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Bully on DVD (2001)

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Average rating: 63%
1325820151625
3.0
from 1,210 members
 
Starring: Brad Renfro, Nick Stahl, Rachel Miner, Bijou Phillips, Leo Fitzpatrick, Michael Pitt, Kelli Garner
Director: Larry Clark
Studio: FILM 4
Run time: 107 mins
Certificate: 18
User collections: Obsessive Compulsary List, Top Gay Films, Kids & Guns, Our favourite films, something diferent, Judas' British, American and Asian Thug Most Wanted
Genres: Drama
Languages: English
Released: 12/05/2008

Brief synopsis of Bully

Bully, based on a true story, sees Larry Clark return to the violent and disturbing underworld previously documented in his controversial and provocative 1995 debut Kids. A couple of good-looking small town teenage slackers, Bobby and Marty, have known each other forever. They work dead end jobs, do drugs and hustle cash by selling porno home videos and queer phone sex. The sadistic Bobby treats Marty like a toy, dominating him brutally and efficiently. It's how they have always been. They hook up with beautiful, spoiled Ali, and her awkward, vulnerable friend Lisa for a double date on the beach, where Ali is viciously humiliated by Bobby. Lisa falls in love with Marty, and Bobby feels his control slipping... things get ugly.

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Critics Reviews

Rating of 4 stars out of 5 Radio Times

Following the more tempered Another Day in Paradise, director Larry Clark steps back into the grit and grime of maximum shock cinema with this outstanding drama. Stylistically echoing his brutal yet dazzling debut feature kids, Clark unleashes a superbly shot movie that's not so much entertainment, as a stomach-churning life lesson. Based on the true story of a sadistic Florida teenager who was hideously murdered by the friends he victimised, the film presents a terrifying snapshot of alienated young America. Turning from powerful social commentary into an authentic horror movie as the nerve-shredding events unfold, this is an ultra-realistic portrayal of morally corrupt youth, illuminated by startling performances from the largely unknown cast. It's both tragic and painfully confrontational, but stands as an undiluted example of independent movie-making at its most vital and compulsive.

Chicago Sun

"...The movie is brilliantly and courageously well-acted by its young cast; it's one of those movies so perceptive and wounding that there's no place for the actors to hide, no cop out they can exercise..."

Rating of 1 stars out of 4 Halliwell's Film Guide

Based on a true story, this unlovely but memorable movie offers little in the way of explanation and nothing in condemnation; it is content to observe, and even admire.

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Members Reviews

Reviews Voted Most Helpful

Rated - 5 starsHow good is this film???

afcbaggy from Greater Manchester , 14/04/2005

It's brilliant. Not for everyone I must admit. It's for teenagers (older ones) in the mould of "Thirteen" but with more sex - so don't watch it with any under 15's. I found it to be so very very underated having only got it because of the title and because my 15 year old daughter is bullied at school. I have advised her not to follow the teenagers in this film though!

It is very specialised though, and I consider myself a bit of a "young at heart" dad so if that's you get it out. If not, you'll hate it. What I would call a "Marmite" film then.

  11 out of 11 people found this review helpful
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Rated - 3 starsI Blame The Parents

AnotherNightIn from Merseyside , 14/11/2004

Halfway through this film I was beginning to hate it - the tone is definitely uneven and at times the way characters summarise in dialogue events which we have already seen is like something out of Scooby Doo the cartoon - but, by the end, I decided 'Bully' was in fact pretty good - more for the way it dealt with the aftermath of events than their build up.

This film is based on a true story via a book and there are apparently lots of changes. This makes you wonder why such recent real-life events should become fodder for a film. If you're going to make that many changes why not write something original? A cynic might say it's all about riding the controversy surrounding the real events.

I still haven't worked Larry Clark out - is he some opportunistic manipulator with a questionable penchant for allowing naked youth more than it's fair share of screen time, or, is he a responsible film-maker who delves into difficult territory because he feels he can make some kind of difference?

I'm no prude, but I am suspicsious Larry crams his stories with nudity because he's looking for an easy lay with an audience.

  10 out of 10 people found this review helpful
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Rated - 5 starsExcellent...

Matthew Ford from Hatfield, Herts. , 10/02/2006

Superbly acted, gratuitous sex scenes, drug taking, bad language....overall excellent. I wish that my teenage years were as exciting as these, I can't help feeling that the way the kids were behaving was slightly exaggarated, however everyone is different and I'm sure there are people out there who have grown up like this. I have also seen Kids (another excellent film directed by Larry Clark), this film also stars Leo Fitzpatrick (the lead character) and I was pleasantly surprised to see how he has matured in to a very talented actor playing The Hitman. In the end I couldn't help feel sorry for the kids being locked away for life. We all know Murder is wrong, but when people have suffered such torture and mental abuse for most of their lives you sometimes wonder whether revenge is not wrong after all. 5 *****

  9 out of 9 people found this review helpful
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Rated - 4 starsBully for you!

Clamps! from Bristol, UK , 18/05/2004

Its hard to adequately describe this film without making it sound rubbish, with virtually no plot and 'naturalistic' acting. However it has a certain kind of hynoptic power.

In a way its comparable to requiem for a dream, in that it draws you into the protaganists world and keeps your attention even though you know exactly how its going to end.

Worth renting if you want to watch something a bit different, but you can't help but wander what Larry Clark could do with a decent script and cast.

  6 out of 9 people found this review helpful
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Most Recent Reviews

Rated - 3 stars

Stevo#4 from EDINBURGH , 26/07/2004

Based on a true store, although some parts are fictional, which makes this movie compelling since it's about a group of teenagers in small town USA who naively decide to kill of their 'friends'.

The suspense really mounts up in this film as you are not sure if they will go ahead with it or not, and if they do how. It is also quite graphic and sexually explicit which some viewers may find disturbing. Overall the film is well made and quite realistic.

  1 out of 1 person found this review helpful
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Rated - 3 starsBetter than i expected

Joao Correia from London , 02/08/2004

Indeed a very good movie.

Caught me off gaurd,because only at the end of the film did i realise it was based on true events.Michael Pitt kept me engaged with his doped out character.

I would recommended it,but don't expected anything ground breaking.

Like,i said,a very good film.

  3 out of 4 people found this review helpful
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