Bleeder (1999)

User Rating:

6.3/10   

Director:

Nicolas Winding Refn

Writer:

Nicolas Winding Refn (writer)

Release Date:

6 August 1999 (Denmark)

Genre:

Drama | Horror | Thriller

Plot:

Leo and Louise are a young couple living together in Copenhagen. Leo often goes out with his friends while Louise usually stays home...

Plot Keywords:

Violence | Friend | Racist | Brother In Law Brother In Law Relationship | Small Talk

Awards:

2 wins & 11 nominations

Cast

Kim Bodnia	...	Leo
Mads Mikkelsen	...	Lenny
Zlatko Buric	...	Kitjo
Liv Corfixen	...	Lea
Levino Jensen	...	Louis
Rikke Louise Andersson	...	Louise
Claus Flygare	...	Joe
Ole Abildgaard	...	Video shop customer
Gordana Radosavljevic	...	Mika
Marko Zecewic	...	Marko
Dusan Zecewic	...	Dusan
John Barimani	...	Kiosk owner
Ramadan Huseini	...	Friend in kiosk
Karsten Schrøder	...	Røde
Sven Erik Eskeland Larsen	...	Svend

Runtime:

98 min

Country:

Denmark

Language:

Danish

Color:

Black and White | Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Germany:18 | New Zealand:R18 | Denmark:15 | Norway:15 | Sweden:15 | UK:18 | Australia:MA | Iceland:16

Filming Locations:

Copenhagen, Denmark

Company:

Kamikaze

Trivia:

Kitjo (Zlatko Buric) wanting three Tuborg beers, before watching a movie with the guys, is a reference to his role in a Tuborg commercial campaign playing a foreign kiosk owner, also directed by Nicolas Winding Refn. Especially noted for his accent pronouncing Tuborg with a hard g (Which is not correct in Danish).

Goofs:

Continuity: In the beginning, the TV set changes between a movie and a test image between shots.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Tusind former for frygt (2003) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Stone Cold Dead

Good, but not great...

Expectations were high following Refn´s knockout debut "Pusher". The gritty realism of that movie is in part recreated in "Bleeder", but instead of just treading water and doing a Pusher remake, this is much more stylish in its theme and cinematography (e.g. the main characters´ names all start with L; Leo, Lenny, Lea etc. - almost every image seems meticulously composed and lit). The soundtrack seems to be more carefully chosen, supporting the emotions of the characters, seen in the great opening sequence. What ultimately makes Bleeder a minor film compared to Pusher, despite brilliant performances and a downbeat, even oppressive atmosphere, is a fatal lack of the kinetic energy of Pusher, which makes Bleeder a bit dull in spots. The scenes in the video store remind you of Clerks, but are not as funny, and a true movie fan would never mistake blaxploitation star Fred Williamson for Fred Williams (as mentioned in a scene between Bodnia and Mikkelsen), especially considering the hilarious scene in which Mikkelsen incredibly lists the video store´s selection of 50+ schlock directors. I admit that Bleeder has a way of staying with you afterwards, but I had expected a bit more from Refn. Rumours of star Bodnia being committed to a mental institution following the final days of shooting were false and exaggerated by the tabloid press.