tomgillespie2002 Despite his recent track record, Paul Schrader's overall contribution to cinema should not be scoffed at. He was, after all, responsible for penning three great Martin Scorsese movies (Taxi Driver, Raging Bull and The Last Temptation of Christ) and one okay one (Bringing Out the Dead), as well as directing the likes of Blue Collar, American Gigolo and Light Sleeper, all interesting movies in their own right. Of recent years, he's been stuck in the straight- to-DVD game, churning out schlock to help raise funds for his own underwhelming personal projects. Teaming up with cinema-dodging king Nicolas Cage for the second time (after 2014's Dying of the Light), Schrader's latest - an incredibly violent and misanthropic crime thriller called Dog Eat Dog - may just be worst thing the once- respectable writer-director has ever put out.Back in 1976, Schrader's script for Taxi Driver immersed us in the seedy and scum-laden underbelly of New York, a part of the world unseen by the majority of us, and demanded that we contemplate this world of our making. With Dog Eat Dog, Schrader seems happy to relax into a cliché-ridden world of motor-mouthed ex-cons, prostitutes in hotel rooms, and the "one last job" that will allow these anti- heroes to escape their life of crime. Cage plays Troy, the brains of the gang fresh out of prison. His friend Mad Dog (Willem Dafoe), has recently committed a double murder and certainly lives up to his nickname. Diesel (Christopher Matthew Cook) is the muscle of the group who, we are told, possesses great intelligence despite his ogreish appearance. They are rounded up by crime boss 'The Greek' (Schrader himself) to pull off a baby kidnapping, a job that could land them a handsome payday.Based on the novel by Eddie Bunker, which I haven't read, Dog Eat Dog feels like it has been thawed out from the 1990s, back when Quentin Tarantino's output was still influencing every low-budget, independent feature. With Cage and Dafoe turning their bonkers shtick up to eleven, it's clear that Schrader intended for this to be a comedy. Are we meant to laugh at a knife murder because the woman is overweight, or at Troy as he threatens to blow a woman's backbone through her belly? Apparently we are, although I can't imagine anybody actually raising a chuckle. Dog Eat Dog is an unpleasant and utterly aimless piece of trash, with scenes connected by a plot so thin that it feels like Schrader's finger is on the random button. There's a brief moment of tension when the gang find themselves in an increasingly hostile neighbourhood, but True Detective already did it with more pizazz 3 years ago. Above all, Dog Eat Dog is painfully boring, and even at just 90 minutes, I found my eyes constantly checking the running time.

richard-102-421271 I read all the bad reviews and thought "how could a movie with Nicholas Cage and Willem Dafoe be that bad?". So I ignored them... It was truly dreadful, actually I didn't finish watching it. I watched about 40 minutes or so. I think it's supposed to be funny. It wasn't. Can't say anything good about it. I just don't understand how people in the film industry who presumably know what they're doing could ever release this. Cage and Dafoe just seemed to be trying (and failing) to do their best with an abysmal script, abysmal plot, abysmal everything.

Tim Dearing I must admit that I'm at a bit of a loss to describe this film. The trailer I saw made it look vaguely watchable - but it isn't. The start of the film made you think "hey, this has got some good actors" - but really, they don't seem to be anymore. The idea of the plot seemed to point towards an edgy action movie - but it ain't.Despite its director, its cast and its (at times at least) good cinematography, it fails on any real level. Sadly, what starts out as seeming tedious just drifts into virtual gnaw your own leg off boredom. Some use of the occasional boobs, bums and gratuitous violence seem completely pointless and I would say off plot, except there isn't really a plot for it to be off of.At this stage, I'm going to go with recommending you to paint your living room wall and watch it dry instead. It will provide you with more thrills, enjoyment and a greater lasting feeling of enjoyment.3 out of 10 only because the camera work at times was nicely shot.

neil-43355 I should have known better - Nicholas cage is a pretty weak actor (and I'm being kind) who's been lucky enough to be in a couple of half decent action movies - the rest of his films are complete rubbish and this is no exception. It ain't even going to bother wasting anymore time reviewing this - this dog has rabies, steer well clear.