Roger Dodger (film)
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| Roger Dodger | |
|---|---|
 DVD cover for U.S. release |
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| Directed by | Dylan Kidd |
| Produced by | Campbell Scott George Van Buskirk Anne Chaisson |
| Written by | Dylan Kidd |
| Starring | Campbell Scott Jesse Eisenberg Isabella Rossellini Elizabeth Berkley Jennifer Beals |
| Music by | Craig Wedren |
| Cinematography | Joaquin Baca-Asay |
| Editing by | Andy Keir |
| Distributed by | Miramax Films |
| Release date(s) | October 25, 2002 |
| Running time | 104 min. |
| IMDb profile | |
Roger Dodger is a 2002 comedy noir that explores the relationship between men and women and sex. Directed by Dylan Kidd and starring Campbell Scott and Jesse Eisenberg, the movie follows Roger Swanson (Scott) and his nephew (Eisenberg) during a night on the town in search of sex.
Contents |
[edit] Plot
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.
Although this first attempt to seduce women is unsuccessful, Nick chooses to continue the quest, which takes them to Roger's boss's party. There they find Joyce's secretary drunk and attempt to capitalize. But, once in the bedroom Nick's conscience gets the better of him and he allows her to simply fall asleep untouched.
With Roger spinning out of control and Nick's window of opportunity closing rapidly, they agree to go with "Plan B." This amounts to an underground house of prostitution. Again, Nick cannot seal the deal and outside a fight between them ensues as Nick and Roger are both reeling from the weight of the moral issues they have exposed themselves to by spending the night together the way they did.
The next morning is plagued by awkward silence as Nick is even more confused by the previous evening, but Roger has sobered up and ultimately remains the same broken, angry, misguided man he always was. It is teased at the movie's closing scenes that Roger is beginning to second-guess his way of life with one-night-stands and uncommited relationships, and that Nick gained a measure of self-confidence from their time together.
[edit] Cast
- Campbell Scott as Roger Swanson
- Jesse Eisenberg as Nick
- Isabella Rossellini as Joyce
- Elizabeth Berkley as Andrea
- Jennifer Beals as Sophie
- Mina Badie as Donna
- Ben Shenkman as Donovan
- Chris Stack as Chris
[edit] Reception
The movie was not a major success commercially speaking, but it did well critically and became something of a cult hit with Campbell Scott's following. It won multiple awards in 2002-2003. It also served as the coming-out for Jesse Eisenberg who was widely acclaimed for his conflicted performance.
