Bully (2001)

Director:

Larry Clark

Writers:

Jim Schutze (book)
David McKenna (screenplay) &
Roger Pullis (screenplay)

Release Date:

28 September 2001 (Finland)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Thriller

Tagline:

It's 4 a.m... do you know where your kids are?

Plot:

Based on a true story. Naive teenagers plot to murder one of their own, who has been too much of a bully to them.

Plot Keywords:

Friend | Abuse | Florida | Best Friend | Based On A True Story

Awards:

3 wins & 1 nomination

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Brad Renfro	...	Marty Puccio
Bijou Phillips	...	Ali Willis
Rachel Miner	...	Lisa Connelly
Nick Stahl	...	Bobby Kent
Michael Pitt	...	Donny Semenec
Leo Fitzpatrick	...	The Hitman
Kelli Garner	...	Heather Swallers
Daniel Franzese	...	Cousin Derek
Navah Paulding	...	Claudia (as Nathalie Paulding)
Jessica Sutta	...	Blonde
Ed Amatrudo	...	Mr. Kent (as Edward Amatrudo)
Steve Raulerson	...	Mr. Willis (as Steven Raulerson)
Judy Clayton	...	Mrs. Willis (as Judith Clayton)
Alan Lilly	...	Mr. Puccio
Irene B. Colletti	...	Mrs. Puccio

Also Known As:

MPAA:

Rated R for strong violence, sexual content, drug use and language - all involving teens.

Runtime:

113 min | USA:109 min (R-rated version) | USA:113 min (unrated version)

Country:

USA | France

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Mexico:C | USA:NC-17 (original rating) | Italy:VM18 | USA:TV-MA | Argentina:18 | Australia:R | Canada:R | Chile:14 | Finland:K-18 | France:-16 | Germany:16 | Japan:R-18 | New Zealand:R18 | Norway:18 | Portugal:M/18 | Sweden:15 | Switzerland:16 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:16 (canton of Vaud) | UK:18 | USA:R (rated video release) | USA:Unrated (theatrical release/unrated video release)

Filming Locations:

City Hall - 200 N. Spring Street, Downtown, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Studio Canal

Trivia:

The word "fuck" and its derivatives are said 274 times throughout the film.

Goofs:

Incorrectly regarded as goofs: Ali's Ford Mustang in the movie was never offered with a 5.0 V8 engine in that model. The 5.0 V8 engine was offered in the Ford Mustang model from when the movie's *original* events took place.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Marty:[on the phone with a customer] I want you to suck my big dick.
Mrs. Puccio:[from downstairs] Marty honey, dinner!
Marty:[into the phone] I want you to lick my balls.

Movie Connections:

References The Big Lebowski (1998)

Soundtrack:

By This Axe We Rule

What If Your Kids Turned Out Like This?

Controversial director Larry Clark's based on real-life events "Bully" is sometimes quite hard to watch, but you can't quite stop yourself from watching the misadventures of these messed up children either. This film feels so real, so nitty-gritty, that at times, you may feel like an intruder, watching someone else's life. These children are so far removed from being children, it is hard to think that they actually are just children. After all, the concept of a group of kids killing their so-called friend, well, its hardly child's play now is it? The cast are great. Brad Renfro is top-notch in all his performances, here is no exception. Bijou Phillips is great, Rachel Miner is cunning, Kelli Garner is a lot of fun, Michael Pitt is slightly annoying, but entertaining nonetheless. Nick Stahl is intense, to say the least.

Of course it would be hard to say you condone the actions of these "kids", after all, they murdered. But it makes for gripping drama. The film also reveals the sentencing which the kids received for their parts in the murder, some of which was very surprising. A great film, but you need to be in the mood for a hard-watch.