MovieChat Forums > Alpha Dog (2007) Discussion > Did anyone feel even a little sorry for ...

Did anyone feel even a little sorry for Jesse (Frankie)?

posted 14 years ago by starofbaseball89
17 replies | jump to latest

I know that I'm going to catch a lot of grief for this. I'm in no way condoning his actions nor do I think he should've escaped jail free. But if Jesse (Frankie) really did develop that relationship with Nick (Zack) and the ending really did go the same way. I mean, it's going to be really hard to argue my point but let me try. To me it seems like Nick became a little brother to Jesse. And it was obvious (in the movie) that Jesse really cared about him a lot. To me it just came across like Jesse was truly scared about spending the remainder of his life behind bars or Hollywood (Truelove) having him killed. I'm not justifying his actions, because they're in no way justifiable. But he was obviously a mis-guided young adult who was petrified of what could become of him. His actions in the end were selfish, ridiculous and horrible. But I can't help but feel for him (a little bit) just because of the circumstances that he found himself in. He didn't know that the murder was going to take place until Ryan (Elvis) confronted him about it a few hours prior to the murder. Then he was told by Ryan that he was going to have to answer to Hollywood (Truelove), who obviously would've had no issue killing Jesse had he not helped Ryan. The guy was in a lose/lose situation that he had no idea was going to come about until it was to late. It was obviously painful for him when the actual murder was taken place and I can't help but feel like maybe he thought if he could get Nick to cooperate, than maybe they could've found another way to fix the issue. While all of these guys are to blame, the only guys who came across to me as the true hardcore criminals were Hollywood and Ryan. Like I said before, I do not condone Jesse's actions and I firmly stand behind him serving time. But I can't help but feel for the guy if he truly did grow a brotherly like relationship with Nick and found himself in that type of situation.

Obviously if that relationship never occurred and the ending wasn't similar, then I feel nothing for the guy. I just thought I'd bring this up and see what you guys (and girls) had to say about it.

My thoughts and prayers go out to the Markowitz family.

[–] sisterdebmac 14 years ago

From everything I've read, Jesse Rugge was not a nice, cool kid like Frankie is in the movie. In fact, I think this quote sums him up quite well, "All I did was act like the kid's best friend." That's all, huh? So you didn't help hold him captive? You didn't bind him and lead him to his death? Really? Nice act there, Jesse boy.

The only one I had any modicum of sympathy for was Graham Pressley (Keith). That is until I learned during Hollywood's trial that he knew earlier in the day what the plan was and chose the burial spot.

I think all these guys got what they deserved.
______________________
Let me tell you a little story. You're an idiot!

[–] starofbaseball89 14 years ago

You seem to know quite a bit more about the case than most on this board. Could you possibly supply us with some links and videos that we could look into? I really want to look into these guys individually so I can get a better feel for what type of people they really were.

Regardless I liked the Frankie character in the film, up until the end obviously.

[–] sisterdebmac 14 years ago

Yeah, I like Frankie too, till the very end. And I really like Keith, especially how he breaks down over what's about to happen. That's the point, I think. Cassavetes makes us like these guys so that we're pretty shocked by what they're actually capable of, which is kind of the way life is, right?

This little documentary is really informative. I always recommend it to people who want to know more:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rtr-CMb47yg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sjE6dzMTbsE&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UjqR5BPq42U&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VvYZk3yqAjY&feature=related

And there's other stuff too:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xLlStPwsovc&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2b6sPonSbnk&feature=related

Also, just in case you hadn't heard, Nick's mom Susan has a new book out:

http://www.amazon.com/My-Stolen-Son-Markowitz-Berkley/dp/042523634X/re f=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1285969244&sr=1-1

What's interesting about those videos is that JJH's lawyer is the one who put them online. But they make Hollywood and all the others look guilty as sin. It's really a very weird case when you look at it closely. So many little things that could've turned the whole sorry mess around and saved Nick's life. Really heartbreaking.
______________________
Let me tell you a little story. You're an idiot!

[–] Cami_b 14 years ago

dont forget!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RynVhLTpZro

ADDME
www.myspace.com/chicken_boobs
www.twitter.com/whoiscami

[–] starofbaseball89 14 years ago

This is all great information. Thank you both!

[–] AchingNick 14 years ago

((((HUGS)))
How are you? I think you should receive an award for the most post ;) I knew I could find you here.
Thank you for all you do. You keep this place sane!
Have you read the book yet? I would love to have your review on Amazon if so.
I am going to try to get back into responding, not that I will ever be able to catch up!

Bless you~

Nick's Mom, Susan
(Alpha Dog Movie)

[email protected]
MyStolenSon.com
NicholasMarkowitz.com

[–] sisterdebmac 14 years ago

Hi Susan,

Nice to see you here. I am absolutely going to buy the book. I've been a little strapped for cash lately, but don't worry, it's way at the top of my to-buy list. And I will definitely review it on Amazon. I was kind of hoping you might get to do a signing in Atlanta and I was going to come out and meet you. If by chance that ever does happen, please let me know.

And bless you right back, my friend.

Hugs!

Deb
______________________
Let me tell you a little story. You're an idiot!

[–] snausages1 (1) 5 years ago

[deleted]

[–] starofbaseball89 14 years ago

I've ordered it, I'm expecting it to arrive in the mail within the next week. I'm really excited to read it, God bless you in your courage to tell your story.

[–] johnnygee-1 14 years ago

After renting the movie on iTunes, I did more research and found your book, My Stolen Son, on Amazon Kindle. I'm reading it now. What happened to your son Nick is completely unconscionable, and I have absolutely no sympathy for the young thugs who were involved. I offer you my sincere condolences.

[–] philZman 13 years ago

If they hadn't killed the kid, just set him free, and Frankie would have gone to jail over it, I would have felt a bit sorry. After all, he was nice to the kid and got him laid.

But everyone involved agreed (or at the very least, allowed to happen) a cold-bloded murder. An execution. Once you do that, regardless of how you feel afterwards, you're guilty as hell and deserve the worst.

So no, I don't feel sorry for him one bit. I could feel sorry for someone killing a person in self-defense, or by accident, cause there are situations where you can cause death but not be a sociopath killer. Not the case here.

If Frankie was really a friend, he would have saved the kid. He didn't. Guilty and not worthy of any sympathy from any of us.

[–] destroyerwod 13 years ago

Trought the movie i see Witness 1.2.3 etc, so i tough ok the kid got kill...then later on i was starting to think Frankie(Timberlake character) saved him and killed Elvis so that was the whole point, and i felt sympathy for him but after seeing the murder in the movie, i felt no sympathy at all for any of the killers. Would i be there, i would had do anything nessary. Elvis was vulnerable, he was not part of the gang but tought he was. I would had trick him to give me the gun so I would do the execution, but in the end shot him(Elvis) in the legs so he would be incapacitated and couldn't do *beep* If Timberlake's character was really zack friend, thats what he would had do.

[–] dini0519 13 years ago

At first I felt sorry for him, but he went through with the killing against his better judgement, and even though it pained him. What a stupid little idiot.

Dini

[–] actionmanrandell 11 years ago

that part was movie not real life

[–] yvesyves (682) 5 years ago

The most annoying thing in this kind of true story movie is that the main plot is based on known true facts, but the dozens of other details you see in the movie you have no idea how accurate or true they are.

As you said for example the very friendly relation between Nick the kid and Jesse as well as the other guys, when they drove to the hills even if the kid was high didnt he realize it wasnt the right neighborhood? What did they say when they walked up the hills on the dirtroads? Did Hollywood Truelove really call the kid's brother and the brother went totally crazy threatening him and not giving him a chance to explain? Etc...

[–] Nina (545) 5 years ago

I know what you mean. During the entire movie Frankie has been really nice to the kid and he really liked him.
But beside of that, he was really a complete jerk.
His behaviour towards woman, Elvis and even his dad was just respectless.
He took zero responsibility in whatever he did. So I think, he really got justice.

[–] Diddy1111 (401) 2 years ago

Jesse Rugge got out of jail 10 yrs ago. He appears to be rehabilitated.