Amateur director Alan loses his fiance’s dog at a gender reveal party on the day of an important shoot. As he struggles to finish his latest project with the help of a New York critic, the pursuit of the lost dog and the chaos of his film begin to blend and Alan grows desperate for the day to be over.
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Video Quality
Dogleg makes its Blu-Ray debut with a wonderful 1080p video presentation that represents the source perfectly well. The image has a filmic quality to it with the vibrant natural color palette saturating the screen. The film displays some complex colors in the expanses of nature which is a joy to view. The presentation spotlights a significant amount of depth while exploring the city and its many unique locales. The shooting locations provide delicious textural details, especially in the production design and clothing. Black levels suffer from mild signs of banding in some of the darkest moments, but for the most part, they maintain their depth. Skin tones are natural with impeccable detail present in close-ups such as facial hair and makeup. This Blu-Ray brings life to this film exactly as desired.
Audio Quality
Memory gives this Blu-Ray a DTS-HD 2.0 Master Audio track that favorably captures all of the sonic details with ease. Dialogue consistently comes through crisp and clear without being overshadowed by any competing sounds. When the characters are moving through the urban landscape, various distinct ambient details flesh out the setting. A few key moments deliver some texture to the low end, but this story does not necessitate an aggressive showing. Environmental sounds engage the speaker in a very satisfying manner. The sound design allows things to feel three-dimensional. The music is effective and well-balanced while maintaining ideal fidelity. The audio track provides a top-notch experience full of nuances that bring this narrative to life exactly how it needs. Optional English SDH subtitles are provided.
Special Features
- Short Films: A trio of short films are provided that loosely connect to one another in some instances and break the illusion of the reality of the piece by having Al Warren interject to direct the performers. These are interesting slice-of-life moments that are worth checking out.
- Bobby Rush and Neighbors (6:28):
- Jane Rule Cooks For A Spanish Art Collector (7:56)
- Will and Olya Lost In The Delta (7:11)
- Theatrical Trailer: The minute-long trailer is provided here.
- Home Clips Life of Dogleg: A nearly nine-minute behind-the-scenes look at the production of Dogleg since its start in 2018 and how the film evolved over the years.
- Cigarette Girl: A six-minute extended scene with the cigarette girl in the alley.
- Afterparty Visuals Slow: A 56-minute collection of moments from the production that includes many lengthy shots of vistas and interesting locales interspersed with moments from the movies and short films you will recognize.
- GMA Apology: A ten-minute in-character address of events that happened in the film.
- Feng: A minute-long look at a test shoot for a character that eventually morphed into Alan.
- Cellular Memory: A minute-and-a-half-long video on cellular memory from transplants that was made to be played in the background of the film.
- Booklet: A multi-page booklet featuring the essay “Shorter Cuts, or The Hour of the Dog” from writer A.S. Hamrah is provided here. This piece gives a well-rounded analysis of the themes and plot developments of the film which strengthens your appreciation overall.
Final Thoughts
Dogleg is a hilarious and authentic ode to the plight of artists trying to create something in the face of seemingly neverending obstacles. The patchwork nature of the narrative gives the feature a laid-back vibe that lulls you into the bizarre rhythms of this journey. There is an After Hours-esque quality to the material as you hold your breath wondering what strange character our protagonist is going to cross paths with next. The film is very much geared toward indie sensibilities, but those who lock into its wavelength will have a great time with it. Memory has released a Blu-Ray featuring a lovely A/V presentation and a rich assortment of special features. If you appreciate a good indie comedy with a parade of unique personalities on display, give this a shot. Recommended
Dogleg is currently available to purchase on Standard Edition Blu-Ray or with a Limited Edition Slipcover exclusively through Vinegar Syndrome.
Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.
Disclaimer: Memory and OCN Distribution have supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.
Dillon is most comfortable sitting around in a theatre all day watching both big budget and independent movies.
