A Dog Year

First off all, I loved this movie. It is just so hard to come by a decent movie in the past few years because almost all of them are filled with sex, violence, killing, drugs, etc. all that corruptness. Movies like this are one in a million among all that crap. So, that is one thing. Then, as an animal lover, this movie won my heart right away. If you have a pet or pets, you know how special a bond there is between you and them. It is love at its purest form and I don't believe it can be achieved between two humans. Jeff Bridges is brilliant as always and he plays a somewhat troubled man, having a writer's block and on a time-out from his wife and daughter. He already has two dogs but then this dog - Devon - enters his life but Devon is an abused dog, so he (Jeff Bridges) has trouble for a long time trying to live with him but he doesn't give up on this dog, he doesn't abandon him. Same rule applies if you wanna get along with an animal or a human: What's important is understanding and accepting each other, instead of forcing your wants and always going "my way". Or, this is me, sorry. No, we gotta learn to bend a little without losing our own identities. And finally, you can watch this one with your kids as there are no sex, violence drugs, etc.

Jon Katz (Jeff Bridges) is under pressured to write his next book. He's alone with two dogs. His wife has left him and his daughter Emma (Lauren Ambrose) is away at college. A fan sends him a rescue Border Collie named Devon for him to help. Devon has been abused and is unmanageable. Emma returns to find a mess. Devon continues to chase school buses. Jon rents a farmhouse to write in isolation. Local handyman Anthony Armstrong (Domhnall Gleeson) sends him to dog trainer Lois Blair (Lois Smith).

This is based on Jon Katz's book about his real life with his rescued border collie. This is a little too bare bones. There isn't any drama. There isn't much story. There is a bit of character but it would be better to fill it out more. This could have given him a scene with his wife at the beginning. This could have given a sense of what he writes about. His scenes with his daughter are great but this needs more.

As it turns out, the guy in question is writer Jon Katz (Jeff Bridges), who is not only suffering from a midlife crisis, but also from writer's block.

Jon takes in a rescue dog offered to him by one of his readers. The dog is Devon, a young border collie with issues - and I mean serious issues. Jon has two gorgeous Labradors of his own, who are well trained and obedient. Devon is the opposite, and seems impossible to train.

Jon's wife has moved out to give them 'space'. We never see this character in the film and Jon only has telephone conversations with her. His daughter Emma comes to visit, but she too has a difficult time reconnecting with her father.

With Devon becoming a terror to the neighborhood, Jon decides to rent a farm in the country, where he hopes to train Devon, and find inspiration to write. What follows, is big character development for both man and dog.

As a big dog lover, I instantly connected with the movie, the characters, and off course the dog(s). This is an entertaining movie that never becomes silly, unbelievable or sentimental. It felt realistic and relatable, with a simple premise.

Having no prior knowledge that this movie was based on a year of the writer's own life - I thought it was going to turn out to be some wretched gangster movie with a dog thrown in. Thankfully it wasn't. But, it wasn't much of anything else either. At odd times it looked like it was going to lead somewhere...then, would take a dive. There were one or two nice dog/owner moments - the promise of a training session to add another dimension but, that goes nowhere either. Then it fades out - 'The End' what?

All looks like someone trying to prove they could make a tele-movie but forgot about the importance of a script with a complete story. Pity, it's the tail wagging the dog I'm afraid. Some reviewers hinted that only country folk would understand this tale, well maybe only those who have been in the country alone, for too long, and no longer understand the purpose of a story to go with their visuals. Only for the very easily pleased. Still, suppose it could have been worse, although not sure how much.

For me the most important aspect of Jeff Bridges as an actor, is he is believable and real. I don't know if I would have rated the film any higher without his performance as Jon Katz the main character in the story. The film style is simplistic but projects a realistic view of what it's like to have a highly active and abused dog. What is most memorable to me are the few simple scenes that Jeff Bridges shares with Devon. I was so pleased that he filmmaker did not take a "Disney" format approach to the subject and presented in its true from.

If there is one criticism I have with the film is that I'm never explained the psyche of the main character Jon Katz. Why is he stubborn and unyielding and refusing to listen to other people's advice. We are told that he is an "mad" by the trainer but there is no evidence or background to support this.

These to me are minor points but worth mentioning. In all it was a very believable and realistic approach to the subject.