncaringly leaves him high and dry. It seems that not even the most extreme action will get Simoncino out of his life,
        Despite it's brutality it is in fact a very moving drama.