FILM REVIEW
THE FRIEND
Rated R
120 Minutes
Released March 28th
The Friend is a rarity in today’s cinematic landscape, a heartfelt story of love, loss, loneliness, and friendship, and of that mysterious connection between humans and dogs. Beautifully constructed on the shoulders of wonderful performances by Naomi Watts, Bill Murray, and a Great Dane named Bing, this is a classic tale about the unique ability of humans to sabotage their lives, and the counterbalance provided by the unwavering loyalty, dedication, and love of their dogs.
The sense of place for the story’s location of Manhattan is front and center, established by writer-directors Scott McGehee and David Siegel, including a memorable panorama of people hurrying pokerfaced down the sidewalks as the theme from Midnight Cowboy plays in the background, each person laser-focused on their destination, so that the sea of humanity they pass through is nothing more than three-dimensional wallpaper to them. That sets the stage for the relationship that develops between “Iris,” played by Watts, and “Apollo,” the Great Dane. The film is an adaptation of a novel of the same name by Sigrid Nunez, who reportedly is pleased with the cinematic realization of her book. The film premiered at the 2024 Telluride Film Festival and was selected to screen at the 2024 Toronto Film Festival.
McGehee and Siegel have been making films together since being introduced to each other in the early 1990s by McGehee’s sister, Kelly, a film production designer. Their stories are usually family-oriented, intimate, and emotionally charged, and their collaboration of over 30 years is unusual in the film industry. Both men grew up in Orange County. Siegel studied Architecture and Design, and McGehee English Rhetoric and Film History. The duo tried for a while to make films through the studio system but realized that they would rather not relinquish artistic control for a bigger budget, so now they form their own production companies. The Friend’s cinematographer, Giles Nuttgens, has worked on several projects with them. Kelly is the film’s production designer.
Naomi Watts has carved out a celebrated career as one of the most prolific actresses in the industry. She grew up moving between various parts of England and then to Australia when she was 14. Watts and her best friend, Nicole Kidman, met in Australia early in their careers at an audition for a bikini commercial. Many of Watts’ characters over the years have dealt with loss, guilt, and regret. Of her experience on The Friend, Watts notes, “We examine love and romance all the time, but friendship is such a powerful thing, and later in life, that becomes so clear how important it is…” One of The Friend’s most extraordinary performances is that of Bing, who plays “Apollo.” Directors McGehee and Siegel had to choose between 200 Great Danes that were submitted for the role of Apollo.
They saw 40 of them in person, and the last one they met was Bing. They knew he was the one, even though he had no “acting” experience, explaining that it’s the same process as casting a human – you need to be able to read thoughts and emotions on their face, and you’re looking for charisma. To prepare for filming with her co-star, Watts worked with animal trainer Bill Bertoni, spent 20-minute intervals twice a day with Bing. When she had to part with her canine friend at the end of the shoot, she recalls running up the road towards his owner’s car and “when I found Bing, I just fell to pieces.”
Rounding out the cast is the legendary Bill Murray as Apollo’s former owner, who died. Murray had not started out in life wanting to be an actor. Unsuccessful in school, he worked as a mailroom clerk and a caddie. He decided to go into pre-med studies but dropped out after an arrest for possession of marijuana. He then joined National Lampoon radio and went on to Saturday Night Live, and the rest is history. Carla Gugino, Constance Wu, and other notable actors round out the ensemble.
Dogs have been faithful companions to humans for more than 12,000 years. Genetic data and archeological evidence show that dogs may have evolved in two separate parts of the world, from two separate wolf populations. Research done by the University of Oxford shows early dogs appearing in both the East and the West, and most dogs today are a mix of both types.
Animal domestication is a rare occurrence, and for it to happen in two different continents at different times hints at the significance of the relationship between humans and their dogs. Any of us who have been graced in our lives with a canine friend, large or small, will comprehend how that relationship transcends rational thinking and becomes a spiritual bond, on both sides. You will come away with an understanding of why we need pets, especially dogs. And no robot will ever be able to replace a dog!
Kathryn Whitney Boole has spent most of her life in the entertainment industry, which has been the backdrop for remarkable adventures with extraordinary people. She is a Talent Manager with Studio Talent Group in Santa Monica. kboole@gmail.com
