Review of Bully (2001) by James B — 16 Oct 2010

Its initial shaky steps are mainly down to the terrible acting (Renfro and Stahl on hilarious over-acting mode,) excessive dribbling (Renfro,) shouting (Renfro again,) and crying (yep. Renfro.) Add to that Clark's camera, though capable and often beautiful, predictably letches over teenage flesh, genitals, mass-teenage-sex sessions and unintentionally hilarious dialogue.

Its only when Leo Fitzpatrick arrives that things begin to improve... clearly the best actor on screen (not considering Pitt, of course, who is great), his arrival marks the moment when everyone stops talking (and please, make them stop talking) and begins the slow, steady process of planning the murder of bully/rapist Bobby. The film builds and builds to an excellent and very violent final act - and then bizarrely takes a more mellow, mature approach in the powerful final scenes as everything slowly unravels and paranoia sets in.

Not a great film by any stretch onf the imagination - but a shocking and memorable one nonetheless. The final half hour, Michael Pit and FItzpatrick saved it for me and though my rather unpleasent feelings for Clark remain unchanged - I certainly respect him for once again, confronting me with and immersing me in his horrible, horrible world.