The Dogwalker (2002)
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50% of critics liked it
(12 reviews) -
92% of users liked it
(90 ratings)
Written and directed by Jacques Thelemaque, The Dogwalker follows the lives of two very different women who find themselves in equally dire positions. When Ellie (Diane Gaidry) finally leaves her violent boyfriend, she takes the first flight out of her home in Buffalo, New York, and ends up in Los… More Written and directed by Jacques Thelemaque, The Dogwalker follows the lives of two very different women who find themselves in equally dire positions. When Ellie (Diane Gaidry) finally leaves her violent boyfriend, she takes the first flight out of her home in Buffalo, New York, and ends up in Los Angeles, where she's promptly robbed of all her possessions and reduced to living on the streets. After a failed attempt at prostitution, Ellie wakes up in a public park and meets Betsy (Pamela Gordon), an older, professional dogwalker with a rather abrupt personality. Eventually, Ellie learns that Betsy is dying of cancer, and ends up helping the older woman's failing business in exchange for temporary shelter. Fragile Ellie and gruff Betsy turn out to have one thing in common--both have left abusive relationships. Betsy's final days unfortunately mark the return of Ellie's former boyfriend, and Ellie is forced to use the disciplinary strength she has had to learn as a dogwalker and newly independent woman. ~ Tracie Cooper, Rovi
- Directed By
- Jacques Thelemaque
- Genres
- Art House & International, Drama
PG,
- In Theaters
- Jun 1, 2002 Wide
Critic Reviews
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Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune
Gaidry has no real character to play and brings little of her own spark to a desultory character study.
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Michael Booth, Denver Post
Though Thelemaque's creation is not exactly an undiscovered gem, it boasts a gritty realism that makes you want him to finish more movies.
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Dennis Harvey, Variety
Overall story arc is fairly predictable, and deliberate pacing sometimes risks dullness.
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David Hunter, Hollywood Reporter
Rather than being self-indulgent or pretentious, however, the film comes up with many believable details and changes in direction that enrich the bittersweet central relationship of the two leads.
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Mark Olsen, Los Angeles Times
A lugubrious and airless affair.
See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)
Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)
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Cast
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Diane Gaidry
as Ellie Moore
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Pamela Gordon
as Betsy Wright
- Lyn Vaus
- Lisa Jane Persky
- Alan Gelfant
- John Nielsen
- Kerry Bishop
- Alan DeSatti
- David Diaan
