If... Dog... Rabbit... (1999)

Director:

Matthew Modine

Writer:

Matthew Modine (writer)

Release Date:

14 April 2000 (Italy)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Thriller

Tagline:

Armed robbery is the family business.

Plot:

Johnnie Cooper served time for an armed robbery that also his father and brother participated in. When...

Plot Keywords:

Gas Station | Robbery | Animal In Title | Parole Officer | Brother Brother Relationship

Cast

Matthew Modine	...	Johnnie Cooper
David Keith	...	Parole Officer Gilmore
John Hurt	...	Sean Cooper
Maggie Weatherly	...	Mr. Cooper's Girlfriend
Bruce Dern	...	McGurdy
Joe D'Angerio	...	Angry Businessman
Kevin J. O'Connor	...	Jamie Cooper
Lisa Marie	...	Judy
Roger La Page	...	Angry Driver
Zach Tiegan	...	Convenicence Store Clerk
Barry Del Sherman	...	Robber #1 (as Barry Sherman)
Glenn Takakjian	...	Robber #2
Lisa Blount	...	Sarah Cooper-Toole
Nick Love	...	Elliot Toole
Paul Fuemana	...	Mr. Scary

Also Known As:

One Last Score (USA) (DVD title)

MPAA:

Rated R for language and violence.

Runtime:

Australia:104 min | Argentina:108 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Spanish

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Ultra Stereo

Certification:

Iceland:16 | Australia:MA | Germany:16 | USA:R | Argentina:13

Filming Locations:

Rosarito, Baja California Norte, Mexico

Company:

Franchise Pictures

Goofs:

Continuity: When Jamie is shot getting out of the car, Judy is lying shot on the ground, her leg unfolds; but when Johnny runs away after they are both dead, her leg is folded back again and she is further away from the curb than before.

Quotes:

[walks into a bullfighting arena with Johnnie and Jamie]
Cesar: Do you read Hemingway? He understood the fight. He knew why it was important to celebrate the kill. The bull is a symbol for life. The struggle, survival. An elegant and violent journey towards life's inevitable end. Today, people have become cowards. They scream for the Animal Rights, then they go buy meat neatly rapped in plastic from the supermarkets - hamburgers, hotdogs, chickens. They don't kill it, but they sure do eat it.

FEEL LIKE ROOTING FOR THE BAD GUY?

Feel like rooting for the bad guy? Then rent this movie. I loved it. As an independent it doesn't have the polish of the big budget movies, but all the qualities of a good movie it has. It brought all the essential elements of the plot together to a very interesting, tense and suspenseful end. And yes, I was rooting for the bad guy.

If...Dog...Rabbit is an interesting crime-drama about Johnnie Cooper (Matthew Modine, who also wrote and directed this movie) a convicted felon just released on parole. Parole Officer Gilmore (David Keith) has warned him (and continues through the early part of the film) to stay away from his criminally minded family. Though Johnnie has resolved in his mind to lead a clean life, his father (John Hurt) and brother (Kevin J. O'Conner) could care less. In their mind once-a-criminal-always-a-criminal. Johnnie received his prison sentence when his father and brother left him "holding the bag" from a botched robbery, so his relationship with his father is estranged. From this basic premise, a series of incidents leads Johnnie unwillingly then willingly into another crime caper.

I love the dialog. Some of it is absolutely hilarious:

Judy, "Why was your father choking you Johnnie?" Johnnie, "We were playing a little game. Seeing how long I could hold my breath."

I replayed the movie again with my headphones on and no video; I paid more attention to the details of the dialog and it's importance as the movie reached its climax.

It's not a 10 or a 9 and I'm torn between an 8 or a 7.

Thank God for independent movie makers and offering viewers such as myself a wider choice.

Okay. 8 out of 10.