Bullhead (2011) Rundskop (original title)

Director:

Michaël R. Roskam

Writer:

Michaël R. Roskam (scenario)

Release Date:

17 February 2012 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Drama

Plot:

A young cattle farmer is approached by a veterinarian to make a deal with a notorious beef trader.

Plot Keywords:

Hormones | Closeted Gay Man | Hormonal Injection | Violence | Hormone

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 6 wins & 7 nominations

Cast

Matthias Schoenaerts	...	Jacky Vanmarsenille
Jeroen Perceval	...	Diederik Maes
Jeanne Dandoy	...	Lucia Schepers
Barbara Sarafian	...	Eva Forrestier
Tibo Vandenborre	...	Antony De Greef
Frank Lammers	...	Sam Raymond (as Frank Lamers)
Sam Louwyck	...	Marc DeKuyper
Robin Valvekens	...	Jonge Jacky Vanmarsenille
Baudoin Wolwertz	...	Jonge Diederik Maes
David Murgia	...	Jonge Bruno Schepers
Erico Salamone	...	Christian Filippini
Philippe Grand'Henry	...	David Filippini
Kris Cuppens	...	Jean Vanmarsenille
Sofie Sente	...	Irene Vanmarsenille
Kristof Renson	...	Stieve Vanmarsenille
Hein van der Heijden	...	Renaat Maes
Stefaan Degand	...	Leon
Mike Reus	...	Charles Richter
Ludmilla Klejnak	...	Daphne
Bill Barberis	...	Surveillance Agent
Anneleen Aerts	...	Surveillance Agent
Jean-Marie LeSuisse	...	Eddy Vanmarsenille
Jeanne Remy	...	Jonge Lucia Schepers
Juda Goslinga	...	Bruno Schepers
Gael Maleux	...	Vincent
Baloji	...	Patrick
Renaud Rutten	...	Louis Schepers
Jurgen Rogiers	...	Daems
Steven Sheeren	...	BOB-inspecteur
Marie-Rose Roland	...	Moeder Schepers
Jolente De Keersmaeker	...	Rechercheur
Circé Lethem	...	Rechercheur
Steve Aernouts	...	Specialist
Uwamungu Cornelis	...	Assistent Specialist
Steph Baeyens	...	Commissaris
Armand Naessens	...	Jonge Stieve Vanmarsenille
Oliver Boni	...	Dealer
Jos Geens	...	Landbouwer
Erna Vandendriessche	...	Thérèse
Urbain Ilsbroex	...	Dokter
Abdel Bellabiad	...	Agenten
Anabel Lopez	...	Agenten
Isolde Rossilion	...	Babbie
Cindy Gijsels	...	Gastvrouw
Mirco Gijsens	...	Vriend Bruno
Pieter-Jan Coenen	...	Vriend Bruno
Timothy Vanelderen	...	Vriend Bruno
Florian Vigilante	...	Vriend Bruno
Eric Remi	...	Vriend Bruno
Bert Van Nieuwenhuyse	...	Chauffeur Vrachtwage
Julie Colpaert	...	Nieuwsreporter
Birgit Van Mol	...	Nieuwsanker
Anke Vercauteren	...	Nichtje in Bar
Joelle-Chloe Edelman	...	Vriendin in Bar
Nathalie Borcard	...	Prostituee 1
Sabrina Coppola	...	Prostituee 2
Els Houbon	...	Prostituee 3
Sarah Grunenwald	...	Prostituee 4
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Olivier Bisback	...	Cop in Elevator (uncredited)
Olivier Bony	...	Dealer (uncredited)
Sandro Mastronardi	...	Lief van nichtje (uncredited)

Directed by
Michaël R. Roskam

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Michaël R. Roskam		scenario

Produced by
Carlos Bedran	....	associate producer: Artémis Productions
Wilant Boekelman	....	co-producer: Waterland Film
Peter Bouckaert	....	co-producer
Alexander Djeranian	....	associate producer: Waterland Film
Claude Fontaine	....	associate producer: Artémis Productions
Koji Nelissen	....	co-producer: Waterland Film
Patrick Quinet	....	co-producer: Artémis Productions
Stephane Quinet	....	line producer: Artémis Productions
Sibylle Seys Smets	....	associate producer: Artémis Productions
Jan van der Zanden	....	co-producer: Waterland Film
Bart Van Langendonck	....	producer
Sylvie Van Ruymbeke	....	assistant producer: Artémis Productions
Saskia Verboven	....	line producer

Original Music by
Raf Keunen

Cinematography by
Nicolas Karakatsanis

Film Editing by
Alain Dessauvage

Casting by
Meikeminne Clinckspoor
Sara de Vries
Bernard Falaise
Benoit Luporsi

Production Design by
Walter Brugmans

Costume Design by
Margriet Procee

Makeup Department
Frank DeClero	....	assistant hair stylist
Frank DeClero	....	assistant makeup artist
Erik Hillenbrink	....	prosthetic supplier
Mariël Hoevenaars	....	hair stylist (as Mariel Hoevenaars)
Mariël Hoevenaars	....	makeup artist (as Mariel Hoevenaars)
Elke Nolmans	....	assistant hair stylist
Elke Nolmans	....	assistant makeup artist
Cindi Van Looveren	....	assistant hair stylist
Cindi Van Looveren	....	assistant makeup artist

Production Management
Julien Melebeck	....	post-production supervisor
Lies Staes	....	assistant production manager
Saskia Verboven	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Els Casier	....	second assistant director
Eva Cools	....	third assistant director
Jozefien Scheepers	....	crowd second assistant director
Sofie Tusschans	....	first assistant director

Art Department
Ine Cams	....	set dresser
Maarten Loenders	....	construction
Ruben Swinnen	....	construction

Sound Department
Thomas Berliner	....	extra boom operator
Benoît Biral	....	supervising sound re-recording mixer
Lieven Callens	....	dialogue editor
Quentin Collette	....	sound designer
Benoit De Clerck	....	sound recordist
Yves de Mey	....	extra sound designer
Philippe Fontaine	....	boom operator trainee
Jules Fradet	....	first assistant engineer
David Gillain	....	foley recordist
Emerson Lescot	....	boom operator
Fabien Pochet	....	sound re-recording mixer
Yanna Soentjens	....	extra boom operator
Olivier Thys	....	foley artist
Thibaut Vandermeerch	....	sound recordist
Christine Verschorren	....	sound mixer

Special Effects by
Olivier Delaveleye	....	special effects
Pierre Wuidart	....	special effects (as Pierre Widant)

Visual Effects by
An-Marie Breem	....	computer graphics
Arnout Deurinck	....	dustbuster
Stefan Rycken	....	visual effects

Stunts
Olivier Bisback	....	stunts
Freddy Lardot	....	stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
Manu Alberts	....	steadicam operator
Thomas Caselli	....	focus puller (as Thomas Casselli)
Laurens De Grande	....	additional electrician
Dominique Degand	....	grip
Pieter Gaelens	....	grip
Tim Janssens	....	gaffer
Kurt Reybrouck	....	key grip (as Kurt Reybroeck)
Jan Rubens	....	steadicam operator
Lynn Van Oijstaeijen	....	camera: second unit
Dieuwert Vandekerkhove	....	clapper loader (as Dieuwert Vandekerckhove)

Animation Department
Amira Daoudi	....	layout artist

Casting Department
Bernard Garant	....	extras casting: Wallonie
Jorijn Logghe	....	casting: Staigiar

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Charlotte Goethals	....	extra costumer
Marloes Liebrand	....	costume trainee
Jutta Smeyers	....	costumer

Editorial Department
Arnout Deurinck	....	data conformist
Tom Mulder	....	scanner
Olivier Ogneux	....	color grader
Stefan Rycken	....	digital intermediate supervisor
Hervé Vander Heyden	....	telecine dailies colorist
Thomas Vanthuyne	....	assistant editor

Other crew
Sara Bogaert	....	location hunter
Christophe De Backer	....	night guard
Olivier Delaveleye	....	armorer
Mark Heijen	....	location manager
Anneleen Masschelein	....	script consultant
Phil Rutter	....	script consultant
Elleke Swaans	....	communication
Colette Thomé	....	caterer
Bernard Vander Donckt	....	accountant
Soetkin Vansumere	....	script supervisor (as Soetkin Vansummere)
Pierre Wuidart	....	armorer (as Pierre Widant)

Thanks
Søren Juul Petersen	....	special thanks

Production Companies

• Savage Film
• Eyeworks Film & TV Drama
• Waterland Film & TV

Distributors

• Celluloid Dreams (2011) (worldwide) (all media)
• Kinepolis Film Distribution (KFD) (2011) (Belgium) (theatrical)
• Ad Vitam Distribution (2012) (France) (theatrical)
• Drafthouse Films (2012) (USA) (theatrical) (subtitled)
• Earth Star Entertainment (2012) (Japan) (theatrical)
• Just Film Distribution (2011) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Mozinet (2012) (Hungary) (theatrical)
• Film1 (2012) (Netherlands) (TV) (limited)
• Just Bridge Entertainment (2011) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Just Bridge Entertainment (2011) (Netherlands) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Njutafilms (2012) (Sweden) (all media)

Special Effects

• Rob's Prop Shop (prosthetics)

Other Companies

• ACE Image Factory  post-production and digital intermediate
• Amelia Nomad Food  catering
• Dada Studios  music recorded and mixed
• Kemna Casting  casting: Nederland
• Sonicville  audio post-production services

Also Known As:

"Rundskop" - Belgium (original title)

MPAA:

Rated R for some strong violence, language and sexual content

Runtime:

129 min

Country:

Belgium | Netherlands

Language:

Dutch | French

Color:

Color (35 mm version) | Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Netherlands:16 | USA:R | France:12 | Germany:16 | Singapore:R21 | Singapore:M18 (edited version) | UK:15 | Ireland:15A

Company:

Savage Film

Trivia:

According to Michael Roskam, his inspiration for the film was based on a crime scene in Belgium known as the Belgium Hormone Mafia.

Movie Connections:

Featured in "De wereld draait door: Episode #7.87" (2012)

Intense and powerful

Bullhead is the story of Jacky Vanmarsenille (Matthias Schoenaerts) a cattle farmer. He along with his business partners inject their cows with steroids and hormones to achieve the results they desire. The problem is the only thing Jacky injects more than his cows is himself as he's got some sort of chemical compound coursing through his veins at all times. Things begin to go south when Jacky makes a deal to distribute his cows to a well-known yet crooked meat trader. A federal agent is killed amongst their negotiations as Jacky is dragged into the investigation and his disturbing past comes bubbling to the surface.

Matthias Schoenaerts' performance is the first thing that will win you over. The reason why he shoots up so frequently along with what he injects himself with has this really breathtaking explanation. Schoenaerts has a short fuse the entire film and you never know when he's going to explode. That's the beauty of his performance. He's so dangerous yet you can't help but feel sympathy for the guy. Schoenaerts is a ferocious powerhouse that chews you up and spits you out like the most devastating hurricane imaginable.

Bullhead features some incredibly impressive cinematography. Belgium has never looked so beautiful. Those shots of the sky and the clouds that populate every inch of it and those lush moments of taking in the countryside speak volumes. Something as simple as grass blowing in the wind is made to look like this grand accomplishment thanks to how the film was shot. It was interesting to see characters that were out of frame become out of focus and or blurred in some way; whether they were approaching somebody in frame or walking away. It was a masterful touch.

The Belgian drama has a unique sense of perspective, as well. The dizzying staircase sequence near the end of the film is the best example. It kind of goes hand in hand with the cinematography though; a brilliant looking film is even better with distinguishing shots. Speaking of unique, the entire film is one of the more original experiences to grace the silver screen in quite some time. Bullhead does draw comparisons to films like Drive and even Bronson, but the mafia and mobster kind of storyline is presented in this rough, grainy, meaty, and intense package that hasn't been done before. Bronson is actually a really great comparison. Matthias Schoenaerts put on 59 pounds of muscle for Bullhead and Tom Hardy put on 42 pounds of muscle for Bronson. While the two films are almost nothing alike when it comes to their story lines, they're extremely similar at their core.

Bullhead is an extremely intense piece of cinema that includes a fairly bloody and hard hitting elevator sequence that rivals that infamous scene from Drive. With an incredible performance from Matthias Schoenaerts, gorgeous camera work, and a huge injection of originality, Bullhead should not be missed by anyone especially those who are looking for something different when it comes to movies. This comes highly recommended for those who enjoyed Animal Kingdom, A Prophet, Drive, and/or Bronson.