Dogman tells the story of mild-mannered Marcello (Marcello Fonte). He lives in a rundown town and owns a shop where he looks after dogs. He is kind and empathetic, but he also runs with a shady crowd. Marcello stashes cocaine at work and drives crime spree getaway vehicles. This meek looking man seems at odds with his criminal life.
Marcello hangs with town-asshole Simone (Edoardo Pesce), a hulking brute resembling a Double Dragon villain. He intimidates business owners, destroys property, and drags Marcello into his schemes. One burglary doesn’t go as planned and Marcello takes the fall. And once the dust settles, mild-mannered Marcello decides to prove that he isn’t a pushover.
If you’ve followed director Matteo Garonne’s career it’s no surprise that Dogman goes to dark places. Marcello transforms from wishy-washy to angry, methodical, and violent. Part of the joy is watching Fonte put on a show. Fonte’s screen presence reminds me of Steve Buscemi, an all-time tougher-than-he-looks guy. Their demeanours don’t say I’m here to kick ass so much as, please don’t hit me in the face.
Dogman is literally about a man who takes care of dogs, sure. It’s also about a sidekick whose loyal to a fault. Ultimately, this film is about bullies, and the ways we cave to their will or normalize their behaviour. Whether facing a barking dog, a coked-out thug, or a political party, we must stay vigilant. Letting bullies get their way because we’re apathetic? That life is for the dogs.
- Release Date: 9/06/2018
