Lawn Dogs (12)

John Duigan (Sirens) directs a simple tale of friendship between gardener Trent (Sam Rockwell) and social outcast Devon (Mischa Barton), a cute young girl. Despite the pic having a predictable arthouse dig at suburban America, Duigan's sparse but glossy directing gives it an endearing magic quality reminiscent of Edward Scissorhands. Skillfully blending a weirdo persona with real charm, Rockwell succeeds in carrying off a praise worthy performance: - he scooped best actor at the Montreal Film Festival, and impressed Woody Allen so much that he cast him in his next project. And with some surprising special effects at the end, Lawn Dogs is a dinky gem.

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