Dogs Peek-Out

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A guy I know caught a research screening of Rod Lurie's Straw Dogs remake the night before last at the Rave Cinemas (Howard Hughes center) and forwarded a highly positive review save for one complaint that seems premature because there's time to do some finessing, etc.. Where's the online trailer that was supposed to be up today?

Kate Bosworth, James Marsden.

"Firstly, Lurie has assembled a dynamite cast: James Marsden, Kate Bosworth, Alexander Skarsgard, James Woods and even Walton Goggins (who is absolute nitro-glycerin in FX's Justified) has a small role. The fact that Lurie was able to attract this cast speaks volumes for his reputation. Is this an award-worthy film? No. Is it a good time at the movies? Yes. Could it be a great time at the movies? Hell yes. But in order to get there I need to wade into spoiler territory. [Deleted.]

"A Hollywood screenwriter (Marsden) and his wife (Bosworth) are moving into a home in his wife's small rural hometown so he can write his new script, Stalingrad, in peace and tranquility. She had a small role in a TV show he once wrote but we get the impression she's washed up now (she's one of the many Straw Dogs in the film, a.k.a people who peaked to early but are now hollow and easily knocked-around and broken).

"Marsden is fantastic in the film. In fact, he's never been better. He exhudes kindness and decency. He plays the soft city boy with a heart.

"The happy couple settle into their countryside mansion in the middle of a very isolated forest. In town, they run into Bosworth's old flame (Skarsgard). Skarsgard is everything that Marsden is not -- tall, rugged, manly and dangerous. The quintessential bad boy that all girls are attracted to in their teens but eventually grow out of... or do they?

"There are two themes running through the film. The first (and I'm not too sure I agree with this) is that a man can only be a man if he resorts to violence in order to defend his wife. Lurie straddles a dangerous line in the film by presenting us with a wife who is a provoker.

"Marsden kindly hires Bosworth's ex-boyfriend to fix the roof of the barn... and then Bosworth proceeds to jog around the forest in skimpy clothing (no bra, barefoot). She then complains to her husband that her former flame and his crew of roofers are eye-raping her. Marsden ever so kindly (and he could've been an ass but wasn't) suggests that maybe she should consider wearing a bra next time. Bosworth is obfuscated by this suggestion. So what does she do? Goes upstairs, opens the bedroom window and proceeds to strip in front of the Skarsgard and his crew. It's an ambivalent, tough scene that says a lot about feminism, power struggles in couples and highlights that actresses (in real life and on film) are a loopy bunch.

"Therein lies the second theme of the film: Do women want the stable, dependable good-guy or do they have deep subconscious yearnings for a bad boy?

"So far the film is great. Fun set-up and as a writer myself, it's fun to see Marsden create his writing workspace -- chalkboard with scenes and notes in a lovely dream office, etc. Marsden is once again great in the film, despite his thankless role -- the pussy-fied husband who must grow a brass-coated set of testicles by the end of the film so his Southern Wife can finally respect him (I'm serious)... and he eventually does, in a realistic, believable fashion to boot.

[Deleted comment about a scene our correspondent doesn't like & wants cut out, etc.]

"The ending is gangbusters. Violent and very un-Lurie-like. Marsden rises to the occasion and all the plot strands come together. Woods is great as a drunken high-school football coach who doesn't want his teenage daughter flirting with the local developmentally delayed man (Dominic Purcell).

"Yes, there is a fairly graphic rape. Yes, Bosworth is ambivalent in the scene. Does she fight off Skarsgard as hard as she could during the rape? Nope. Does she kinda like it? Sure seemed like that to me (which will surely infuriate the feminists out there). There's also an incredibly satisfying final kill that involves a bear-trap.

"Straw Dogs is a good movie that wants to be great...[excised comment]!"

Payback<< previous | next >>A Less Attractive Damien

Posted by Jeffrey Wells on May 11, 2011 at 10:15 PM

comment #1

K. Bowen says ...

Did you meet this guy yoiu know at a Spoilers Anonymous meeting?

Posted by K. Bowen at May 11, 2011 10:38 PM

comment #2

nemo says ...

One of the reasons I have trouble buying the idea that this remake can match the original is that back in the day Susan George was one of the hottest trashiest things on two feet. Kate Bosworth, on the other hand, whatever you think of her acting, is an undernourished anorexic stick with blonde hair.

Posted by nemo at May 12, 2011 12:17 AM

comment #3

dino velvet says ...

I don't know if I really buy the casting. I know Skarsgard is supposed to be hot and strapping and all, but if the script calls for a character played by Marsden to come off as some kind of Buscemi/Giamatti shrinking violet schlub by comparison, it's a little off.

Anyway, GOGGINS POWER. Shane Vendrell, Boyd Crowder, two legends of television.

Posted by dino velvet at May 12, 2011 12:34 AM

comment #4

Fortunesfool says ...

So, a remake of Straw Dogs then.

Posted by Fortunesfool at May 12, 2011 12:44 AM

comment #5

LexG says ...

Bosworth rules all. BOZ POWER. See no reason why this couldn't be a perfectly valid, successful modern updating: The Last House on the Left remake is similarly a "slickening up" of a primal, sordid revenge masterwork, and stands on its own as a polished piece of visceral cinema without cheapening the singular vibe of the original. As a story STRAW DOGS is archetypal enough, however unique Pecknipah's own voice, that it can withstand remakes and reimaginings.

In a LOT of ways, STRAW DOGS had a lot of Polanski's CUL-DE-SAC in it in the first place-- speaking of awesome things that might make for a fun remake.

Posted by LexG at May 12, 2011 12:57 AM

comment #6

Kakihara says ...

Lex: I'm surprised Rosemary's Baby hasn't been remade by now.

Posted by Kakihara at May 12, 2011 2:54 AM

comment #7

LexG says ...

Rosemary's Baby with Emma Watson (in that FETCHING haircut) and SAM THE MAN WORTHINGTON as Cassavettes, with Peter Dinklage as Ruth Gordon, Peter Stormare somewhere in the mix, and Billy Zane in the Charles Grodin part... for SCREEN GEMS and directed by Marcus Nispel.

Where's my commission, that's a GREAT IDEA and totally the kind of thing I'd greenlight if I ran Hollywood, right after my remake of REPULSION with K-Stew in for Daneueve with me playing the landlord.

Posted by LexG at May 12, 2011 3:02 AM

comment #8

Gabe@ThePlaylist says ...

Platinum Dunes owned the rights to a Rosemary's Baby, but they admitted they couldn't get the right script together. Which is to say, fucking duh.

Posted by Gabe@ThePlaylist at May 12, 2011 3:04 AM

comment #9

LexG says ...

But seriously, look at Bosworth! She's so CUTE! CUTE! HUGE fan, one of the best female bodies EVER.

Attention all women: Look at Kate Bosworth. That's what you're supposed to be like.

Posted by LexG at May 12, 2011 3:20 AM

comment #10

actionman says ...

"One of the reasons I have trouble buying the idea that this remake can match the original is that back in the day Susan George was one of the hottest trashiest things on two feet. Kate Bosworth, on the other hand, whatever you think of her acting, is an undernourished anorexic stick with blonde hair."

EXACLTY.

Bosworth is a FUCKING BLACK-HOLE of talent. Could've cast an unknown and then the film would have been even better for it. I don't have a hard time believing that Marsden is great in this -- seems like a good role for him to stretch his range with. Glad to see that this film is still sticking close to the original (passive rape scene, bear trap, grisly violence) but this is a movie that just DIDN'T need to be made. And it's all about context. Before Peckinpah's film had been released, how many movies had graphically depicted rape and violence the way Peckinpah did? Not many. Since then...COUNTLESS films. No matter how well acted, directed, shot & edited, this new film simply cannot have the power that the original did.

Posted by actionman at May 12, 2011 4:06 AM

comment #11

Rashad says ...

Bosworth is one of the few skinny girls that is legitimately attractive. She looked better with a little more weight though.

So I take it, her real life husband is going to be raping her in the movie?

Posted by Rashad at May 12, 2011 4:22 AM

comment #12

LexG says ...

Er, I know this isn't a gossip rag and I might be wrong, but pretty sure Kate Bosworth isn't married...

Posted by LexG at May 12, 2011 4:42 AM

comment #13

littlebigman says ...

We can say whatever we want about his films, but Rod Lurie has never had a bad performance in one of them. Even Josh Hartnett was good in RESURRECTING THE CHAMP.

I have NEVER been a fan of Bosworth - but my gut tells me that she lays it on the line in this film.

Everything in this review is in line with what I have heard, I have been told that the siege that ends the film is a cool motherfucker.

Posted by littlebigman at May 12, 2011 6:55 AM

comment #14

LexG says ...

Lurie's only real dud, to me,was DETERRENCE, which I think is so MIND-BLOWINGLY awful and ham-handed and obvious and low-rent, I can't believe they let him make a second movie, let alone that all the subsequent ones have been very solid (yes, liked Last Castle and Resurrecting the Champ)...

Also sort of like his vaguely flat, no-bright-colors, powdery blue-gray sheen, most of his movies lit like Sidney Lumet in depressing offices and war rooms and chambers, absolutely ZERO concession to modern stylistics or color timing. And normally I WANT popping, exaggerated colors and crazy whooshes and lens flares and saturation and grain and insanity, but somehow he makes that grubby 70s TV look work well--

Though as always, I have to wonder why a FILM CRITIC, who's seen every movie ever and can recite every tenet of the auteur theory, WOULDN'T be tempted to go for some insane personalized "style."

Also Lurie used to have production offices in a building where I worked and I took a leak next to him, making him one of the few "famous" people I've ever seen in Los Angeles.

Posted by LexG at May 12, 2011 7:03 AM

comment #15

littlebigman says ...

"Before Peckinpah's film had been released, how many movies had graphically depicted rape and violence the way Peckinpah did?"

THE WILD BUNCH

Posted by littlebigman at May 12, 2011 7:06 AM

comment #16

scottfeinberg says ...

Lex, I read "with Peter Dinklage as Ruth Gordon" five minutes ago and I'm still laughing -- awesome!

Posted by scottfeinberg at May 12, 2011 7:18 AM

comment #17

DiscoNap says ...

Goggins was coming into his own by the end of his Shane Vendrell run, but on JUSTIFIED he really has turned into young Nicholson, it's insane.

Posted by DiscoNap at May 12, 2011 7:37 AM

comment #18

Yuval says ...

What Fortunesfool said, other than commenting on the acting and the change of scenery this review could be of the original. I thought the whole reason Lurie was making this remake is so he can show no ambivelance with the rape scene. Has this reviewer even seen the original?
" The first (and I'm not too sure I agree with this) is that a man can only be a man if he resorts to violence in order to defend his wife. "
Yes, and the Passion of the Christ seems to be saying Jesus is god's son.

Posted by Yuval at May 12, 2011 8:12 AM

comment #19

littlebigman says ...

Yuval- From reading the review, my guess is that Lurie's stamp on the film will be socio-political. Remember that Peckinpah's film was called a fascist work by many. But according to the reviewer Marsden is writing a film on Stalingrad - in which fascist forces were destroyed. I have a feeling that we'll get all the Peckinpah toughness - but instead of embracing the violence as what "makes a man" it will be shown as what destroys a man... We'll see. So far I have heard only good.

Posted by littlebigman at May 12, 2011 8:40 AM

comment #20

Krillian says ...

I remember in the original she kinda wanted to be raped, but it was only when a second guy joined in that she decided NO NO NO but it's too late.

Posted by Krillian at May 12, 2011 8:40 AM

comment #21

Rashad says ...

She was resisting both of them, and seemed to enjoy both rapes. (Though the second less so at first.) Hoffman never even found out that she was raped, which I thought was a major flaw. He was fighting them because they were trying to break into his house for that pedo

Posted by Rashad at May 12, 2011 8:52 AM

comment #22

Mr. F. says ...

Sad to say, I couldn't make it past the line "who is absolute nitro-glycerin in FX's Justified"...

Posted by Mr. F. at May 12, 2011 9:53 AM

comment #23

THE MovieBob says ...

The redactions are worrying, because it makes it seem like a direct retread of the original but possibly with some extra beats to "mitigate" the really, really grim parts.

In the original, it's not that she's raped that's "dark," it's that she may or may not have welcomed it. It's not that Hoffman kills all the hicks, it's that he kills them all and then takes off WITHOUT the wife - the implication being "eff you, bitch" because she called out for help from both guys during the seige. I can't see any modern filmmaker, Lurie especially, ending on that note.

Making the husband a screenwriter is also a HUGE "author insert character" red flag.

Posted by THE MovieBob at May 12, 2011 11:21 AM

comment #24

Krillian says ...

Yes, exactly, Rashad. Forgot about that, but I remember being really bothered Hoffman never found out about the rape.

Posted by Krillian at May 12, 2011 12:20 PM

comment #25

berkguru says ...

pointless remake

the first was great - no need

Posted by berkguru at May 12, 2011 2:08 PM

comment #26

DeafEars says ...

"She had a small role in a TV show he once wrote but we get the impression she's washed up now (she's one of the many Straw Dogs in the film, a.k.a people who peaked to early but are now hollow and easily knocked-around and broken)."

I really hope Lurie didn't see fit to explain the term "straw dogs" in the movie, but where else would this dopey definition come from? I doubt the reviewer came up with it on his own. Bad, bad sign.

Posted by DeafEars at May 12, 2011 2:51 PM

comment #27

George Prager says ...

Are you sure it's rape, Rashad and not just groping?

Posted by George Prager at May 12, 2011 3:11 PM

comment #28

Corto says ...

The definition of Straw Dogs is spoken by Marsden's character.

Posted by Corto at May 12, 2011 3:34 PM

comment #29

DeafEars says ...

Oy. This is a renter for sure, then.

Posted by DeafEars at May 12, 2011 3:50 PM

comment #30

Corto says ...

Strange that they don't have a trailer yet. Doesn't it come out in September?

Posted by Corto at May 12, 2011 4:24 PM

comment #31

KellerD says ...

Ha, Corto- I just saw the trailer on EXTRA. It actually looks pretty cool. I'm buying into it. Have you seen the film? How do you known that Marsden explains the meaning of the title?

Posted by KellerD at May 12, 2011 4:48 PM

comment #32

KellerD says ...

By the way, has there ever been a remake ever made where not everybody said there was no "need" for it? Shit, how many movies do we "need" in the first place. This one looks like it may be worthwhile - especially since nobody knows the original except for geeks like us.

Posted by KellerD at May 12, 2011 4:50 PM

comment #33

Gaydos says ...

Sam's Song
By Kris Kristofferson

I have been with the best that the bastards could muster
From danny the dildo to sidney the snake
And I feel like a working girl pausing to wonder
Just how much screwin' the spirit can take

Chorus:
I said, willie old buddy, please tell me again
The reason to keep goin' on.
He said, there's no harder words to say over a friend
Than they done you so righteously wrong
They stopped you from singing your song

He was our hero, boys, he took the bullet
But he went down swingin' his fist from the floor

You can ask any working girl south of the border
Sam peckinpah era un hombre for sure

Chorus:
Willie old buddy please tell me again
The reason to keep goin' on
He said, ;there's no harder words to say over a friend
Than they done you so righteously wrong
They stopped you from singin' your song.

Posted by Gaydos at May 12, 2011 5:57 PM

comment #34

CitizenKaned4Life says ...

Whether or not it was "rape-rape" in the original is certainly up for debate, but what's not up for debate is the way Rashad has been raping the HE message boards over the past few months.

Strictly non-consensual.

Posted by CitizenKaned4Life at May 12, 2011 11:52 PM

comment #35