A Dog Year

A Dog Year
HBO advertising poster
Written byGeorge LaVoo
Story byJon Katz
Directed byGeorge LaVoo
StarringJeff Bridges
Lauren Ambrose
Music byJoseph Vitarelli
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
Production
ProducersLiz Manne
Frank Doelger
CinematographyFrederick Elmes
EditorsMichael Taylor
Leo Trombetta
Running time80 minutes
Production companyHBO Films
Original release
NetworkHBO
ReleaseSeptember 3, 2009 (2009-09-03)

A Dog Year is a 2009 American made-for-television comedy-drama film written and directed by first-time director George LaVoo and starring Jeff Bridges.[1] It was originally broadcast on HBO on September 3, 2009.

The film is based on the memoir by Jon Katz and adapted by LaVoo.[2] The story centers on a man experiencing a midlife crisis whose world is turned upside down when he adopts a Border Collie crazier than he is.[3]

Plot

Jon Katz faces a midlife crisis. His wife moves out because he was growing too distant, their daughter Emma has moved to a place of her own, and he is left in the house with their two Labrador Retrievers and a severe case of writer's block. A dog breeder who has read his books convinces him to take in an abused and hyperactive Border Collie named Devon.

Devon turns out to be more than Katz expected, destroying his home and fighting with his other dogs. His daughter Emma visits him, clearly concerned, and is present when one of the Labradors dies of a stroke. Exasperated with his attempts to train Devon, Katz gives Emma the other Labrador and moves to Upstate New York, determined that further isolation will aid in both his writing and dog training.

The slower pace of life soon agrees with both Katz and the dog, aided further by a dog trainer, Lois, and helpful neighbor Anthony, who helps Katz build a pen for Devon. He succeeds in training Devon to sit, and the dog begins to heal and be at home with Katz: he doesn't try to escape the house when Katz accidentally left the door open, and proves able to remain in the car with a window open. Katz' experience informs his writing, and a short book pours out of him. Feeling a measure of success, Katz returns home to the city, promising Anthony that he will return to the farm soon.

Cast

Production

Bridges was cast in May, 2006, with production set to start in July that year.[3] It was filmed in part on the farm belong to the book's author, Jon Katz, in Hebron, New York.[4][5] Bridges wore clothes taken from Katz' own wardrobe.[6]

Release and reception

Once set for theatrical release, the film premiered on HBO on September 3, 2009, after it's distributor, Picturehouse, was closed in 2008.[1]

Chuck Bowen of Slant called the film "a lean, appealingly straight-forward little movie" and praised Bridges' performance.[7] Brian Lowry of Variety called the film "stunted and lifeless' and criticised Bridges performance, writing that "other than looking disheveled, Bridges simply can’t seem to unearth much from Jon’s character," and praised the canine actor's performance over his.[2] In The New York Times, Mike Hale praised the cast but wrote that director LaVoo couldn't rise above the film's sentimentality and TV movie clichés, despite the high production values.[1]

On July 8, 2010, Jeff Bridges was nominated for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or Movie.[8][9]

References

  1. 1 2 3 Hale, Mike (September 2, 2009). "Jeff Bridges Talks to a Dog in Film of Jon Katz's Memoir". The New York Times. Retrieved July 15, 2018.
  2. 1 2 Lowry, Brian (August 31, 2009). "A Dog Year". Variety. Retrieved July 15, 2018.
  3. 1 2 Kit, Borys (May 19, 2006). "HBO's 'Year' on calendar for Bridges". Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on September 2, 2006. Retrieved September 20, 2006.
  4. ↑ Katz, Jon (November 20, 2014). "What Home Is: The World Of Bedlam". Bedlam Farm Journal. Retrieved August 31, 2026.
  5. ↑ Katz, Jon (November 29, 2008). "Movie update: A Dog Year". Bedlam Farm Journal. Retrieved August 31, 2026.
  6. ↑ Mudge, Alvin (July 2007). "Jon Katz". BookPage. Retrieved August 31, 2026.
  7. ↑ Bowen, Chuck (December 10, 2010). "DVD Review: George LaVoo's A Dog Year on HBO Home Entertainment". Slant. Retrieved August 31, 2026.
  8. ↑ Schneider, Michael (July 8, 2010). "2010 Primetime Emmy nominations announced". Variety. Retrieved August 31, 2026.
  9. ↑ "Outstanding Lead Actor In A Miniseries Or A Movie 2010". Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Retrieved August 31, 2026.
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