Shiloh is, first and foremost, a children's movie, so don't run to see it if you won't be able to sit through the boy-loves-battered-dog story for an hour and a half, even if it does mean frequent glimpses of Michael Moriarty on the big screen, acting in a role not unlike his Ben Stone persona, though here a rural West Virginian post master and family man. I was fortunate to be able to justify running to see it the day it opened with my nine year old daughter in tow, even though she has entered the stage of preferring movies like Clueless to Benji the Hunted. Happily my daughter enjoyed it very much, as did I. What made Shiloh enjoyable was the absence of a saccharine-sweet plot and too-cute child stars (though the starring beagle was heart-breakingly adorable).
The story was straightforward enough: a badly mistreated dog runs away from his abusive low-life hunter/owner, and finds eleven year old Marty Preston, who is trying to occupy himself during summer vacation with few friends, little to do, and a desire to help his cash-strapped family by finding some odd jobs. The boy falls in love with the dog he names Shiloh, but Marty's father, Ray (Michael Moriarty), figures out who the dog belongs to and insists that they bring him back. Throughout the movie, you feel the psychological complexity of Marty's father, who is consistently stern but fair, determined to do the right thing even at the expense of his son's happiness. When the dog again runs away after another abusive episode, Marty is determined to keep him in secret, but it all comes out when the dog is injured and Marty must turn to his father for help. What follows is Marty's attempt to work out a way to keep the dog in a manner that is acceptable to both the owner and his father. There is a bit of tension when all looks hopeless, but the story is resolved nicely in the end, without a hint of predictability or unbelievability.
Here are some fine Michael Moriarty moments from the film: having breakfast with his family; the Ben Stone reading glasses - reads often in the movie - clearly the rural life has not dulled the intellect. Then there is the moment in the middle of the night when he sneaks the dog a snack and offers an affectionate pat in the darkened living room. Really beautiful. When his son, Marty, has been scammed by the dog's owner, Ray sticks up for him magnificently - saying to the owner something like "Now you'll have me to contend with" or "now you've got my anger to deal with" in his inimitable prosecutorial bark! And, at the end Dad says, "Well son, it looks like you've got yourself a dog" followed by a wonderful grin. Worth the price of admission alone.
So go grab a kid (borrow one if necessary), head for the theater and enjoy! [Caution: go soon if you intend to see this movie because even in NY, after only one week in release, it's playing in just one theater and only two mid-afternoon screenings]
Thanks, Barbara!! Shiloh is now available on video so it can be enjoyed many times over!! DW
If you have seen a live performance, movie, book or TV appearance and would like to send a review just e-mail: Debbie