merchandise, and ropes the
dogman into various crimes.
When Simone proposes breaking
through the wall of Marcello’s
shop to rob the pawn shop next
door, Marcello finds himself at a
crossroads - go along with Simone
and ruin his reputation in the
community or face the wrath of
the thug?
joy, and why would they? After all,
animals were never meant to be
subjected to any human notion of
appearing ‘civilized’. In the movie’s
biggest beast, the hulking Simone,
Dogman suggests that maybe
some humans aren’t equipped to
live within the boundaries of civi-
lization; should they then be put
down like a pitbull that has tasted
In the movie’s biggest beast, the hulking Simone,
Dogman suggests that maybe some humans aren’t equipped
to live within the boundaries of civilization; should they then
be put down like a pitbull that has tasted blood?
Garrone frequently pauses his
film’s central narrative to observe
Marcello at work, shampooing and
combing a variety of pampered
pooches. Some of the dogs are
monsters, big and strong enough
to tear him apart if they broke free
from the shackles that allow Mar-
cello to subject them to the indig-
nity of a rinse and haircut. It’s not
an experience they appear to en-
NJ STAGE - ISSUE 58
blood?
Marcello may be a likeable fig-
ure, and the droopy-eyed Fonte
plays him like a sad-eyed mon-
grel, but it’s difficult to fully sym-
pathize with his predicament.
Simone’s coke addiction is clearly
playing a major role in his socio-
pathic behavior, and it appears
he was introduced to the drug by
Marcello. At several points, Mar-
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