Italian crime drama in which a seemingly mild mannered dog groomer leads a secret life as a cocaine dealer.
Marcello Fonte puts in a stunning performance as a put-upon dog groomer in a rundown Italian seaside town.
Garrone is way too accomplished a filmmaker for this taut drama not to hold the attention, and there is undeniable pleasure in the inevitable turning of the worm and Marcello’s embrace of wily, chilly vengeance, but this glaring character flaw means Dogman feels like the bones of something brilliant that wasn’t quite fleshed out.
Abetted by Nicolaj Brüel's prowlingly ominous camerawork and Dimitri Capuani's soul-destroying interiors, Garrone proves once again that even the lowest-rung southern Italian gangster can't afford a shred of human decency.
Matteo Garrone's modern day fable is one of the best Italian films of recent times.
Cracking central performance aside, there’s not a great deal to get excited about here.
General release. Check local listings for show times.
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