Dogfight (1991)

IMDb plot summary: Before leaving to fight in Vietnam, a group of teenagers play a game where they try to seduce the ugliest girl they can find.

Directed by Nancy Savoca. Stars River Phoenix, Lili Taylor, and Richard Panebianco.

Dogfight tells the story of a group of young marines who are on their last night before they ship out and they agree to have a "dog fight," in which each of them invites a woman out on a  date, and whoever has the ugliest date wins. We follow one particular couple, in which the girl finds out what's going on and is deeply hurt by it. The next day the marine finds her, apologizes, and discovers that he actually really enjoys spending time with her and tries to make it up for her by going on an actual date. I knew very little about this film going into it, other than that it had been made into a musical at some point. It's a quiet film, just exploring these two characters and their relationship to each other, to others' perceptions of them, and to the war. Our two lead actors, River Phoenix and Lili Taylor, carry this beautifully. These characters are very believable, flaws and all, and it makes it far more engaging in the moments they do manage to connect. It reminds me a little bit of a less intellectual Before Sunrise, in terms of the mood evoked. I feel like this is one that's going to stay with me. Its quiet character examination is moving and memorable. 

How it entered my Flickchart:

🎥 Dogfight (1991)

📊 Ranked #679/4046 on my Flickchart

🎯 Flickscore™: 83

beat Clear and Present Danger (#2018 → #2393)

beat The Song of Lunch (#1008 → #1200)

lost to Six Degrees of Separation (#503 → #467)

beat 5 Centimeters per Second (#755 → #742)

lost to Dancer in the Dark (#629 → #635)

beat Summer Wars (#692 → #713)

lost to Shiva Baby (#660 → #647)

lost to They Came Together (#676 → #667)

lost to Yojimbo (#684 → #656)

lost to Black Christmas (#688 → #690)

lost to Enchanted (#690 → #677)

beat The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (#691 → #846)