Bully (2001)

A pack of naïve teenagers conspire to murder a mutual friend, whose aggressive demeanor has proved too much.

Director:

Larry Clark

Writers:

Jim Schutze (book), David McKenna (screenplay) (as Zachary Long)

Stars:

Brad Renfro, Nick Stahl, Bijou Phillips

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 Nicole	...	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

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:

male frontal nudity | pubic hair | cruelty | male nudity | friend | 

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Taglines:

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

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Genres:

Biography | Crime | Drama

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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 UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

12 December 2001 (France)

Also Known As:

Bully

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:

108 min 113 min (unrated)

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Brad Renfro was arrested during filming for attempting to steal a yacht.

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Goofs

During the scene between Derek and Ms. Connelly, the boom is reflected in the window behind them, moving back and forth.

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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 Beyond Clueless (2014)

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Soundtracks

Window: Heather's Story
Written by Zoë Poledouris (as Zoe Poledouris) and Jerome Dillon
Performed by Zoë Poledouris (as Zoe Poledouris)
Evelyn Oz Music (BMI)/Slaveneame Music (BMI)

User Reviews

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