lefkiosvanrooy Review of Dogfight

Dogfight (1991)

Lili Taylor's performance shines; not much else though.

[5/10 · 28 March 2016]

This movie benefits from its sweet and sensitive approach and mainly from Lili Taylor's incredibly likable performance. I absolutely root for this girl and wish I could have a real-life friend like her. The enthusiasm by which she talks about most things, her aspirations in life, even the music she listened to where reasons to fall in love with this character. Unfortunately, I can't say the same about River Phoenix's character, a character I felt unable to empathize with as you do not get a true explanation as to why he'd previously behaved so callously, you do not get a big enough insight into his character, something to show his humanity, his fears, ambitions or insecurities. And I think that is because while Rose is such a driven and opinionated young girl, Eddie's character is the exact opposite, a guy frustrated with his situation for a reason he himself can't really explain. This makes their romance believable however, as you can see Eddie's attraction towards this girl's optimistic and at the same time strong aura. When their date comes to an end however, Eddie seems to choose to forget about this encounter and return to his previous life of bullshit-loaded tomfoolery, in a way a protective mechanism when entering the world of blood and horror that was Vietnam back then. He returns from war, having potentially lost his mates, seeming somewhat changed (if that) and enters Rose's café to see Rose again, hugging her and remembering that one night of pure sincerity in an otherwise bullshit-filled way of living.