There are only certain films as disturbing as this one that warrant it's content with a real subject matter that explores a situation in as full depth as this particular film does. There is no film that could compare to the way Larry Clark approaches this material and the way he presents it. There are far too many films these days that almost seem to glorify the violence that it shows.
Larry Clark whose fascination with teenage culture was apparent with his debut film "Kids". Now that film was more or less just shocking without any reason for the audience to be subjected to the horrors given on screen. Now I did enjoy that film and appreciated it for what it was. But nothing in that film prepared me for this film.
"Bully" is not exactly what you would expect, most directors with this material would have focused on Bobby Kent being completely evil (which the film does) but would have made the other kids out to be heroes. The other kids in this film are true examples of what happens when true apathy sets in on the youth and they live only for the moment.
During this film Marty Puccio has a best friend Bobby Kent who has been terrorizing him for years. One day Marty and Bobby meet Ali and Lisa. From this meeting Marty and Lisa begin a relationship in which Lisa takes very seriously very fast. So she begins to think that if Bobby was out of the picture, Marty would be better and therefore she would be better since he could then focus all his time with her. From this Marty and Lisa are joined by Ali, Heather and Donny to come up with a plan to kill Bobby. This plan ends up involving Lisa's cousin and a want-to-be hit-man.
The conversation about killing Bobby is perhaps the best written scene of the movie. This type dialogue is extremely difficult to write. To make it seem real, since in other movies it's easy to tell the actors are just reading the lines.
The acting in this film by this fine young cast is beyond perfect, it seems as if they were made for there roles. For some reason Kelli Garner the actress who portrays Heather Swallers always stands out to me especially when the scene involving the back history of her family comes up.
This is perhaps one of greatest examples of what people are capable of together that apart none of them would even consider. The mob mentality can be a dangerous thing.
In 2001 when this film was released I was 14 and did not even know this film existed at the time. Remembering some of films that I watched at that time that were major blockbusters at the time and looking back this film would have been much better to watch. Some so called PG-13 family friendly films are almost more damaging to teenagers then something that truly shows human emotions and what violence against others is really like. Where some films show murder as entertainment, this film shows it for what it truly is; ugly, messy, and damages far more people then people like the kids in this film think. I would recommend this film to any thoughtful teenage or adult. However one disclaimer would be to be prepared for a real film.
Larry Clark whose fascination with teenage culture was apparent with his debut film "Kids". Now that film was more or less just shocking without any reason for the audience to be subjected to the horrors given on screen. Now I did enjoy that film and appreciated it for what it was. But nothing in that film prepared me for this film.
"Bully" is not exactly what you would expect, most directors with this material would have focused on Bobby Kent being completely evil (which the film does) but would have made the other kids out to be heroes. The other kids in this film are true examples of what happens when true apathy sets in on the youth and they live only for the moment.
During this film Marty Puccio has a best friend Bobby Kent who has been terrorizing him for years. One day Marty and Bobby meet Ali and Lisa. From this meeting Marty and Lisa begin a relationship in which Lisa takes very seriously very fast. So she begins to think that if Bobby was out of the picture, Marty would be better and therefore she would be better since he could then focus all his time with her. From this Marty and Lisa are joined by Ali, Heather and Donny to come up with a plan to kill Bobby. This plan ends up involving Lisa's cousin and a want-to-be hit-man.
The conversation about killing Bobby is perhaps the best written scene of the movie. This type dialogue is extremely difficult to write. To make it seem real, since in other movies it's easy to tell the actors are just reading the lines.
The acting in this film by this fine young cast is beyond perfect, it seems as if they were made for there roles. For some reason Kelli Garner the actress who portrays Heather Swallers always stands out to me especially when the scene involving the back history of her family comes up.
This is perhaps one of greatest examples of what people are capable of together that apart none of them would even consider. The mob mentality can be a dangerous thing.
In 2001 when this film was released I was 14 and did not even know this film existed at the time. Remembering some of films that I watched at that time that were major blockbusters at the time and looking back this film would have been much better to watch. Some so called PG-13 family friendly films are almost more damaging to teenagers then something that truly shows human emotions and what violence against others is really like. Where some films show murder as entertainment, this film shows it for what it truly is; ugly, messy, and damages far more people then people like the kids in this film think. I would recommend this film to any thoughtful teenage or adult. However one disclaimer would be to be prepared for a real film.