Dogfight
Tags: romantic, melodrama

Plot synopsis:
Prologue: Greyhound bus headed for San Francisco. Seems to be the heyday of the Haight-Ashbury scene. We meet a limping, grizzled Birdlace (River Phoenix): he chain smokes, doesn't eat much as we hear the week's numbers from Vietnam on TV: 141 dead, 391 wounded, 47 missing. Back on the bus, as Birdlace daydreams through the window, a flashback begins. Most of this movie is presented in one long flashback.Act I: November 1963; the Four B's (Birdlace, Burzin (Richard Panebianco), Benjamin (Mitchell Whitfield) and Bueller (Anthony Clark), a.k.a. Okie) are going on a last night of liberty before shipping out for Okinawa. Bonded by bullshit and macho posturing, they have an "elite" event planned - the eponymous 'Dogfight' - that everyone seems to want in on, even officers. Each goes "hunting" for a date to bring to this event; it is soon evident they are to bring the most unattractive girl they can find; the winner gets a jackpot.
After striking out with several prospects, Birdlace steps into Rose's Coffee Shop to get out of the rain. He is desperate, and for just a beat seems to consider the old lady seated near the door. Rose Sr. (Holly Near) is cold to him but he hears Rose Jr. (Lili Taylor) trying to learn the guitar chords for Malvina Reynolds' "What Have They Done to the Rain?" He strikes up a conversation full of nonsense, especially about the imaginary Jim Swain and his great influence on Bob Dylan as co-writer of most of Woody Guthrie's songs. Rose knows her stuff and isn't buying it, but is warm to Birdlace anyway. After hesitating, she agrees to go as his date to "a party."
Rose gets sick at the Dogfight, so Birdlace wins the consolation prize. As she is cleaning herself up in the rest room, she overhears an argument between Burzin and his date, Marcy (E.G. Daily). Marcy has "won" the dogfight for Burzin and is fighting with him over her share of the jackpot - it turns out she was hired, not found. Rose questions Marcy and learns the truth of this event; Rose then slaps and slugs an inebriated Birdlace as he sits on a bar stool and gives him a verbal lashing as well - even to the other Marines who seem overwhelmed by her ferocity. With tear-smeared makeup, Rose then takes refuge in her room - her folk music world - listening to Joan Baez sing "Silver Dagger."Act II: Birdlace deals with his own dogfight - the large German shepherd in Rose's back yard - to put a note on her window - an apology and an invitation to dinner. She accepts but on her terms - if there's any more dogfight, she'll kill him. He declines what appears to be a Polish or Ukrainian restaurant saying "We can do better." They end up going into an elegant establishment with string quartet and tuxedoed wait staff, and are denied entry because Birdlace has no dinner jacket. Now on a mission that binds them, they roust an elderly clothing store couple out of bed to get Birdlace a jacket, which he wears proudly with price tag still hanging from the collar, to get a seat at the restaurant. After dinner, as they walk, he throws the just-purchased jacket from an overpass into traffic below.
Scenes jump from Birdlace and Rose to the other B's enjoying their liberty in a much different fashion - getting tattoos (bees, of course) and being serviced orally by an arcade hooker as they watch Russ Meyer's The Immoral Mr. Teas. At one point, in a Chinatown tattoo parlor, Burzin sees Birdlace walking with Rose but does not let on to the others - he senses there is something important going on there.
Rose and Birdlace argue about their differing approach to life - one a pacifist, the other a soldier who sees change resulting from shooting. Nonetheless there is a deepening bond between them.
Rose takes Birdlace to the Still Life Cafe, where she hopes to sing one day. When she writes to him, she wants him to know what she's talking about. While there, he asks her to sing the song she was singing earlier in the coffee shop, which she does, reluctantly. This simple, quiet version of the entire song ("What Have They Done to the Rain?) sums up all that is going on in the world at the time as well as with both of them personally.
Birdlace then takes Rose to an arcade - the complete opposite of The Still Life - where they play Whack-a Mole to Rose's delight. Knowing that music is important to her, he then takes her into a special room full of music machines. He drops coins into all of them which soon results in a cacophony - but a charming one, like a magic carnival. Finally there is only one large music box playing and they dance slowly, awkwardly kissing - perhaps the first kiss for both of them.
In spite of his macho banter, use of profanity and willingness to use a girl in a dogfight, Birdlace is actually very courteous and thoughtful. Arriving back at Rose's place, he does not push himself on her - but is glad when she asks him in. He asks if it's OK before he touches her or removes some of her clothing, and having recently viewed the films about STDs in boot camp, is sure to get out a condom (he hides it under her teddy bear as she puts on a robe in her closet). Rose has actually invited somebody into her world. As they begin to cuddle and embrace, one song ends and The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan drops onto the turntable; they begin sweet and tender foreplay as "Don't Think Twice, It's Alright" plays.Act III: Birdlace and Rose are on the sidewalk in front of her building. She hands him a piece of paper with her address on it. She says he can write, but seems resigned to never hearing from him again. Birdlace runs, with backlighted bridge in background.
Birdlace finds the other three Bees in the bus station appearing haggard from their night of liberty, and the loud, brash military talk and swagger soon replaces all remnants of his quiet night with Rose. On the military bus to Treasure Island, after exaggerated bragging about spending the night with an officer's wife, Birdlace has a heart-to-heart talk with Burzin about how full of shit they all are. In a great speech that sums up the acceptance of bullshit as the basis of all that they do, Burzin points to the two Bee tattoos on his arm and says there's no bullshit in that. Amid continuing macho talk, Birdlace tears up the paper with Rose's address and throws it out the window - he's "all in" with his Marines and their mission.
DISSOLVE to Rose sitting on the floor in her room, holding her guitar, listening to Pete Seeger's record of We Shall Overcome. She is not at all sad or remorseful; in fact she appears hopeful.
DISSOLVE to an endless stream of soldiers carrying duffle bags on their shoulders embarking for overseas duty.
DISSOLVE to TV news report of Kennedy's assassination - not dwelt on long. FADE to black.
Open on an exterior shot of the Four Bees playing cards in a military camp in Chu Lai, South Vietnam, 1966. Okie tries to break the monotony by telling a joke. Shells land nearby; Benjamin is killed and Birdlace's leg is wounded. As Okie and Burzin drag Birdlace to safety another shell hits and kills them both. At the sound of another shell exploding, JUMP CUT to a startled Birdlace coming out of the flashback, on the bus going to San Francisco, 1967.
Birdlace walks the streets of Haight Ashbury to Van Morrison's "T.B. Sheets." As he passes Rose's Coffee Shop a hippie asks Birdlace how many babies did he kill. Birdlace goes into a seedy bar called The Circus - perhaps to remember and relive his first embrace with Rose in the carnival-like room of musical machines. Instead, this is a dive with cheap circus posters and clown paintings. It is also across the street from Rose's and Birdlace watches from the window for a while. The only other patrons are three much older men yet Birdlace seems to fit right in with them - his youth is gone. Tattoos are displayed; Birdlace now has four Bee tattoos in addition to the bluebird of happiness on his hand; the fat bartender has a "belly dancer" on his belly. These older guys are crude but they have respect for Birdlace's military service. They describe for Birdlace that Rose Jr is being groomed to take over Rose's Coffee Shop. Birdlace sees Rose come out of the coffee shop with some departing friends, then go back in.
He crosses the street to The Rascal's "Groovin."
The door is open and has a Peace Corps poster on it. He enters quietly and watches Rose in the same back corner where he first saw her. Now she is drying glasses. He calls her name and she walks to him; few words are spoken. She sees his scars and we see that she is much more mature now. They hold a long wordless embrace. It is clear they are deeply in love and there is hope that Birdlace can recover and put his life together.

Review: Love story, Vietnam bound Marine & a hip '60's San Francisco anti-war girl..
The movie also accurately portrayed how young G.I.'s bond with other young guys who in civilian life they might not have bothered to befriend.The love story involves a girl invited to the 'Dogfight' (a contest to see who could bring the ugliest girl) and the young Marine who brings her.
I went to see this film because I am a River Phoenix fan, but when Ms.Taylor appeared on the screen my breath was taken away.
This is more of a character study and love story than anything else with River Phoenix and Lili Taylor both just superb in their roles.
Still, him and Taylor are so great and believable in their roles you get caught up in the movie.I do have a few minor complaints--Phoenix's constant swearing got annoying (although it does lead up to a very funny scene in a restaurant with Taylor) and the ending seems somewhat forced and rushed--although I have to admit I cried.
I first watched Dogfight as an 18yr teenager living on an army barracks in Australia it was a movie that I enjoyed and could relate to slightly, after knowing quite a few soldiers!
"Dogfight", starring River Phoenix and Lili Taylor, is a surprisingly charming film.
Phoenix and Taylor are quiet and awkward people on seemingly different paths who spend a short time together and wind up falling deeply in love with one another.
River Phoenix, who died tragically just two years after the film's release, is memorable as a soldier who struggles with human contact.
This movie contains fantastic performances by Lili Taylor and River Phoenix.
Lili Taylor and River Phoenix are perfect for this simple little story about a young marine in town for a little fun before being sent to Vietnam.
Great use of pre Beatles 60s music and the film adequately captures the mood and feeling of the time.If you are over 50 now, this one will stay with you for years after you watch it.
Interesting story focusing on hot-tempered, booze-loving, foul-mouthed Eddie Birdlace (brilliantly played by river phoenix)and his quest for an ugly-duckling to take with him to a dogfight.
Just before the dogfight begins, birdlace begins to have feelings for his date and as the movie progresses he falls deeper and deeper in love with her.
Rose, his date to the dogfight (brilliantly played by Lili Taylor)also begins to fall in love with Eddie.
Overlooked and unappreciated when first released DOGFIGHT seemed to be belatedly discovered after River Phoenix died and viewers curious to see more of his better work found this pic on video.
A lot like the 70s film BUSTER AND BILLIE where Jan Michael Vincent fell for the town "slut" when he realised there was a real person underneath DOGFIGHT is an emotional discovery well worth your pursuit.
This is my favorite film of all time-not just because it stars River Phoenix,but because it is so well written and acted.The story is a very believable one,and it is a highly underrated film!.This film portrays the frustrations of the young and often immature soldiers and the ways they try to combat them,but with a good old fashioned dose of romance thrown in,it is very emotional in parts,with some swearing,but some very,very funny and memorable moments,it is one of the few movies that i can watch over and over and never get tired ofNot your average Vietnam film-but then again River wasn't your average actor....i believe this is his best performance ever!!.
The film's stars, River Phoenix and Lili Taylor are the reason that this film works.
Lili Taylor takes a character--Rose, a plain waitress in San Francisco in the early 60's--and transforms her into a woman of such delight, mystery, energy and commitment that it is conceivable that River Phoenix would find her companionship and eventually, her respect and her love, so gratifying.
This film doesn't want to tell only a love story but the story about how a young woman helps a confused young marine to discover his own better nature.
Every word of the screenplay is absolutely perfect and Savoca directs with great care creating moments of surprising tenderness (like that in which Birdlace and Rose make love) and other of enormous strength (like that in which Rose finds out about "dogfight" and attacks Birdlace).
River Phoenix is excellent (the best actor of 90s even though he is unfortunately gone) and Lily Taylor absolutely superb.
A pre Vietnam, pre Bob Dylan, pre make love not war, Dogfight is a beautiful story of innocence lost and innocence found.
I don't know if I ever would have thought to pair together Lili Taylor and River Phoenix, but it turns out they worked beautifully together.
Watch this film, and watch him be brilliant.In one clumsy, awkward and beautiful night, Eddie (Pheonix) and Rose (Taylor) get together in a strange way...through what the Marines called a "dogfight".
River Phoenix and Lili Taylor were both AMAZING GO RENT IT NOW!!!!.
And as a change from the mainline razzmatazz US productions, this is a rather hushed down production, which it would easily be possible to miss out on if you are not aware of the quality of this sensible and sensitive film.Perhaps neither River Pheonix nor Lili Taylor would ever walk the red carpet into the Kodak Theatre: perhaps neither of them are anything like being `brilliant' actors.
Ms. Savoca with studious deliberation prepared her scenes  I think maybe in Oakland rather than in Seattle or San Francisco, maybe  and the music admirably completed the setting, even with fragments of `Wimoweh' in the original Weavers' recording.This is good film-making, of the kind which I have often thought that only here in Europe could be made; so much gratitude to Ms. Savoca for showing us that sometimes the US can make sincere little stories that really work.
I watched this film because of my new 'Im obsessed with River Phoenix' phase.
This is about a mean marine, BirdLace (River Phoenix) who has found his self innocence by meeting with Rose (Lili Taylor).
When I heard the title "Dogfight" and knew that it had something to do with the war in Vietnam, I could never think that it would be this kind of movie.
River Phoenix, Richard Panebianco, Anthony Clark and Mitchell Whitfield did a nice job portraying the four friends and Lili Taylor was nice as Rose.
A beautiful movie - the way the cast and crew approach these characters with such honesty makes for a truly amazing film-going experience.
Original movie with Phoenix who's drafted for Vietnam and Taylor as the 'ugly' and shy waitress with a special character.
Good acting performances of Phoenix and Taylor, a good example how war can change people, if you are looking for a movie about Vietnam you will be disappointed the part in Vietnam lasts only one minute..
and Lili Taylor truly makes you believe that she is this poor pathetic little ugly girl (i know how horrible that sounds, but its true)Rose.
But something happens with the young Eddie (played by the always gifted River Phoenix) when he mets his "ugly girl" Rose (Lili Taylor) a sweet girl who works in her mother's restaurant.
When she discovers the truth and leaves Eddie he follows her and apologizing for his behavior and the behavior of his friends he asks her to go out with him because it's his last night in U.S. The rest of the movie is a collection of moments that you've probably saw it before but here it really works, Taylor and Phoenix's chemistry is incredible, both actors played very well their parts.
River Phoenix (what an actor was he!) and Lili Taylor (one day I hope to say "Oscar Winner") gave 2 outstanding performances, portraying 2 tender characters: 2 hearts in 2 storms.
While the characters that were created for Taylor and Phoenix to play were (IMHO) two-dimensional, the performances by both took these roles above and beyond and turned them into something that, while at times bordered on cliché phrases used by either a girl into the music of the 60's, or a jarhead, as it were, were utterly believable and seemingly natural.Also, on a different note, I was taken aback by how River slipped into this role so seamlessly.
The performance of River Phoenix and Lili Taylor make this film timeless.The storyline is pretty much this - young marines on the eve of shipping out to the eventual destination of Vietnam stopping over in San Francisco with an pretty sick party idea - a competition with prize money for who can bring the ugliest woman.
The real essence of the story begins when the date of one young marine finds out the true purpose of her presence at the party and stands up to him - verbally ripping him to shreds before storming out with as much dignity as she can muster - and his immediate true remorse and shame - resulting in his pursuit of the girl he initially wanted to use as part of a cruel competition but ends up falling deeply for.I have seen a few of River Phoenix's films and i have to say after experiencing him in the role of Eddie Birdlace it is absolutely impossible to imagine any other actor that could come close to presenting us this initially downright unlikeable character in such an layered and completely charming way.
I think that River never looked sexier or played a character so detached from who he was as a person in real life - but who the audience could believe so easily that it wasn't acting - the mark of a true artist - imagine what he could have achieved had he not left us so young.As for Lili Taylor - one word - AMAZING - this woman was born to act!
Lili Taylor plays the character of Rose in an ugly duckling role that has you wishing by the end of the film that you had a smidgen Rose's appeal and true beauty.
A young girl on the brink of womanhood who while she embodies all the insecurities that a non-pretty girl at that age has towards the opposite sex, she nevertheless chooses to hope, trust and put herself out there in order to experience life and not let it pass her by stuck in her mother's diner - even after a humiliating experience.The way the film takes you on the characters journey together throughout the evening is believable and natural - you begin to truly like Eddie and see why Rose is attracted to him and you begin to LOVE Rose even more.
In my opinion the ending is appropriate and respectful of the type of love the two discovered on that fateful first night.I repeat that it is a movie that will stay with you and one that you will want to re-visit again and again - a film that i consider a true masterpiece of the simplicity and power of human emotion and what can happen when people get down to just being themselves and taking a chance of opening up to another human being..
The film stars River Phoenix and Lili Taylor in my favorite roles of theirs as Eddie Birdlace and Rose Fenny, respectively.The film takes place in 1963, specifically the day before John F.
She agrees to go with him but later discovers that it is a "dogfight": a competition where the ugliest woman the marines can find is the winner.The reason I truly love (and I mean LOVE) this film is the simple romance.
I enjoyed seeing Eddie and Rose's love evolve naturally and realistically.Phoenix and Taylor have unique chemistry.
The dialogue is great; the characters say things that we people say in real life.There are absolutely NO WORDS to describe how much I love this movie.
I originally rented this one out after reading an article about it in Danny Peary's fun book "Alternate Oscars," in which he makes the case for Lili Taylor being more deserving of the 1991 Best Actress award than Jodie Foster, who won that year for "The Silence of the Lambs." Though I personally feel that Mimi Rogers should have won that dubious honor in '91 for her startling performance in "The Rapture," I must admit that Taylor does some very impressive work here as the surprisingly resilient, sweet, spunky and charming Rose, a supposedly ugly duckling who even the chauvinistic and foul-mouthed Eddie comes to realize is a blessing in his life.
Featuring a terrific soundtrack largely composed of early '60s folk songs (with a particularly fine use of Bob Dylan's "Don't Think Twice, It's Alright") and sensitive direction by Nancy Savoca, "Dogfight" is a sweet little film that is certainly well worth any viewer's time.
Matter: which the song is and do interpret of the end of the movie, that of the hug of Phoenix and its love, that of the titles?
"Dogfight" is my favorite movie of all time.Lili Taylor is wonderful as always, and River Phoenix's portrayal of the coolly aloof but strangely charming Birdlace is wonderful.
The movie is an unlikely love story - the homely and sensitive young girl who dreams of becoming a singer abd the the young Jarhead who takes her to the Dogfight and ends up getting something much better then the fifty dollar prize - Rose.The ending of the movie is by and far the most touching part, at least to me.
The most atypical River Phoenix role, the furthest from his own personality comes in this film.
You can see why it was overlooked in the early 90s, but River Phoenix brings an elegance and a gravitas to this "little" film.
Lili Taylor was his foil perfectly, her breathy shy performance against his bravado and puffery wears him down and the tenderness between them is touching and beautiful - something that River has demonstrated in other films, most notably My Own Private Idaho.
The titular dogfight is a competition between the marines to pull the least attractive girl, but Birdlace (Phoenix) struggles to find someone and when he does find a plain Jane he realises that she is too good and too nice for the seedy wager and tries to get her out of it, and gets to know her in the process.The film is shown through a long flashback, and it's genius is that it doesn't over-narrate.
I was unaware that River Phoenix was the main character in this film, my being much older than most of his fans.
It is a true love story about two young people finding a budding relationship on the cusp of their adult lives during this time of turmoil.
What did they have in common just the fact that they were young and he's a man (boy) and she's a woman (girl) and let nature take care of the rest?The story time line was way off.
I recommend this film to anyone who enjoys great love stories.
It was definitely a tear-jerker for me, (actually, I cried at the beginning, middle, and end!) This is the PERFECT movie for couples, or girls who are about to give up on love, because this film shows that you never know when, where, or how you are going to meet your true love..
River Phoenix's Eddie Birdlace manages to humiliate Lily Taylor's Rose before finally seeing the human being underneath the unattractive coif and clothes--which of course makes him a better man.
River Phoenix plays his characters so well thought out and really gets into them.
The way River treats her (after the dogfight) in this movie I really adore!
The most obvious is that people today often only watch this film to see River Phoenix, an actor we all so sorely miss, but most often, unless you are a real hardcore fan, this one is not the one you rent to see him in.
He turns in a touching and believable performance as usual, but the best surprise of this film, other than the sure handed direction, is Lili Taylor.
I say this because unlike other war films, you get to know and love these young marines and understand their world, then realize how these men's worlds are shattered by the fight: the true tragedy of a war.
And the sequence where Eddie goes off to Okinawa after his night with Rose, with the great folk music of the era playing is like a beautiful dream we all have, a dream we never want to end.
And it has one of the best endings in film history,the only way a real love story can end: unknown.
It's truly unforgettable and opens you up to the awkwardness and the perfectness of love, (or something like it), in a way very few films accomplish or even attempt..
And I think that is because while Rose is such a driven and opinionated young girl, Eddie's character is the exact opposite, a guy frustrated with his situation for a reason he himself can't really explain.
I had loved his performance in the movie 'stand by me' and i continued to search for his best work.
I salute you too, Lili Taylor and River Phoenix..
But there is a side of Eddie Birdlace that is loving, caring, and sweet, and in a strange way, true.Lili Taylor is excellent as Rose Fenny,the innocent, sweet, country dreaming girl.
The movie has some funny scenes, some of them including River Phoenix attempting to jump over a fence with a vicious dog on the other side, and annoying a posh man who won't let them in the restaurant because Eddie isn't wearing a jacket.But there is a sentimental heart to the film , and it makes you think about love.The closure to the movie is a little strange, with Lili Taylor and River meeting again after war and hugging.