Dogfight is another movie I never saw until the Criterion Collection introduced it to me. I’d heard about it. Collecting ‘90s movie magazines, it would get small write ups, so when Criterion added it for April, I was aware of it. The film lives up to its reputation amongst those who genuinely appreciate it.
River Phoenix plays Eddie Birdlace, a Marine on leave for a weekend. His squad has a tradition called Dogfight where they each try to find the ugliest girl to bring to a dance. It’s mean and Birdlace seems to go along grudgingly, but he clearly likes the girl he selects, Rose (Lili Taylor).
Of course, they don’t get more than 30 minutes into the movie before the girls find out. A lot of fluffy comedies hinge on a bet that hurts the protagonists’ feelings for about five minutes before they forgive their costar. Dogfight makes the rest of the movie about dealing with that, as well as finding your own voice in a group of toxic friends.
Not that it’s unsympathetic to the Marines. It’s clear they have not been given the tools to deal with the war they are about to face, and this is the sort of coping mechanism young people might turn to on their own.
Criterion has gotten Taylor and director Nancy Savoca back for a new discussion led by director Mary Harron. They get into the practical and thematic issues of the movie for 30 minutes.
Another half hour of interviews speaks with the cinematographer, production designer, script supervisor, music supervisor, sound editor and editor on Zoom. They have some nitty gritty analysis of visual references, locations in Seattle and a tiny bit in San Francisco, and period music choices.