Alpha Dog is a 2006 American crime drama film written and directed by Nick Cassavetes, based on the true story of the kidnapping and murder of Jesse James Hollywood.
The film stars Emile Hirsch as Johnny Truelove, a drug dealer who kidnaps the 15-year-old brother of a man who owes him money. Anton Yelchin plays Zach Mazursky, the kidnapped boy, and Bruce Willis plays Sonny Truelove, Johnny's father.
IT follows Johnny Truelove and his gang of friends as they kidnap Zach Mazursky and keep him captive for several days. Johnny's plan is to hold Zach for ransom, but his friends have other ideas. They begin to treat Zach like one of their own, taking him to parties and introducing him to their drug-fueled lifestyle.
As the days go by, it becomes clear that Johnny's friends are not going to let Zach go. They start to make threats against Zach's life, and Johnny's father, Sonny, realizes that he needs to do something to stop them.
Sonny tries to convince Johnny to let Zach go, but Johnny refuses. Sonny then tries to take matters into his own hands, but he is unsuccessful. In the end, it is up to Zach to find a way to escape and save his own life.
Alpha Dog is a disturbing and violent film, but it is also a powerful and thought-provoking one. The film raises important questions about the nature of good and evil, and it challenges viewers to confront their own prejudices.
The film was praised for its performances, particularly those of Hirsch and Yelchin. Hirsch was nominated for the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy for his performance in the film. Yelchin was also praised for his performance, and he was nominated for the MTV Movie Award for Best Breakthrough Performance.
It was also praised for its direction and screenplay. Cassavetes was praised for his ability to create a sense of realism and authenticity, and he was nominated for the Independent Spirit Award for Best Director. The screenplay was also nominated for the Independent Spirit Award for Best Screenplay.
Trailer:
Cast
- Emile Hirsch as Johnny Truelove
- Anton Yelchin as Zach Mazursky
- Bruce Willis as Sonny Truelove
- Vincent Kartheiser as Pick Giaimo
- Shawn Hatosy as Elvis Schmidt
- Justin Timberlake as Frankie Flowers
- Ben Foster as Jake Mazursky
- Olivia Wilde as Angel Holden
- Sharon Stone as Darlene Haynes
- Christopher Marquette as Baxter
- Amber Heard as Chelsea
Director: Nick Cassavetes
Writer: Nick Cassavetes
Box Office Gross: $32,351,125
Distributor: Universal Pictures
Genre: biography crime drama thriller
Release Date: January 11, 2007