BULLY - TV Film Review 2/10/06

I actually recorded this onto my hard-drive to watch later under the rather "embarrassing" mistake of thinking it was another film entirely that I had wanted to get around to seeing. I had thought I was going to be watching "Mean Creek" and ending up seeing "Bully" instead - But both had similar storylines so that was the confusion? Strangely enough "Bully" turned out to be rather compelling as it was "based on a true story" but more than likely came from the actual book of the story as the warnings at the end of the film mention that it isn't a direct take on real-life events and that is a bit confusing? Larry Clark who directed this has a slew of graphic films under his belt and Leo Fitzpatrick (From Clark's "Kids") crops up as a character called The Hitman with able support from Nick Stahl and Brad Renfro. Rolling along with a massive gay subtext a mile-long through the proceedings we get a local bully and his "friends" who eventually decide to do away with the erstwhile companion.
Swathes of drugs and sex carry these losers along on a momentum of teenage angst until it all steps over the line and then a vicious stabbing and then they all lose the plot. Later the recriminations start over who did what and why and nobody wants to take any responsibility for their actions. When the actual thing ends up in court the sentences get handed out and it's all no longer a game after murder. Screwed up kids screwing up their lives in the worst possible way.
It also amazes me how we can get muff and tit scenes but no cock action? Was this just a case of female exploitation bearing in mind that this film was unrated in the USA? I think an audience will have to make it's own mind up about the sometimes horrific aspects of this controversial film? The Region 1 (USA) DVD is Unrated and the Region 2 (UK) version is Rated an 18 certificate.