Bully (2001)

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

Director:

Larry Clark

Writers:

Jim Schutze (book), David McKenna (screenplay),

Stars:

Brad Renfro, Bijou Phillips, Rachel Miner

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
Nathalie Paulding	...	Claudia
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

Storyline

After finding himself at the constant abuse of his best friend, Bobby, Marty has become fed up with his friend's twisted ways. His girlfriend, a victim of Bobby's often cruel ways, couldn't agree more and they strategize murdering Bobby, with a group of willing and unwilling participants in a small Florida town. In the midst of their plotting, they find themselves contemplating with the possible aftermath of what could happen.

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Plot Keywords:

friend | bully | best friend | teenager | abuse | 

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Taglines:

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

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

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

Details

Country:

USA France

Language:

English

Release Date:

12 December 2001 (France)

Also Known As:

Bully - Diese Kids schockten Amerika

Filming Locations:

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

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

$47,502 (USA) (13 July 2001)

Gross:

$510,092 (USA) (24 August 2001)

Company Credits

Production Co:

StudioCanal, Lions Gate Films, Muse Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

115 min 109 min (R-rated) 115 min (unrated)

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

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

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Goofs

As Lisa and Marty smoke marijuana, the ash in Lisa's hair disappears and reappears between shots.

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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.

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Crazy Credits

While this Picture is based upon the book "Bully: A True Story of High School Revenge" written by Jim Schutze, some of the characters and persons have been composited, invented and recreated and a number of incidents have been fictionalized, emphasized and exaggerated for dramatic effect.

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Connections

Featured in SexTV: Balkan Erotic Epic/American Machismo/Peek: Larry Clark (2006)

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Soundtracks

"Coastin"
Performed by Daz Dillinger (as Dillinger) & Kurupt (as Young Gotti)
Written by Daz Dillinger (as D. Arnaud), Kurupt (as R. Brown), Mike Dean (as M. Dean)
Courtesy of OCF Records
Published by D.P.G. Musiq (BMI), Sharron Hill Antra Phil, Still n tha Water

User Reviews

I had a nightmare about this film

I loved the way Kid's presented itself when it was first released, if I had it my way then that film would be shown to all the kids in high school's all over the world because the reality of what is going on in each character really hits home when watching this and I think it might make a lot of young kids think before what they do. Anyway that was my introduction to Larry Clark and the amazing Leo Fitzpatrick and when I had heard not long ago that these two got together and made another harrowing teen film called Bully I just had to watch it but apart of me wishes I didn't watch it because I scared me in a way because of how real it was. Leo Fitzpatrick is not the lead star in this one though, this one is left to Brad Renfro (Marty) and Nick Stahl (Bobby) who are two best friends who live in world where they sell phone sex for gay people and make homosexual films to sell to porn shops, just you're average teenager of course, but Bobby is a dominating friend towards Marty and Marty just breaks and decides with his vulnerable girlfriend that they should kill Bobby so he won't be a problem in their lives, from there we are taken into this dark tale of teenage revenge. There is a big build to what happens in this film and that's what makes it harrowing viewing because you just don't know what is going to happen. But by the time the film had ended I straight away bombarded the internet with information about the real happening of what actually went on.

Overall this is Larry Clark's best work to date and it opens you up to a whole new world of talented actors and a director that should be praised more about his work. This is not the sort of film that finishes and you go on with what you are doing, it will stay in your head for a while and will leave wanting more in way because you really feel that you want the film to go on a bit longer to know more about these fascinating characters.