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Roger Dodger (2002)
Tomatometer
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Reviews Counted: 120
Fresh: 105
Rotten:15
Average Rating: 7.4/10
Consensus: The movie could have benefited from a more experienced director, but a great cast and script overcome any first time jitters the director may have had.
Runtime: 1 hr 44 mins
Genre: Dramas
Theatrical Release: Oct 25, 2002 Limited
Box Office: $1,169,941
Synopsis: After cynical New York advertising copywriter Roger Swanson (Campbell Scott) is dumped by his on-again/off-again girlfriend, Joyce (Isabella Rossellini), who is also his boss, his painful workday is further complicated by the... After cynical New York advertising copywriter Roger Swanson (Campbell Scott) is dumped by his on-again/off-again girlfriend, Joyce (Isabella Rossellini), who is also his boss, his painful workday is further complicated by the unexpected arrival of his 16 year-old nephew, Nick (Jesse Eisenberg). After asking to spend the night at Roger's, Nick reveals that he has come to ask for help--in hopes of ditching his virginal status, Nick begs Roger for a lesson in the art of seduction. Embittered Roger then takes on the role of a nocturnal drill sergeant in an imaginary war between the sexes, starting Nick's training at an upscale singles bar. There, they meet two beautiful women (Jennifer Beals and Elizabeth Berkeley) who turn out to be less malleable than Roger expects. Before the night is through, Roger and Nick go to some dark places where their preconceptions about women get smashed to pieces. With ROGER DODGER, first time writer-director Dylan Kidd has created a unique look at male-female relationships, full of memorable and comic platitudes spoken by a lead character as fascinating as he is unpleasant. As Roger, Scott (who also produced the film) creates a character who is very difficult to like, but is no less compelling for it. Eisenberg proves to be a worthy foil in an impressive debut. The film takes an impressively dark turn in its third act, and adventurous viewers are likely to relish this offbeat journey. [More]
Starring: Campbell Scott, Jesse Eisenberg, Isabella Rossellini, Jennifer Beals
Starring: Campbell Scott, Jesse Eisenberg, Isabella Rossellini, Jennifer Beals, Elizabeth Berkley
Director: Dylan Kidd
Director: Dylan Kidd
Screenwriter: Dylan Kidd
Producer: Anne Chaisson, George Van Buskirk
Studio: Artisan Entertainment
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Reviews for Roger Dodger
Some have condemned this film for 'filthy content.' That's like condemning a hospital for being a place of disease. Kidd deals with 'filth' the way a surgeon treats a tumor.
Scott completely owns the film, and leaves you wondering why on earth we don't see an awful lot more of him.
The dialogue addresses our expectations, gets us laughing and stops the movie from becoming too obvious a character study.
Kidd's story is a bitter pill to swallow — many will find the portrayal of Roger as some kind of hero bizarre.
Blatantly arrogant, unapologetically misogynistic, morally repugnant, and absolutely hypnotic. All these descriptions and more can be applied to the character of Roger Swanson (Campbell Scott)
Kidd says he wants the extras to act as a 'film school in a box,' but the overall effect is more 'it takes a village,' indie-style ...
...Rogers's mouth never stops shut about the war between the sexes and how to win the battle.
Latest News for Roger Dodger
July 08, 2005:
Trailer Bulletin: The Exorcism of Emily Rose
Head on over to the film's official site for your first look at the trailer to "The Exorcism of Emily Rose." The supernatural horror flick is directed by Scott... More...
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