Bully (film)
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| Bully | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster |
|
| Directed by | Larry Clark |
| Produced by | Don Murphy |
| Written by | Jim Schutze (book) Zachary Long Roger Pullis |
| Starring | Brad Renfro Rachel Miner Bijou Phillips Nick Stahl Michael Pitt Leo Fitzpatrick Kelli Garner |
| Editing by | Andrew Hafitz |
| Distributed by | Lions Gate Films |
| Release date(s) | July 13, 2001 |
| Running time | Theatrical cut 109 min. Unrated cut 113 min. |
| Country |  |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $21 million |
| Gross revenue | $510,092,089 |
| Allmovie profile | |
| IMDb profile | |
Bully is a 2001 movie, based on actual events, starring Brad Renfro, Rachel Miner, Bijou Phillips, Nick Stahl, and Michael Pitt. The screenplay was written by David McKenna (under the pseudonym Zachary Long) and Roger Pullis, who adapted the book Bully: A True Story of High School Revenge (ISBN 0-380-72333-6) by Jim Schutze. The story concerns the plot to murder the title character, in revenge for his continual abuse and psychological torture of others. The film was directed by Larry Clark, whose other credits include Kids and Ken Park.
Contents |
[edit] Plot
Ali Willis (Bijou Phillips) and Lisa Connelly (Rachel Miner) visit Bobby Kent (Nick Stahl) and Marty Puccio (Brad Renfro) at the sandwich shop where they work. The abusive Bobby slams Marty's head against a refrigerator in full view of the girls. Marty, Bobby, Ali, and Lisa go out on a double date with Bobby, eventually having sex. Lisa and Marty form a relationship, and Lisa confesses that she "loves him and would do anything for him". Lisa takes a pregnancy test and learns she is pregnant, most likely with Marty's child, although prior to this, she was raped by Bobby after he assaulted her with a belt and punched Marty into submission. As the movie progresses Bobby's sadistic personality gets worse and worse, culminating in a graphic scene in which he rapes Ali while watching gay pornography. As his sadistic behavior continues, an angered Lisa in defense of Marty, who is the victim of much of Bobby's torment, plans to murder him. After much drug use and a failed attempt at murder, a supposed hitman (Leo Fitzpatrick) is hired, but as the story progresses it becomes comically apparent that the "hitman" is just a tough-talking adolescent. Initially, much of the group dismisses the plan as a lark, but eventually, they all come to the realization that they will go through with it, particularly when they lure Bobby out to a nearby swamp where he is attacked with knives. While Donny (Michael Pitt) is the first to stab Bobby, Marty commits the bulk of the assault. Pleading for his life, a shocked Bobby stares at Marty as he slits his throat in cold blood. The hitman finishes Bobby off by beating him with a baseball bat. The group tosses Bobby's body into the water. Soon after they drive to a beach to formulate their alibis, but their commitment eventually unravels, leading to a police arrest several days later. At the end of the film subtitles show the prison sentences each of the teenagers received. Three were given life sentences, and Marty Puccio was put on death row (later overturned to a life sentence).
[edit] Inspiration
The movie is based on the 1993 murder of Bobby Kent in Cooper City, a suburb west of Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Marty Puccio (Renfro), Alice Willis (Phillips), Lisa Connelly (Miner), and others are the real life counterparts of the characters in the film. Many of the teenagers depicted in the book and film were released after several years. Only three are still serving prison sentences. The book Bully: A True Story of High School Revenge was released in 1998.
The actual co-perpetrators of the murder were convicted and sentenced as follows:
- Heather Swallers: Second-degree murder and Conspiracy (Seven years imprisonment)
- Derek Dzvirko: Second-degree murder and Conspiracy (Eleven years imprisonment)
- Alice Willis: Second-degree murder and Conspiracy (Forty years imprisonment. Reversed on appeal to seventeen years in prison. Released on parole in 2001. Currently under community supervision for forty years)
- Donald Semenec: Second-degree murder and Conspiracy (Life and fifteen years imprisonment)
- Derek Kaufman: First-degree murder and conspiracy (Sentenced to Life and thirty years imprisonment)
- Lisa Connelly: Second-degree murder and conspiracy (Life and five years imprisonment. Reversed on appeal and reduced to twenty two years. Released on parole in 2004).
[edit] Cast
| Actor | Role | Real-life counterpart |
|---|---|---|
| Brad Renfro | Marty Puccio | Martin Joseph "Marty" Puccio, Jr. |
| Rachel Miner | Lisa Connelly | Lisa Marie Connelly |
| Bijou Phillips | Ali Willis | Alice Jean "Ali" Slay |
| Nick Stahl | Bobby Kent | Robert "Bobby" Kent |
| Michael Pitt | Donny Semenec | Donald Roth "Donny" Semenec, Jr. |
| Leo Fitzpatrick | Derek Kaufman (The Hitman) | Derek Leon Kaufman |
| Kelli Garner | Heather Swallers | Heather June Swallers |
| Daniel Franzese | Derek Dzvirko | Derek George Dzvirko |
| Nathalie Paulding | Claudia | |
| Jessica Sutta | Blonde | |
| Ed Amatrudo | Fred Kent | |
| Steve Raulerson | Mr. Willis | |
| Judy Clayton | Mrs. Willis | |
| Alan Lilly | Mr. Puccio | |
| Irene B. Colletti | Mrs. Puccio | |
| Larry Clark | Mr. Kaufman |
[edit] Notes
- ^ James Berardinelli 2001 A review of Bully
[edit] External links
- Bully at the Internet Movie Database
- Bully at Allmovie
- Larry Clark's Official Site
- Prison records and photos of the original defendents
