76
Metascore
20 reviews · Provided by Metacritic.com
- 91The PlaylistChristopher SchobertThe PlaylistChristopher SchobertAs the moving, sad, riotously humorous documentary The Dog explains, the film only captured traces of Wojtowicz’s personality, and only told bits of his story.
- 83The A.V. ClubJosh ModellThe A.V. ClubJosh ModellAs a portrait of a life lived strangely — and if you asked its subject, perfectly, with no regrets — The Dog is charming.
- 80Time OutJoshua RothkopfTime OutJoshua RothkopfFor all its eye-opening material, The Dog still feels unfinished, but for students of New York scuzziness, it’s an essential addition.
- 80Village VoicePete Vonder HaarVillage VoicePete Vonder HaarWhat makes The Dog so compelling isn't Wojtowicz's cinematic imprint but the place in history that was very likely denied him by chance and his own irascibility.
- 80The New York TimesManohla DargisThe New York TimesManohla DargisThe Dog is, as its title suggests, a documentary portrait, but it’s also an exploration of that sometimes messy thing called identity.
- 75New York PostLou LumenickNew York PostLou LumenickWojtowicz was a folk hero thanks to the movie, and he cashed in on his celebrity by signing autographs in front of the bank he tried to rob. He also retained the love and support of his wife and his doting mother, both of whom are interviewed with him in The Dog, until his death in 2006.
- 70The DissolveScott TobiasThe DissolveScott TobiasEvery part of Wojtowicz’s story is touched by madness, though The Dog doesn’t miss the depression and tragedy that lingers around it.
- 70Los Angeles TimesRobert AbeleLos Angeles TimesRobert AbeleThe film is a real "whew"-factor yarn, a hearty soup of thick accents, bold personalities and complicated motives, with an unmistakable taste of charismatic, ornery American hedonism.
- 63Slant MagazineChuck BowenSlant MagazineChuck BowenIt's informed with a subtle but disquieting subtext that insists on the pitfalls of allowing ideology to steer you away from common sense.
- 60New York Daily NewsJoe NeumaierNew York Daily NewsJoe NeumaierAnd always there’s Wojtowicz himself, who died in 2006. His patter and persona must be seen to be believed. This guy was a piece of work, and so is The Dog.