'Hounddog' review

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In the 1950s south, Lewellen (Dakota Fanning) dreams of meeting Elvis and escaping her poor, miserable life with her abusive father (David Morse, ridiculous), who suffers excessive brain damage when he's hit by lightning. Meanwhile, the milkman looks at young Lewellen in ways he shouldn't look at young girls, and expresses his intentions in a single, horrifying act that threatens to suppress the fiery youth's spirit. Robin Wright Penn stars as Lewellen's dad's girlfriend, Piper Laurie is Lewellen's religious grandma and Afemo Omilami plays Lewellen’s wise, friendly and considerably stereotypical African-American pal.
 
Big question: Is the reworked cut of this 2007 Sundance failure any less controversial, or at least more effective, than the first version?
 
Skip it: People have called "Hounddog" the "Dakota Fanning rape movie" not to be insensitive to victims of sexual abuse but because that's all there is to the film, whose time, place and broad characterizations provide little connection to modern societal woes. "Hounddog" aims to encourage girls to break the silence about rape but, thanks to an ill-advised, late-movie vocal performance, unfortunately comes closer to suggesting that sexual abuse is one of the few ways for people to really understand the blues.
 
Catch it: To catch Lewellen doing a twisting, snarling Elvis impression while standing high up in a tree. You just don't see that everyday.
 
Bottom line: Like the exploitative debacle "Black Snake Moan" could have been, "Hounddog" excels only in Fanning's brave turn and in the film's slow, desperate mood, as misguided youths struggle to find a bit of activity and opportunity. But its go-nowhere story doesn't inspire conversation about anything other than the flick's useless commitment to Southern clichés and the danger of being out in a thunderstorm.
 
Bonus: "Hounddog" reminds us to use sticks, not hands, when handling recently dead snakes (since they can still writhe and attack after they’re dead). This is surely a lesson we can all apply to our daily lives.

mpais@tribune.com

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