Danish writer/director Nicolas Winding Refn made his first movie in his mid-20s, with nearly no experience, other than his fascination with film. Based on a producer’s interest in a 5-minute video he made and starred in, which was shown on television, he was given about one million dollars to make Pusher (1996, 109 minutes) into a feature film. The story follows a small-time Danish gangster through a pivotal week in his tumultuous life. Pusher is dark, brooding and shot in a deliberately documentary style, that’s both frenetic and fluid. The European success of the film spawned his second feature Bleeder (1999). Nicolas is now working on his first English-language film.
The movie: Frank (Kim Bodnia who was in the original Nightwatch and also stars in Bleeder) is either a woefully inept drug pusher, or is having the worst seven days of his career. He and his tattooed buddy Tonny attempt to make a simple heroin sale, but the buyer is short on cash, leaving Frank in the lurch. What’s worse Frank owes $50,000 to his supplier and "friend" Milo, which he doesn’t have. Miraculously, a potentially huge deal lands in Frank’s lap, one that’d pay his debt and fill his pockets. Only it’s a bust, and he winds up fleeing by foot, ditching the drugs and landing in jail. Once out, Milo wants his money AND the $120,000 worth of dope Frank tossed in the river. Things keep getting worse as Frank tries to shake down his clients for money he’s owed, but it seems next to impossible to avoid losing his kneecaps. Kim Bodnia’s performance as Frank is deeply intense and real, yet somehow we’re led to care what happens to the schmuck. Also intriguing is Zlatko Buric as Milo the Balkan drug lord, who exudes a subdued malevolence that’s fascinating to watch. He seems harmless, even charming — but when the check is due, he WILL be paid. Friend or not.
Notables: No breasts. One shotgun suicide. Stuffed-gorilla abuse. Foot chase. Baseball-bat beating. Electric shock to the nipples. Cyclist boxing.
Quotables: Frank claims, "Watching videos makes you dumb." While his "entertainer" girlfriend is in serious denial, "I could be whatever I want, I just don’t feel like it."
Time codes: Tonny and Frank get into some raunchy sex stories (8:20). Tonny demonstrates his deadly circle kick (32:55). A human skull conversation piece (1:07:05).
Final thought: Come on, subtitles never KILLED anyone. Excellent flick that’s smartly acted and told.