Dogfight

I don't know where I was when River Phoenix died. I'll blame the fact that I was 10, but I got a major crush on him after he died (kind of wrong?) through movies like Dogfight and maybe for the fact he could actually act.

I even remember watching Stand By Me with my parents for the first time, it may have been not that long after his death and hearing my mum say 'He had so much talent'.

These young actors today (as a generalisation) have nothing on River. I even made him my subject for my year 12 biography presentation on him for english. Yes I proclaimed my love for a dead 80s/90s celebrity in the form of a well researched paper and speech in front of 30 seventeen year olds.

Dogfight was released in 1991 and is the story of Eddie (Phoenix) and Rose (Lily Taylor- who for some reason does not even have a photo on imdb.com! This woman was briefly in High Fidelity) in 1963 who meet under some ugly circumstances. Eddie is a marine and on a short leave before shipping out to Vietnam.

Eddie and his 3 marine buddies have this 'game' they play on their time off where the guy who can bring/find the ugliest girl to a dance they host, wins a large sum of money they all put into. Now this is all done under false pretenses to the girl they bring, who thinks she is being swept off her feet and wined and dined by a handsome marine. Don't call me Miss Obvious, but man that's cruel. I know boys are not nice guys but come on. That could screw a girl up for life, not too mention the self esteem issues. Anyway the film gets better.

This film had a very limited theatre release and I only happened upon it because of my love of River. Saying that Taylor is also good playing the initially shy but sparky Rose. Their relationship and the way it evolves is so cute and awkward but in a good way. I don't think it's one of his more well known films, but is definitely worth checking out.