Alpha Dog

Alpha Dog is a 2006 American crime drama film written and directed by Nick Cassavetes, first screened at the Sundance Film Festival on January 27, 2006, with a wide release the following year on January 12, 2007. Starring Emile Hirsch, Justin Timberlake, Ben Foster, Shawn Hatosy, Anton Yelchin, Olivia Wilde, Amanda Seyfried with Harry Dean Stanton, Sharon Stone, and Bruce Willis, the film is based on the true story of the murder of Nicholas Markowitz and related events in 2000.
== Plot ==
Johnny Truelove is a young marijuana dealer living in Southern California. His father, Sonny, supplies him with marijuana, which Johnny distributes to his gang of friends, including Jake Mazursky, who owes Johnny a $1,200 drug debt. Mazursky makes a failed attempt at asking his father, Butch, and stepmother Olivia for the money. Meanwhile, Butch and Olivia are dealing with their rebellious teenage son Zack]- Jake's half-brother. A fight breaks out between Jake and Johnny when Jake tries to pay Johnny only part of his debt. After back and forth retaliation Johnny and his two henchmen, Frankie Ballenbacher and Tiko Martinez go to confront Jake in person, but when they go to his house he is nowhere to be found. As they leave they find Zack walking on the sidewalk, and decide to kidnap him with the intent of holding onto him until Jake pays his debt.
Wanting a break from his home life, Zack makes little effort to escape. Johnny pawns Zack off on Frankie, who offers him a chance to escape, but Zack declines the offer, not wanting to cause any trouble for his brother. The two strike up an unlikely friendship, and Zack stays with Frankie at his father's house, where he ingratiates himself with Frankie's friends, including Keith Stratten and Julie, the youngest member of the group. A number of friends of the gang learn of Zack's kidnapping, though Susan is the only one who seems concerned.
Frankie grows nervous when Johnny hypothetically offers him $2,500 to murder Zack. Frankie furiously declines and Johnny claims it was just a joke. Instead, Johnny agrees to Frankie's plan to pay Zack to keep his mouth shut. However, after a conversation with his lawyer (who tells him they could face a life sentence for kidnapping) and a threatening phone call from Jake, Johnny decides the risk of ending up in prison or getting killed is too great to let Zack go. Johnny calls Elvis Schmidt and offers to erase his drug debt if he kills Zack. Frankie and his friends still believe Zack will be returning home at the end of the night, and throw a raucous going away party. Zack has a good time at the party, and later goes skinny-dipping with Julie and her friend Alma in the pool, which leads to a three-some. After the party, Julie gives Zack her number and Alma gives him a good-bye kiss on the cheek.
Elvis arrives at the hotel where Zack is waiting to be picked up, and Frankie and Elvis begin to argue when Elvis reveals that Johnny sent him to kill Zack. Frankie ends up leaving, and Elvis takes Keith to dig a grave, while Frankie offers Zack a final opportunity to escape. Believing that he is now part of the group and will be returning home soon, Zack prefers to wait at the hotel for Elvis to return. Meanwhile, Sonny, Cosmo (Johnny's godfather), and Johnny's lawyer confront Johnny, who refuses to call off the hit. Elvis and Keith return to the hotel, and Frankie and Elvis go outside to talk. Frankie, reluctant because of the friendship he has formed with Zack, finally relents when Elvis tells him that they could face life in prison if Zack tells someone what happened.
Frankie, Elvis, Zack, and Keith arrive at the grave site. Zack is not aware of what's going on and grows suspicious when a deeply saddened Keith tells Frankie he can't go through with it, and goes to wait in the car after giving Zack a goodbye hug. Zack sees the grave and begins to break down, begging Frankie and Elvis to let him go. Frankie tells Elvis they shouldn't go through with it, but Elvis is keen on the job he's been given. Realizing that there's no turning back now, Frankie calms Zack down, and ties him up with duct tape. He is surprised when Elvis violently knocks Zack into the grave with a shovel, and shoots him multiple times with an automatic Tec 9, killing him. Frankie and Elvis silently leave.
Zack's body is found three days later. The epilogue shows the aftermath of the crime: Olivia, now suffering from obesity and depression, is interviewed, and talks candidly about her failed suicide attempts and the loss that she has experienced from her son's death. Susan angrily confronts Frankie over Zack's death and goes to the authorities. Elvis is caught while trying to secure a ride out of L.A. Johnny flees the city and arrives at the house of old classmate Buzz Fecske, who drives him back to his godfather Cosmo's house, where he enters and is not seen again.
Tiko, Keith and Frankie are arrested. After being convicted, they all serve their respective sentences: Tiko serves nine years in prison for kidnapping; Keith serves time at a juvenile facility until the age of 25 for digging Zack's grave; Frankie serves seven years to life for kidnapping and second-degree murder; and Elvis is put on death row for murdering Zack. Johnny, however, is nowhere to be found. The interviewer asks Sonny how Johnny was able to escape authorities for four years without help, but Sonny assures him that he doesn't know where Johnny is. In 2005, after over five years of being on the America's most wanted list, Johnny is finally found and arrested in Paraguay. Text informs the audience that Johnny is in California awaiting trial, and, if proven guilty, faces the death penalty.
== Cast ==
Actor 	Role in story 	Role 	Real-life counterpart	Notes
Emile Hirsch 	Leader, the "alpha dog" 	Johnny Truelove 	Jesse James Hollywood	Hollywood was convicted July 8, 2009 of the kidnapping and murder of Nick Markowitz and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole; 20 years old at the time.
Justin Timberlake 	Johnny's right-man and best friend, who becomes friends with Zack when he is assigned to watch him 	Frankie "Nuts" Ballenbacher	Jesse Rugge 	Rugge was sentenced to life in prison, for the kidnapping of Nick Markowitz with the possibility of parole after seven years. His petition for parole was denied in 2006; 20 years old at the time. As of July 2, 2013, Jesse Rugge was granted parole. On October 24, 2013, Rugge was released from prison after serving 11 years of his life sentence for the aggravated kidnapping of Nicholas Markowitz.
Ben Foster 	Zack's older brother 	Jake Mazursky 	Benjamin Markowitz 	Markowitz was 22 years old at the time. Served three years in prison for robbery but has since been released.
Shawn Hatosy 	Member of the gang and shooter; at the beginning of the story, he is in debt to Johnny 	Elvis Schmidt 	Ryan Hoyt 	Hoyt is currently on death row at San Quentin for the murder of Nick Markowitz; 21 years old at the time.
Anton Yelchin 	Victim 	Zack Mazursky 	Nicholas Markowitz 	Markowitz was murdered by Ryan Hoyt, a member of Jesse James Hollywood's crew; 15 when he died. Hollywood has since been tried and convicted for the kidnapping and his role in the murder.
Sharon Stone 	Zack's mother 	Olivia Mazursky 	Susan Markowitz 	Markowitz is Nick Markowitz's mother; later authored a book called My Stolen Son: The Nick Markowitz Story
Bruce Willis 	Johnny's father and marijuana supplier; implied he has Mafia connections 	Sonny Truelove 	John "Jack" Hollywood	Hollywood is Jesse James's father. He was arrested in 2005, the same day son Jesse James was captured in Brazil, for manufacturing the illicit narcotic GHB,[5] but the charge was later thrown out in court. Jack remained in custody on an outstanding 2002 warrant for a marijuana-related charge, and later received 18 months in an Arizona prison.[6] Since been released.
Chris Marquette 	Brother of Melissa Stratten. Friend of Frankie who digs Zack's grave and is in the car but not present for the murder	Keith Stratten 	Graham Pressley 	Pressley was 17 at the time. In July 2002, he was tried as a minor and October 2002 as an adult. Served five years in juvenile hall for digging Nick's grave. Charged with second degree murder (released from the California Youth Authority in 2007).
Dominique Swain 	Friend of Frankie's who is concerned about Zack's well-being 	Susan Hartunian 	Natasha Adams-Young 	Adams-Young was given immunity in exchange for her testimony. Friend of Rugge, Graham, and Nick; she was 19 at the time. After reading in the paper that Nick was murdered, she confronted Rugge and asked if he had anything to do with it. Despite Rugge explaining that he didn't, she knew he was lying and she told her father, a lawyer, what happened; he in turn called police.
Alex Solowitz 	Member of the gang and drug dealer 	Bobby "911" Kaye 	Brian Affronti 	Affronti joined Hollywood and the crew minutes after they had kidnapped Nick; he was 20 at the time.
Fernando Vargas 	Member of the gang; muscle of the group 	Tiko "TKO" Martinez 	William Skidmore 	Skidmore served nine years in state prison for kidnapping and robbery out of a plea bargain; was released in April 2009. 20 at the time.[7]
Olivia Wilde 	Johnny's girlfriend, arrested while on the run with him in New Mexico 	Angela Holden 	Michelle Lasher 	Lasher was Hollywood's girlfriend; 19 at the time. She was arrested for harboring a fugitive (Hollywood).
Amanda Seyfried 	Zack's girlfriend 	Julie Beckley 	Jeanine 	Nick's girlfriend; 17 at the time.
Vincent Kartheiser	Associate of the gang whose car was used in the murder 	Pick Giaimo 	Casey Sheehan 	Sheehan was one of Hollywood's friend. His vehicle was used in the murder of Nick Markowitz. Arrested, then bailed out; 20 at the time.
Lukas Haas 	Johnny's childhood friend who drives him back to Los Angeles after he escapes the police in New Mexico 	Buzz Fecske 	Chas Saulsbury 	Saulsbury was one of Hollywood's friend. Last met during junior high; tried to help Hollywood get out of the country. Arrested for harboring a fugitive.
Heather Wahlquist 	Jake's girlfriend, waitress at a steakhouse 	Wanda Haynes 	 	Benjamin "Ben" Markowitz's fiancée.
Harry Dean Stanton	Johnny's godfather. Implied he has connections to the Mafia 	Cosmo Gadabeeti 	John Roberts 	Roberts was a Hollywood family close friend. His van was used in the kidnapping of Nick Markowitz.
David Thornton 	Zack and Jake's father 	Butch Mazursky 	Jeff Markowitz 	Markowitz was Nick and Ben Markowitz's father.
Charity Shea 	Frankie's girlfriend 	Sabrina Pope 	Kelly Carpenter 	Carpenter was given immunity in exchange for testimony, Rugge's girlfriend; 16 at the time.
Holt McCallany 	Police officer 	Detective Tom Finnegan 	 	Was the officer looking for Hollywood; he arrested the crew as well as interviewed witnesses
Amber Heard 	 	Alma 	 	A friend of Julie who hooked up with Zack.
== Legal issues ==
During filming, Santa Barbara County Deputy District Attorney Ronald J. Zonen provided copies of many documents on the case and served as an unpaid consultant to the film, citing his desire to have Hollywood captured. Zonen prosecuted Hollywood’s co-defendants and was poised to prosecute Hollywood. After Hollywood was captured in Saquarema, Brazil and subsequently returned to the United States, his defense lawyer claimed there was a conflict of interest, and the California Court of Appeal for the Second District ruled on October 5, 2006 that, based on Zonen's disclosure of the files and consultant service, he should be recused from further involvement in prosecuting Hollywood.Hollywood v. Superior Court, 143 Cal. App. 4th 858, 49 Cal. Rptr. 3d 598 (2006). On December 20, 2006, the California Supreme Court granted review on the case effectively staying the order to recuse Zonen. On May 12, 2008, the California Supreme Court ruled that Zonen should not be recused.Hollywood v. Superior Court, ___ Cal.4th ___ (May 12, 2008, S147954). Nonetheless, Zonen was replaced as lead prosecution attorney by Deputy Dist. Atty. Joshua Lynn.
In addition, Hollywood's attorney James Blatt tried to block the release of the film.
After the delay, Hollywood's trial started May 15, 2009 with the defense's opening statements saying Hollywood was not involved with the murder. In his opening statement, Lynn described Hollywood as "a ruthless coward." On July 8, 2009 he was convicted of kidnapping and first-degree murder with special circumstances for which he can face the death penalty.
== Release ==
=== Box office ===
During its opening weekend, Alpha Dog grossed $6,412,775 and was #7 at the box office. The film closed on February 22, 2007 after grossing $15,309,602 domestically, and totaled $32,145,115 worldwide over its six-week release.
=== Critical reception ===
The film received mixed reviews; out of 143 critics, 55% of them were positive with the consensus being, "a glossy yet unflinching portrait of violent, hedonistic teenagers. Bruce Willis and Sharon Stone chew the scenery, while Justin Timberlake gives a noteworthy performance."
Yelchin was praised as "able to bring all of the conflicting emotions of Zack," and conveying all of it beautifully.
=== Markowitz family reaction ===
Susan Markowitz attempted suicide three times. Jeff Markowitz elaborated, "She is so tortured by what happened that she has tried to take her own life. The last thing that either of us want is to see this picture. How would any loving parent feel about a Hollywood movie that glamorizes their son's death and allows celebrities to cash in on a brutal, evil murder?" Nonetheless, Susan attended the film's release and reportedly was moved by Anton Yelchin's portrayal of Zack (Nick). After the screening, she embraced Sharon Stone, who played Olivia (Susan).
=== Home media ===
Alpha Dog was released on DVD on May 1, 2007. It includes a DVD/HD DVD combo package where both forms are included in one box. DVD sales gathered $12,324,535 in revenue from 743,036 units sold. It was released on the Blu-ray format on July 13, 2010.
== Awards ==
* Boston Society of Film Critics Awards 2007
2nd place BSFC Award-Best Supporting Actor
* MTV Movie Awards 2007
Nominated MTV Movie Award-Breakthrough Performance
; Justin Timberlake
;* Teen Choice Awards 2007
Nominated Teen Choice Award-Choice Movie: Breakout Male
; Justin Timberlake
For Black Snake Moan
* Young Hollywood Awards 2006
Won
; Young Hollywood Award Breakthrough Performance - Male
Ben Foster
== References ==
Category:Crime Drama