Alpha Dog
Ben Foster a Troubled Teen in Alpha Dog
"I'm certainly not looking to repeat myself in any way but I am at an age group that there are clichés in which you can go," said Foster. "I'm an actor and I'm interested in conflicts because that's the nature of drama so by not repeating myself, I keep looking for different conflicts. But that's it."
As Jake Mazursky, Foster plays a crystal meth addict who owes his teen drug dealer (Emile Hirsch) big. When the dealer's gang kidnaps Jake's brother, he flies into a rage. Though based on the extreme case of Jesse James Hollywood, Foster feels the story of Alpha Dog is relatable to all.
"I think it's difficult being a young person. I think it's difficult being a human being but the pressures of being a young adult, every action is defining the type of man or woman that you will eventually become. And at the same time, to figure out that person, that ideal at your root that you hope to become, you have to test those grounds. Sadly, in these circumstances, they go too far."
Though he had played similar characters in the past, there were none completely like Jake. "I think he's an addict. It doesn’t make him a bad person in my eyes and of course the actor is going to be different playing the person who's inflicting suffering than the person that's receiving it. Every role, every gig, you have to find a quality and you have to love the person. And not just like him but love the person so you can care about what they care about. And he cares very much for his younger brother. He feels wronged by the world and in a world that he doesn’t seem to fit into and he's trying to some degree. He keeps failing at that so addiction is just a coping mechanism and unfortunately, the addiction of crystal meth is such a dangerous and deadly one. You can dehydrate, you don't eat, you don't sleep for days and you actually begin to hallucinate, and then you have the energy to operate in that territory. On top of which, this man was a national tae kwon do champion so it creates a very dangerous human being. But I think at its root is just a wounded individual."
Foster got through his own teen years by the skin of his teeth. "I wasn't a fan of them. How were yours? Yeah, you survive them but you don't think you will, right? The teen years were very difficult and I was really blessed with an extraordinary family and an outlet. I think those two things are major contributors to those who make the right decisions in the end and those who let themselves down. Having an outlet and that can be sports, that can be a form of art. But the reason why I believe these kids are pulling triggers is not hip hop videos, it's not video games. It's not the movies, it's apathy and a lack of care. There's no place to put it. Or they've decided not to because they're privileged white Americans. They don't need to care. And because of that, anything's possible."
Alpha Dog opens to theatres this Friday, January 12th.
For trailers, posters, stills and synopsis, go to the Alpha
Dog Movie Page.
Stay tuned for updates.
|
Add to Heffee!
