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Plot: After breaking up with his lover and boss, a smooth-talking man takes his teenaged nephew out on the town in search of sex.
Meet Other Fans
Recent Reviews
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MCT:September 17, 2008Ouch, this films starts out with a philosophical discussion with wrong and twisted facts, but then when the story starts running, it gets funnier and more interesting. Worth a look.
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MCT:August 31, 2008Some Minor Spoilers Here **************************************************************Critics adore independent films. Made usually on shoestring budgets and starring either no-bodies, wannabees or actors trying to make a statement, independent films are usually made by people who love movies for people who love movies. Enter Dylan Kidd's writing and directing debut, the 2002 very funny and memorable film Roger Dodger.
Campbell Scott (The Spanish Prisoner) plays Roger Swanson, a fast talking, chain-smoking, ever drinking 30-something that believes he is truly God's gift to earthly women. We are first introduced to Roger as he engages in conversation with fellow co-workers at a public restaurant and Roger dominates the conversation offering his views on man's ability over women to read maps, the workings and history of the female genatalia and why science and evolution will have men being reduced to servitude in 10 to 15 generations. Roger dominates the dialogue and with rapid fire crass and the occasional sneer at those that joke at his revelations, we are introduced to a man who is on a conceited high that will eventually lead to his emotional crisis.
Enter Roger's nephew, Nick (played by Jesse Eisenberg) who shows up from out of town and looks to Roger for help in the disposing of his virginity. Roger, acting more like someone who wants to show off his masculine powers than act that of a big brother, takes Nick under his wing for a night of adventure. The self-professed `FN lightening rod' for sex sneaks Nick into bars, takes him to a house party and eventually to an underground brothel in an attempt to shed the youngster of his innocence. But with each new venue, we are exposed to Roger's vulnerability and we experience a man who is on a kamikaze mission to destruction.
In a touching scene between Nick and two women picked up at a local bar (played understatedly by Jennifer Beals and Elizabeth Berkley), it is Nick's innocence and honestly that has the women swoon over Roger's frank and demeaning manner. The scene is wonderfully lit with just street lights and the camera angles which sometimes don't focus on the talking character, suck you in so that you believe you are on that cold park bench with them.
This is the genius that is usually associated with the independent films. People talk over each other, and sets are usually actual locations that lend to the aura and feel of the film. Dylan Kidd uses what light is available to him and sometimes that means that characters are talking in the dark corners of an alley or are blocked out by the backs of other actors. However, one is never lost or feels betrayed by the filmmakers because the dialogue remains so crisp and real.
Campbell Scott won a best actor award from the National Board of Review of Motion Pictures for his role in Roger Dodger and in my opinion, he was overlooked for an Academy Award nomination for the same role. He delivers the Tarantino-ish dialogue with precision and makes this disgusting character of a man someone that we can relate to or at least understand.
My final note about independent films is that they don't have the pressure to produce the 'Hollywood' ending. Roger Dodger ends not with Roger realizing the err of his way, but with a poignant adult talk with some school boys who show us the same immaturity as Roger, just at a younger understanding. Kudos to all those involved with this marvelous film that was indeed one of the best of 2002. It goes without saying but this is one to check out -
MCT:July 12, 2008This was good movie. The beginning was boring but then when the teenager guy came in the movie got a whole lot better. The older guy is such a show off though. Movie was good. I saw it on the IFC channel. Very good movie.
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MCT:May 12, 2008
In Manhattan, the arrogant, cynical and witty Roger Swanson (Campbell Scott) is a publicist of an advertisement agency owned by Joyce (Isabella Rossellini), who is also his lover. Joyce breaks their relationship due to the lack of maturity and manipulative behavior of Roger. Meanwhile, his sixteen years old nephew from Ohio Nick (Jesse Eisenberg) unexpectedly arrives in his office asking Roger to teach him how to seduce women. Along the night, Roger drags Nick into New York nightlife providing directions about women. As Roger, Campbell Scott does a superb job bringing out both of those seemingly contradictory qualities. A non-stop talker, Roger knows how to draw all the attention in the room to himself; he is like a chattering vortex up there on the screen and we can't help but be sucked in by his personality and presence. The strongest parts of "Roger Dodger" are the extended conversations that provide an engaging back and forth quality. Roger's shallowness works here to keep the viewer interested. No "My Dinner with Andre," Roger plumbs the depths of sexual and relationship cliches and the other cast members respond in very real Manhattan babble of their own. Most of the story takes place at night so this is sort of a silly "Sex and the City" noir flick. Roger Dodger is able to be hilariously funny while asking serious questions. Highly recommened.
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MCT:March 4, 2008You know when you watch a movie and nothing happens but never the less you enjoy it well this was NOT one of those movies. Utter rubbish!
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MCT:January 25, 2008Campbell Scott is an under-appreciated actor to be sure. Which is probably why he has to settle for this sort of one-note film. It's an interesting story idea, but it plays out without any suspense or surprise.
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MCT:November 4, 2007
You will like this movie if (a) you enjoy razor-sharp, black-witted dialog (b) you liked either In the Company of Men or Sideways. The film is essentially a character study of Roger Swanson: a smooth-talking, manipulative, misogynistic, emotionally immature and brittle mess of a man, played pitch-perfect by Scott. He's not the sort of guy you like, but his insightful and cynical analyses of the human condition are mesmerizing, if you have a crowd to diffuse the depressing implications of his insights. Roger's in his element as an advertising copywriter, and unknowingly sums up his entire modus operandi with the explanation of his job to his nephew: "I make people feel inferior, then sell them something that makes them feel complete." This is a prelude to an unlikely mission that Roger undertakes: to help his nephew, who has just "dropped in" from Ohio on a pretext, lose his virginity that night in New York City. Normally, I wouldn't spend more than 10 minutes watching a sleaze bag like Roger on film, but the contrast between his misanthropy and the wholesome naïveté of his nephew kept me glued to the story. Roger uses the same "insult, then offer help" strategy on the boy as he does in his ad copy, but it's the teen's integrity that shines through to the women that Roger picks as the night's sexual conquests. The scene on a park bench, where Roger can't understand why his reptillian charm isn't working while his nephew gets his first truly passionate kiss is funny, sweet, and sad at the same time. Roger proceeds to self-destruct as the evening wears on, and his proximity to the innocence of his nephew enabled me to feel a slight bit of sadness for the guy amidst my revulsion.
The last act of the movie doesn't quite have the same riveting quality as the first two-thirds. OK, the last act doesn't really make sense in context, except to set up the very last moment of the film, which leads you to wonder what the nephew learned from Roger.
That this is the work of a first-time director shows. As mentioned, the last act made me scratch my head. The "shaky-cam" cinematography style made me slightly nauseated at times, and the lack of adequate lighting made some scenes unnecessarily dark. But the scripting and interplay between uncle and nephew makes this a watchable, worthwhile film. -
MCT:October 19, 2007
Roger es un personaje en una encrucijada en su vida... se acaba de dar cuenta que ya no es tan joven y es desechable, estos sentimientos son yuxtapuestos con el hecho que su sobrino aparesca en su vida y trata de desvanecer esos sentimientos mostrandose ante el como un absoluto conquistador, aun cuando el sabe que solo es una fachada.-
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MCT:October 19, 2007
A great study into the minds of a self-styled "Player" and a inexperieced horny teenager on a night out in NYC.
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MCT:September 27, 2007
campbell scott is on fine form here as roger a ladies man who does his rounds in manhatten, and the singles scene. the same time he gets dumped by his boss, yes he that kind of man, his nephew turns up, from out of town, the kid has been told that he should look roger up and ask him to give him some pointers in rthe way of the women, so its gonna be a night on the town for the both of them, roger is one great charactor created by cambell and writer.director dylan kidd, hes so smarmy, full of him self, thinks he is top dog and showing the nephew nick, again brilliantly played by jesse eisenberg, is great watching how hes awstruck by the uncles succes with the women, even though most of it is him seeing it through stories, hes telling him, while also giving great tips for a quick thrill,. these are good tips by the way, watching these 2 guys wondering manhatten is great and like many other n.y films, its a charactor, great speeches(mostly roger) youll think hes a arogant person, but respect a part of him, and also great watching the kid get a upper hand when the two are confronted by two beautys, as its him rather than roger getting the attention, a great film if you wanna know how to pull, although, perhaps a bad way
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MCT:September 22, 2007
a great script with some very good performances especially from the two male leads.
a very funny funny exploration of the difference between men and women -
MCT:September 4, 2007
scott played a dodgy-regular-employee-bachelor lived in this big city (which he thinks) full of women around waiting to be men's object of interest. all his witty remarks were indeed amusing and confirmed his smartass-ness. let alone when he tried to 'share' his women-wisdom to his nephew. meanwhile, as a genius himself, dylan kidd managed to capture the core scenes in a one shot!
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MCT:September 3, 2007
A rather unsuccessful womanizer is taking his teenage nephew to a night out and teach him about approaching and scoring with the ladies. That leads to quite a few amusing, true and wonderfully pathetic observations about flirting, sex, men and women. While the camera work is somewhat experimental and shaky at times by trying to be voyeur instead of cinematic observer it also gives the movie a pretty realistic feel. Like Sex and The City for men, pretty interesting.
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MCT:August 8, 2007
A great black comedy from the Neil LaBute mean and sadistic vein. It's almost like Swingers in hell. Campbell Scott spits venom and wisdom as he teaches his naive yet bright nephew how to score with women. The Jennifer Beals park scene was great. It reminded me of a twisted "Catcher in the Rye" at points. The ending started to lose me as it began to bitch out but then recovered the fumble. Good stuff.
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MCT:August 4, 2007
Campbell Scott steals the show in this womderful Indie flick about sex. Scotts character is both thoroughly despicaple and hilariously witty at the same time. Gripping, interesting and bound to induce discussion, the journey that Uncle and nephew take into the male psyche is truly a hidden gem. Good to see Elizabeth Berkley got work after 'Showgirls' too. Track it down!
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MCT:June 1, 2007
Imponerande regidebut som osökt för tankarna till Mike Nichols Carnal Knowledge från 1971.
Huvudrollsinnehavaren Roger är en snabbkäftad egocentriker och besserwisser som ser sig som guds gåva till kvinnorna och som inte drar sig för att säga vad han tycker. Han får sin systerson på halsen för ett dygn i New York, vilket i sin tur för tankarna till bröderna Weitz About a Boy med Hugh Grant. Man skulle kunna säga att Campbell Scotts Roger är en mer cynisk och mörkare kusin till Hugh Grants Will i Nick Hornby filmatiseringen.
Roger Dodgers systerson är i sin tur en mer pubertal och sexuellt frustrerad version än sin motsats i Om en pojke. Roger Dodger är fylld av kvicka och genomtänkta oneliners utan att de blir påträngande. Den känns modern, realistisk (mycket tack vare kameraarbetet) och är genuint välspelad rakt igenom. Känns som ett bra substitut till Woody Allen nu när han själv börjat gå på tomgång och leverera dussinprodukter. RD är ett fräscht tillskott till den rappa dialoggenren som har eftertänksamhet som dessert på menyn. -
MCT:May 27, 2007
Meant to see this when it was initially released but I kept forgetting about it. Saw it last night night and thoroughly enjoyed it. Highly amusing, very easy viewing. Pretty much the male equivalent to sex and the city. Campbell Scott is wonderful as the smooth talking, slightly bitter..well, extremely bitter uncle. Worth seeing.
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MCT:April 24, 2007
On the surface, Roger Dodger is about a frustrated womanizer taking his nephew out to teach him how to seduce women and get laid. Roger's apparently a ladies man, but he's having a really bad day; and he proceeds to take out his frustrations by acting like a true asshole to all the women around him. Roger Dodger is Dylan Kidd's directorial/writing debut and the dialogue in this movie is so good, it's almost like a documentary in quality.
Most people I know who have already seen this movie seem to focus entirely on Roger, the character of the title, and judge the movie based entirely around him. I can understand that since he's the main character and all, but I don't share that view. Instead, I focused on his nephew Nick, whom I believe most of the movie's underlying messages are defined through. To me, Roger was just an eluding liar who is full of shit.
There were a few very powerful messages I gained out of watching this film for the first time, and they've been very personal for me. They include enjoying the feeling of the moment, being absolutely genuine, and remembering to look beyond a woman's looks to admire the true person inside. These are qualities I strive for, even though I find myself failing them many times over, but I still think of them all the time. I never expected to find such tenderness in a movie with a sleazy premise like this one. -
MCT:December 12, 2006
The real surprise is that this cast of somewhat awful actors come together with a great script to create this very surprising drama/comedy.
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