Features: DVD, Widescreen, English, French, Spanish, Subtitled
The rules of theidogfight were simple: everyone putsiin fifty bucks. And the guy with the ugliest "date" wins.
The Marines have landed! Cpl. Eddie Birdlace and three buddies are on the loose among San Francisco's bars, tattoo parlors and blue-movie houses. They've also organized a "dogfight," a wager with simple rules. Each guy puts in $50. And the one who finds the most unattractive date wins. Birdlace finds a Rose.
River Phoenix gave one of his most endearing performances as Eddie in Dogfight, a terrific and touching Vietnam-Era saga set to a memory-evoking '60s-tunes soundtrack and directed by Nancy Savoca (True Love, Household Saints). Lili Taylor is equally indelible as "ugly duckling" Rose who joins Eddie in a night of life-transforming impact. In a time to be marked by huge changes, they share the most dynamic change of all: love.
Editor's Note
It's 1963 and four young Marines are spending their last night stateside in San Francisco before shipping out to Vietnam. The night's festivities include a dogfight: the Marine that finds the ugliest "date" and brings her to a party being held later that night wins. Flippant, coarse, and handsome Eddie Birdlace (River Phoenix) isn't having any luck finding an appropriate date until he meets Rose (Lili Taylor), a shy ugly duckling waitress who worships folksingers and hopes to one day join their ranks. Charmed by the young Marine, Rose agrees to attend the party with him, unaware that she's a candidate in the cruel contest. When Rose inadvertently finds out why she's been invited, Birdlace's conscience gets the better of him, and he is determined to make amends by taking her out for a night on the town. As they wander the streets of San Francisco, this unlikely pair begins to fall in love. Phoenix and Taylor deliver touching performances in this Nancy Savoca (TRUE LOVE, HOUSEHOLD SAINTS) film, capturing the anxiety, awkwardness, wonder, and tenderness of budding love.
Plot Summary
Coarse, handsome Marine Eddie Birdlace (River Phoenix) and shy, ugly ducking pacifist Rose (Lili Taylor) are an unlikely couple. It is the night before he is shipping out to Vietnam, and Birdlace has invited Rose to accompany him to a dogfight--a cruel contest in which the Marine who brings the ugliest date wins. When Rose inadvertently discovers the truth, Birdlace--intrigued by this naive, good-hearted waitress who worships folksingers--does his best to make it up to her with results that neither expects.
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