Bully (2001)

Director:

Larry Clark

Writers:

Jim Schutze (book)
David McKenna (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:

Best Friend | Bully | Teenager | Murder | Florida

Awards:

3 wins & 1 nomination

US TV Schedule:

Tue. Dec. 8

3:20 AM

MAX

Cast

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

Also Known As:

Bully (France)

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) | 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 movie was shot in 23 days

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 Godfather (1972)

Soundtrack:

Cetch da Monkey

So stark in it's from-a-true-story fashion it borders on personal ground

There's something about the kids in Larry Clark's films, such as this, Bully, and his 1995 classic Kids (which took place in New York and had the feel of an un-interviewed documentary), where the characters are brought so vividly to life, and their contemplations and actions in their dead-end lives, that I get reminded of the people I was around back in my grade school days (I've been out of the public school system for six months now). I remember the lay-abouts, the complainers, the overly medicated, and of course I remember the bullies, laying on abuse that sometimes they weren't even aware they were inflicting.

Nick Stahl plays Billy, bully among a circle of teenage friends in Hollywood, Florida, and his best friend from childhood is Marty, played with striking intensity by Brad Renfro, has been daily receiving torment, if not with punches and slaps, then more on the mental side. Soon, his girlfriend makes a suggestion "he should be killed", and very soon after that the circle of friends agree, and then it continues, along with a so-called hit man, a good small part for Fitzpatrick who was noteworthy in Kids.

There will be some out there who may not be able to stomach the elements - it's unrated, not a bad move, and there are as many moments of sex as in a Cinemax soft porn and as many moments of smoking dope as in a Method Man/Redman production - but that's all part of Clark's overall effect, and he pulls it off like a true craftsman and not as a overly exploitation film-maker. This circle of friends are a sad, hollow representation of the kinds of societies the youth of the nation inhabit, and the key is that it's correct, at least in such a banal suburbia. Grade: A