Dogfight

River Phoenix stars in this period drama about a young man, naive in some ways and worldly in others, who learns an important lesson about the nature of beauty. In the fall of 1963, Eddie Birdlace (River Phoenix) is an 18-year-old Marine Corps volunteer who is about to ship out with three of his ...more

One of the best films of River Phoenix's all-too-brief career, Dogfight was widely overlooked in its 1991 release. Like the relationship between its two protagonists, the film is an understated, nuanced affair, built on character development and interaction rather than showy romantic spectacle. Phoenix and Lili Taylor are terrifically subtle, rejecting the opportunity to stereotype their characters, a macho Marine and a plain poet. Thanks to their portrayals and Nancy Savoca's patient direction, ...more