A drama set in the American South, where a precocious, troubled girl finds a safe haven in the music and movement of Elvis Presley.A drama set in the American South, where a precocious, troubled girl finds a safe haven in the music and movement of Elvis Presley.A drama set in the American South, where a precocious, troubled girl finds a safe haven in the music and movement of Elvis Presley.
- Awards
- 2 wins & 1 nomination
- Band Member D
- (as Grenaldo Frazier)
- Elvis
- (as Ryan Pelton)
- Stranger Lady
- (as Robin Wright Penn)
- Director
- Writer
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaAccording to the site Slate, after playing family friendly roles for years, Dakota Fanning decided to her first controversial role as Lewellen in this film. The part of the Elvis fanatic included some very mature scenes, such as the horrifying rape of her character. The reviews at the time noted the public backlash of the role, and as Slate wrote, "Protesters of the film may be genuinely concerned that acting out a rape scene in a film is traumatic to Fanning." Fanning didn't take too well to her critics. She lashed out in a press conference in Los Angeles (via Today), "When it gets to the point of attacking my mother, my agent ... my teacher, who were all on the set that day, that started to make me mad ... They hadn't seen the movie." At the end of the day, the young, but seemingly mature beyond her years starlet felt she was leading audiences to harrowing discussions worth talking about. In an interview with The New York Times, Fanning, at just 12 years old, mused, "There are so many children that this happens to, every second. That's the sad part. If anyone's talking about anything, that's what they should be talking about."
- GoofsThe 45 rpm record that Lewellen's father gave her in the truck (supposedly by Elvis on RCA) is apparently a reissue of an original which did not exist at the time.
- Quotes
Lewellen: What's that from?
Buddy: What?
Lewellen: That big ole bruise you got there.
Buddy: Nothin'.
Lewellen: I got one, too.
Buddy: Where?
Lewellen: Right here. My daddy did it.
Buddy: My daddy don't hit me!
Lewellen: Does so.
Buddy: Does not, you liar!
Lewellen: I'm gonna kill my daddy one day.
Buddy: Are not.
Lewellen: Am too! I'll kill your daddy too, if you want.
- Crazy creditsThe film has a 2008 copyright date in the credits, despite first being shown in early 2007.
- ConnectionsFeatured in WatchMojo: Top 10 Roles Too Mature for Child Actors (2019)
- SoundtracksHomage to Harry Partch
Written by Dave Soldier, Richard Lair and The Thai Elephant Orchestra
Courtesy of Mulatta Records
As I understand it, the story they are trying to tell (in my opinion, unsuccessfully but more of that later) is of an adolescent girl who over a short period of time, due to a sequence of unfortunate events, goes from expressing herself through the voice of Elvis, to eventually being able to express her true self with her own voice, with help from Charles (Afemo Omilami).
As a story it holds water, is certainly - unfortunately - true to life and the central role is played with much maturity and sensitivity by Dakota Fanning (bar her mandatory screaming-for-no-reason scene) who may or may not have over-egged her performance (I don't know what was and wasn't said by her) but she is the one carrying this film, and it is not her fault that through clumsy editing and a weak screenplay the story kinda gets lost in the overall dullness.
None of the supporting characters are particularly well described and just when we do think we're getting to know them ... cut to a completely different scene. It's almost as if this was a vehicle for a 12-13 year old Dakota Fanning, which is not doing her, her co-stars or the film any favours. It perhaps should have been longer, and less time devoted to the relationship with her father which isn't particularly relevant to the story I think they're trying to tell.
My advice is watch it and make up your own mind, but don't expect to be shocked, disgusted, or entertained. The brief glimpses of humour and happiness are lost amongst the monotony of dull sound and scenery. Where's the rock'n'roll, where's the blues? Where are all the characters that surely must have been in the story, in the south, in the 1950s?
A worthy attempt to tell a powerful story, but lacking in flair and direction.
- Cedric_Catsuits
- Jun 13, 2011
- Permalink
- How long is Hounddog?Powered by Alexa
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Official site
- Language
- Also known as
- Untitled Dakota Fanning Project
- Filming locations
- Production companies
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Budget
- $3,750,000 (estimated)
- Gross US & Canada
- $131,961
- Opening weekend US & Canada
- $13,744
- Sep 21, 2008
- Gross worldwide
- $131,961
- Runtime1 hour 38 minutes
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 1.85 : 1