thinker1691 Review of Hounddog

Hounddog (2007)

" There are places where you can hide, but your conscience is not one of them "

[6/10 · 3 October 2009]

In the hidden recesses of the South, there are many tragic stories which emerge about how brutal life is. Often such stories can make it to the big screen and illustrate how difficult it is to put it on film. 'Bastard out of Carolina' and 'Betrayed' are but two examples. Here is another which was purportedly so shocking few would be able to finish it. The movie is called " Hounddog " and relates the early life of a little girl named Lewellen (Dakota Fanning) who lives in a shabby, ram shackled house with her itinerant, slightly retarded father, (David Morse) who is scratching out a modest living as a farmer. Helping to raise Lewellen is "Grammie" (Piper Laurie) her Grandmother, a strict, overbearing and often religiously intolerant relative who keeps the family secrets and indiscretion records of all the "Sins" committed by the family. Lewellen has one close friend named 'Buddy' (Cody Hanford) whom she trusts and shares what little happiness there is in her life. Lewellen has one overpowering ambition and that is to imitate her idol, Elvis Presley (Ryan Pelton). To this end, she will do anything to see him in a live concert. So driven is she to her quest, she allows herself to be tricked and raped. The controversial scene is almost non-existent and nothing if transient. The editing, dialog, directing and script are poor and few scenes are given much depth. So much so, one concludes the story and it's integral film parts are juvenile, haphazard and often amateurish at best. One aspect of the movie should be noted and that is Lewellen's friendship with the neighboring black character called Charles (Afemo Omilami) who offers understanding, comfort, sage advice and medicinal education concerning snakes and the intention of enemies. The movie has gained little accolades aside from the controversy. In short, the movie is interesting, but little which will propel audiences to remember it. **