Lawn Dogs (1997)

Director:

John Duigan

Writer:

Naomi Wallace (written by)

Release Date:

15 May 1998 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

Innocence is a dangerous friend

Plot:

Newly arrived in an up-market housing development, quiet ten-year-old Devon doesn't quite fit in. Ignoring the urgings of her social-climbing father...

Plot Keywords:

Lawn Mower | Burping | High Dive | Mooning | Semiautomatic Pistol

Awards:

7 wins & 3 nominations

Cast

Mischa Barton	...	Devon Stockard
Sam Rockwell	...	Trent
Christopher McDonald	...	Morton Stockard
Kathleen Quinlan	...	Clare Stockard
Miles Meehan	...	Billy
Bruce McGill	...	Nash
David Barry Gray	...	Brett
Eric Mabius	...	Sean
Angie Harmon	...	Pam
José Orlando Araque	...	Salvador the Mailman
Beth Grant	...	Trent's Mother
Tom Aldredge	...	Trent's Father
Odin the Dog	...	Tracker
Tafeki the Dog	...	Tracker

MPAA:

Rated R for sexuality/nudity, violence and language.

Runtime:

101 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Rankcolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Australia:MA | Germany:12 | Portugal:M/16 (video premiere) | Spain:13 | UK:15 | USA:R | Singapore:PG

Filming Locations:

Jefferson County, Kentucky, USA

Company:

Rank Organisation, The

Trivia:

The Rank Organization's last film and so the final time their famous gong man is to be seen introducing a movie.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Devon pours a glass of water for Trent it is less than half full. In the next scene outside it is seen to be more than half full even after splashing it about.

Quotes:

Devon: Home is in my hands.

Movie Connections:

References Sudden Impact (1983)

Soundtrack:

Doctor's Orders

An unforgettable experience of magic!

'Lawn Dogs' may well be the best movie to come out of America this decade. It's a film that lazily unravels itself, yet succeeds in impacting like a sledgehammer, and does so in such a perfect, unforced and magical way that the experience of viewing it leaves the movie goer completely fulfilled, perhaps like no other film ever has before it.

Even more intriguing is the difficulty one has at distinguishing exactly why it is that this film works so flawlessly and just how such a slow moving film can leave a person so thoroughly energized and rejuvenated.

Only a few movies of recent times have even come close to carrying off this irony- think 'Fargo' or better still, 'Love Serenade' (interestingly and perhaps not coincidentally also directed by an Australian).

Every single element of 'Lawn Dogs' is magical. From the direction, cinematography, music and fairytale infused storyline which deals with the universally important issues of friendship, self-identity, family, community and class divisions, to the powerhouse performances from the two lead performers and amazing supporting cast.

John Diugan has demonstrated with 'Lawn Dogs' that he is indeed a true alchemist of the film world that can mix and dabble with the elements to produce pure, solid gold.