Alpha Dog

Alpha Dog is a 2006 crime film written and directed by Nick Cassavetes. The film is based on the true story of the kidnapping and murder of 15-year-old Nicholas Markowitz in 2000.


MOVIE PLOT:

Johnny Truelove (Emile Hirsch) is a drug dealer in California. Jake Mazursky (Ben Foster) is a member of the gang and owes Johnny money. A heated argument is held between the two, which results in a violent fight because Jake doesn't want to pay him.

The next day, Johnny and his crew decided to go to Jake personally and collect the money. On the way, they saw Jake's brother, Zack Mazursky (Anton Yelchin) and decided to kidnap him.

Johnny and is gang all learn of Zack's kidnapping, but do nothing as Zack seems cool with everything.

While deciding what to do with Zack, Johnny asks Frankie about the possibility of having Zack killed and disposed of. Frankie suggests that they offer Zack money for to keep his mouth shut.

While Frankie, Zack, and the gang are at a party at a hotel, Johnny approaches Elvis, who is in debt with Johnny, and offers to cancel the debt if he agrees to have Zack murdered. Elvis agrees and Johnny gives him a TEC-9 pistol and leaves.

Elvis arrives at the party and explains to Frankie that he is taking Zack home. Frankie is relieved to have Zack go home until Elvis reveals Johnny's plan to kill Zack.

Frankie, Elvis, and Keith takes Zack up to the hills. Zack is not aware of what's going to happen and becomes suspicious when Keith silently goes to wait in the van.

Realizing what's happening, Zack asks Frankie what they're doing, Frankie reassures him and tells him that he would never hurt him, and ties Zack up with tape.

Then Elvis knocks Zack into the grave with the shovel and fires at Zack with the pistol killing him.

Zack's body is found 3 days later. The epilogue shows the aftermath of the crime.

After being convicted, the gang members serve time: Tiko serving 9 years for the kidnapping; Keith serving at a juvenile facility until the age of 25 for digging Zack's grave and 2nd degree murder; Frankie serving a life sentence for aggravated kidnapping; and Elvis on death row for murdering Zack. Johnny disappears and is finally arrested in Paraguay in 2005 after 5 years of being on the America's Most Wanted list.


CAST:

Emile Hirsch as Johnny Truelove (leader)
Real-life Counterpart: Jesse James Hollywood (convicted July 8, 2009 of the kidnapping and murder of Nick Markowitz and was sentenced to life in prison); 20 years old at the time.

Justin Timberlake as Frankie Ballenbacher
Real-life Counterpart: Jesse Rugge (sentenced to life in prison, for the kidnapping of Nick Markowitz with the possibility of parole after seven years. His petition for parole was denied in 2006.) 20 years old at the time.

Shawn Hatosy as Elvis Schmidt (shooter)
Real-life Counterpart: Ryan Hoyt (on death row at San Quentin for the murder of Nick Markowitz) 21 years old at the time.

Ben Foster as Jake Mazursky (elder half-brother of victim)
Real-life Counterpart: Benjamin Markowitz 21 years old at the time. Served 3 years in prison for robbery. Since released.

Anton Yelchin as Zack Mazursky (victim)
Real-life Counterpart: Nicholas Markowitz (murdered by Ryan Hoyt a member of Jesse James Hollywood's crew.) Hollywood has since been tried and convicted for the kidnapping and his role in the murder. 15 when he died.

Sharon Stone as Olivia Mazursky (mother of victim)
Real-life Counterpart: Susan Markowitz

Chris Marquette as Keith Stratten
Real-life Counterpart: Graham Pressley 17 at the time. In July 2002 tried as an minor and October 2002 as an adult. Served 5 years in juvie for digging Nick's grave. 2nd degree murder. (was released from the California Youth Authority Facility in 2007)

Olivia Wilde as Angela Holden
Real-life Counterpart: Michelle Lasher, Hollywood's girlfriend. 21 at the time. Arrested for harboring a fugitive/ Hollywood.

Bruce Willis as Sonny Truelove
Real-life Counterpart: John "Jack" Hollywood Jesse James's father. Arrested in 2005, the same day son Jesse James was captured in Brazil, for manufacturing the illicit narcotic GHB, but the charge was later thrown out in court. Jack remained in custody on an outstanding 2002 warrant for a marijuana-related charge, and later received 18 months in a Arizona prison.



My thoughts:

I think the screenwriters made this film as accurate as they can based on the interviews from the witnesses. Although we don't really know what happened during the actual event we get a glimpse of how that murder took place.