Red (2008) Movie Information:

Red (2008) Directed by: Trygve Diesen, Lucky McKee Red (2008) Written by: Stephen Susco Red (2008) Cast: Brian Cox, Kyle Gallner, Tom Sizemore, Kim Dickens, Shiloh Fernandez, Amanda Plummer, Robert Englund, Ashley Laurence, Angela Bettis, Jesse Hlubik

Red (2008) U.S. Distributor: Magnolia Pictures Red (2008) U.K. Distributor: Not available at this time

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Red (2008) Synopsis:

Avery Allan Ludlow (Brian Cox), a Korean War vet with a tragic past, lives alone in a small town, where he runs the local hardware store. Av's only companion is a 14 year-old ginger-haired dog, aptly named Red by Av's late wife. One day, Av and Red are enjoying a placid outing at their favorite fishing spot when three boys and a shotgun come along. In an instant, Av's lifelong friend is gone, the victim of a cruel, senseless act. Devastated, Av determines to find out who the boys are and why they did it. Helped by a local reporter (Dickens), Av tries to expose the truth, but his efforts are ignored by authorities and mocked by the teenagers. The boys' parents, a rich local businessman (Sizemore) and, across town, a hardscrabble laborer (Englund) and his wife (Plummer), are just as determined to keep Av down. But, faithful to the memory of his best friend, Av single-mindedly presses for justice—with or without the law on his side.

Red (2008) Movie Review:

Recently in my home state of Oregon, the media covered a controversial trial in which it was ruled to what extent one man could be head accountable for shooting a dog that belonged to a family that lived nearby. Questions that surrounded that trial included whether or not a dog is more than one’s property, and if the answer is yes, what is the due compensation over the loss of companionship.

These questions are at the heart of the newly released Magnolia Pictures film “Red”, which make the film a crucial piece to be viewed by our society at this moment.
Avery Allen Ludlow (Brian Cox) plays a widower and shop-owner who’s main source of companionship in his life comes from the dog given to him by his wife named “Red”.
One day as Ludlow is fishing with Red, a group of teenage boys arrive, harassing Ludlow and shooting Red. Ludlow tries to get the boys to understand what they’ve done, but their fathers (played by Tom Sizemore and Robert Englund) succumb to their denial over what their sons have done. When the long arm of the law comes up short (much like it did in Oregon) Ludlow decides to take matters into his own hands.

“Red” is frequently reminiscent of "In the Bedroom", and "Mystic River" in that it is a tale of seeking justice, yet “Red” also takes a familiar and quiet setting, and peels back the exterior to show that not all is as quiet or peaceful as it seems. "Red" also does
something that is crucial to greatness, yet still unfortunately unique, in that it blazed a cinematic trail that has seldom seen before, and maybe never before executed in this way.
That is when “Red” feels like “Fahrenheit 9/11” for animal cruelty. Not only is the message of the film so important, but it's unflinching yet overall tasteful feel makes it
something truly worth seeing. "Red" also site alongside "Kill Bill" and "Munich", as revenge epics that are so unique in purpose and high in quality.

One important note about "Red" is that despite it's deeply felt and richly satisfying conclusion, the film is far from pleasant or enjoyable to watch. However, I would quickly recommend it to anyone whom enjoyed any of the great films at the LA Film Festival last month, anyone who enjoyed the crop of movies of last Oscar-season, and anyone else who appreciates challenging films that feel like they weren't written by committee.
As proven every Oscar season, this group of people reaches millions in numbers and
they can make an unconventional film like “Red” a box office success.

Words of enthusiastic praise must be given to Brian Cox, one of the most
brilliant, prolific, and diverse character actors of our time, as shown in films such as “Adaptation”, “Zodiac”, “The Ring”, “The Ringer”, “Match Point” and Jason Bourne movies. Cox brings a great amount of multi-dimensional humanity to Avery Allen Ludlow, and it is true joy to see him carry a film as do so well, just as it was watching Don Cheadle in "Hotel Rwanda" in 2004. Englund (who’s played horror-icon Freddy Kruger in all seven “Nightmare films and “Freddy vs. Jason”) and Sizemore (“Natural Born Killers”. “Saving Private Ryan”, “Pearl Harbor”, “Black Hawk Down”) were also very impressive and enjoyable in their turns in the movie. Take into account
character actress Kim Dickens (TV’s “Lost” and “Deadwood”), the incomparable Richard Riehle (“Office Space”, “Grounded for Life”), and
promising young actor Noel Fisher (TV’s “X-Men: Evolution” and “The Riches”), and "Red" feels just as rewarding as an ensemble piece as it does a Cox vehicle. This is the first english language film by director Trygve Allister Diesen, and Stephen Susco's third produced script after the two "Grudge" movies. With "Red" their careers have hit new artistic heights and they have become names to look for in the future.

Magnolia Pictures has distributed some of the best documentaries (the Oscar-nominees “Capturing the Friedman”, “Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room”, “Jesus Camp” and “No End in Sight”), foreign films (“Ong-bak”), and short films (Oscar-winners “The Danish Poet” and “West Bank Story”) of this decade so far. "Red" lives up to Magnolia's
standard of excellence, and should age well as a treasured part of Magnolia's creative output and legacy.

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Red (2008) review written by: Jackson Truax