PUSHER (1996)

Directed By: Nicolas Winding Refn 
Written by: Jens Dahl & Nicolas Winding Refn 
Cinematography By: Morten Soberg 
Editor: Anne Osterud 


Cast: Kim Bodnia, Zlatko Buric, Laura Drasbaek, Slavko Labovic, Mads Mikkelsen, Peter Andersson 


Frank is a drug pusher on the roll until he makes a huge deal with dope that he hasn't paid for and he gets busted by the police. He manages to dump the dope in a nearby lake but he owes his supplier a lot of money (not a nice guy to owe money to). Now we follow Frank in his quest to raise money in the underworld of Copenhagen.
This film has some artistic flourishes that are impressive, but I came away from the film mildly disappointed.

The hand held camerawork is fun, that makes you feel like you are in the room with the characters and are a witness or accomplice to all of this while not being directly involved. Though because if this same camerawork as the pressure keeps gripping tighter and tighter on the protagonist. As all of his attempts to get out of trouble fall apart. We feel the despair and continuing hopelessness and doom.

The story is about a drug dealer who sets up a big deal and gets the product from a local gangster who he is close with and promises his money by that afternoon. Unfortunately he is busted by the cops and in his escape from them destroys the shipment/evidence with no evidence the cops have to release him. The only problem is the gangster doesn’t believe him so with no drugs the monster wants the money plus interest. Which keeps increasing because of how pissed off he makes the gangster and the rest of the film shows his increasing failed attempts to get the money from friends, clients and family.

This is the first film of director Nicolas Winding Refn. The film has a frentic energy that never seems to stop or slow down. It has a speed and pace though it also has a grandiosity for such a small film. As the film goes along there are artistic flourishes that whole indulgent set itself apart. Even as it is a pretty basic crime story only set in the European party scene that the film seems to try and replicate the experience of.

This film really has no character to really like which is part of it’s charm. We only sympathize with Frank because of his unfair circumstances plus he’s in almost every scene.

The characters are not that smart. Either they keep making bad decisions which only get them in more trouble, but they all think they are smarter then what they are. They also all think they are dangerous until they are introduced to someone more dangerous than they are.

The film doesn’t glamorize their criminal lifestyle either like other films. This shows the mundane life of the drug dealer. Where most of his days are waiting around for deals and hanging with his best friend who is an addict and telling there best and worst sex stories.

While he has a crush on a prostitute whose apartment he uses to stash his stuff. She considers herself a high class prostitute, not a cheap whore.

A favorite character out of the whole film is the enforcer for the mobster. He is ruthless and thorough at his job, but desperately wants to retire and open a resteraunt he tells is this information in the same sentences talking about popping peoples kneecaps off.

Since the film came out in 1996 and involves the criminal underworld (in sweden) people will of course automatically thinks it’s another Quentin Tarantino PULP FICTION knock off but it isn’t the characters here are believable and there isn’t as much quirk and witty repartee.

The film ends ambiguous even though it spawned two sequels that explored other characters within this tales solo stories. You still aren’t sure what exactly happens to frank.

One of the films innovations is introducing the characters to the audience during it’s beginning credits.

I can’t stand next to it’s cult reputation, but it is a interesting rental that to me is more style than substance that keeps it interesting. You can tell there is talent and style within the director and his writing. If he could just focus a bit more you know that he can (will) do something spectacular and he did. Though to be fair this film was made when he was only in his early twenties.

GRADE: C