Change Your Image
nabeehah
Reviews
Dogfight (1991)
One of my all time favorites.
Truth be told, when i first came across this movie, River Phoenix was already a name i knew. His legacy, continuing. I had loved his performance in the movie 'stand by me' and i continued to search for his best work. What I didn't expect? The brilliance of Lili Taylor, whose work; i had never seen. Birdlace is quite different from the other personalities played by Phoenix, yet- it reminds me that we are all human; we are all trying to fit in. And this movie definitely broke the stereotypes, especially with Taylor's portrayal of Rose. Rose, who is probably somewhat invisible, has something that normal shy girls in movies don't : spunk. She bruises birdlace for his asshole manners, swears while ordering food to prove a point, does not care about what other people think and yet, is the most compassionate character i have ever seen. She did not need to leave her room after getting Birdlace's note to come outside, but she did; because she is the type of person who can give us the second chances we need- heck maybe even a third and fourth. I loved how the chemistry grew. How Eddie saw something in this girl who was willing to give him a chance when he didn't deserve it. Who Rose saw something in a boy who only knew how to be rude. But my favorite moment? When Eddie returns after all that time, and hugs Rose with vigour, and a look which conveys a complete mental breakdown. I've read other reviews. I know how people hate the way it ended. But I don't see that. I see a boy who could've died. Who could've died, knowing that he never wrote to the girl called Rose. This is his wake up call. Some things are worth fighting for. Thanks, dogfight. I salute you. I salute you too, Lili Taylor and River Phoenix.