A Dog Named Gucci

Director Gorman Bechard found two appealing stars for his documentary film, "A Dog Named Gucci." First and foremost is Gucci, a charismatic chow mix who will steal your heart, as he does with almost everyone he meets. Doug James, who rescued Gucci from horrifying violence, is a gentle and persistent soul, who sees the need for change in the animal cruelty laws and does something about it. Doug and Gucci are inspirational, no matter what cause you are interested in. They show that ordinary people can get things done. The story of Gucci is augmented by the stories of dogs named Louis, Nitro and John,and the comments from prosecutors, other lawyers, humane societies, and veterinarians. The heartbreak of the cruelty to defenseless dogs is balanced out by the goodness of the people who care, although the "flip book" at the end of the film showing other dogs was hard to take, and occasionally I wanted fewer humane society people and more dogs. The high school student from NY is positively amazing though. I want to find out what she does as she gets older. The impact Gucci and Doug have on Gucci's first owner, a runaway teen, is heartwarming. See this very well made film.

I was at A Dog Named Gucci in Youngstown, Ohio tonight..I am a administrator for Nitro's Ohio Army. As I was driving to see this movie tonight all emotions I had felt fighting for the passage of Nitro's Law came rushing into my head. The wound was open again. The hurt the pain the tears the hate I was remembering. Calling-emailing-writing legislators. The nights that some of us stayed up and posted on every newspaper every News Channel that possibly by chance animal lovers would read about Nitro's story and why Ohio needed better laws in Ohio.

I ate, drank and breathed Nitro's Bill.

After watching your movie I felt the fight again coming on. A stronger will to fight for better laws for animals. The movie reminded me why I had started and that I would never stop. My belly was filled with butterflies and I knew what I was doing was right and to keep fighting! Thank You for such a wonderful movie..It was full of inspiration and sent out the message of motivation. Don't ever stop reminding people what is happening in the real world!

When recommending this to friends -- and some of these friends, mind you, are HORROR movie fanatics -- were to SCARED to see this film. "The thought of animal abuse is just to scary," they said.

And they are right. Animal abuse is scary.

But if you feel a pang in your heart at the thought of it, then you don't let fear deter you. This film is actually a beautiful exposure of many cases of animal abuse that will both, educate and enthrall you with it's overall message.

Gormon Bechard is known for his rock and music documentaries and I think he can add "A Dog Named Gucci" to that category. Gucci is a rock star in his own right. He gained notoriety in his community, had hordes of fans, was featured talk shows, newscasts, and even in book signings, and best of all -- he and his owner, Doug James, changed legislation in their state and sent ripple effects into our country and won the hearts of millions.

I am positive after this movie is over you will love Gucci too...just keep the tissues handy (you will both cry sad and happy tears).

As this film makes clear, we are finally seeing a change in the way our society perceives the abuse of animals. It reinforces the power of social action, and the attendant amplification of that power through social media. The film is a plea not for funding or institutional support, but for simply caring about the welfare of animals and speaking up to encourage that laws against abuse are enforced by local authorities. The emphasis here is not on showing abuse, although inevitably the survivors are important to the story, but on the people who have struggled to change animal cruelty laws. Finally in the 21st century, such abuse can be charged as felony crime in our country. As a film, it tells a wonderful and inspiring story of individuals who cared to fight for animals, told largely through interviews and news footage. The result is that by promoting change in person and online, everyday people can insure that the welfare of animals is being enhanced and their abusers punished.

"A Dog Named Gucci" left many in tears with its poignant story. But to the filmmaker's credit, it was far from manipulating. Director Gorman Bechard was also one that was more interested in an awareness campaign rather than taking the easy route of inflammatory cinema. The "Gucci Bill" changed the laws in Alabama turning animal cruelty into a felony, and starting a wondrous domino effect throughout the nation. Gucci was a ten week old puppy that was hung by its neck, beaten repeatedly and then set afire. Somehow this pup survived, and his savior and new owner, Doug James, fought not only for his life, but for all other animals in his state.

Where many could have focused on the cruelty and the perpetrator, Bechard chooses to highlight the fight against such viciousness, the happiness and companionship that blossoms, and the bureaucratic struggles to achieve what is right. It's a wonderful and beautiful testament to Gucci, his owner, and all other animals and the people that care for them. If all that was not enough, Bechard encourages us to stay through the entire credits delivering absorbing anecdotes, information on how to combat animal cruelty, and an absolutely compassionate song that makes one want to go out and purchase it immediately.

This review is taken in part from my article, "Highlights from the 15th Annual Phoenix Film Festival" at The Movie Guys.