Customer Reviews

Pusher Trilogy [DVD]

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

With the current wave of popularity of decent Danish drama on our TV screens, here's a trio of Danish films that started out fifteen years ago.

Imagine downtown L.A, or New York's sleaziest side streets and you're only halfway to Nicolas Winding Refn's inky black slant on dope dealers and their petty lives down Copenhagen's dark alleys.

We get to know their sweary, calloused lives as the camera sits next to them in stolen BMWs and Volvos and follows them round like a bad smell. Because this seems semi documentary, we almost get to like them but as they mess up, they mess up good.

Each film concentrates on a particular character whilst the core remains roughly the same, so there's continuity, yet freshness. The Dogme style shooting (all "natural" - not much is actual daylight, though) is one up from those grainy, shaky cams that makes one seasick. The camera darts and weaves but is fluid and restful when it needs to be, allowing us to literally stand there in the basement, nightclub, crack-den, brothel, whatever it might be.

You find yourself telling the character on screen what an idiot he's being - you don't necessarily like him but somehow you feel 'involved', almost responsible for his irresponsible life. They're never glamourised but the story always seems real, very possible, yet still, as with anyone stuffing themselves with their own product, it's unpredictable - and yes, at times, downright bloody funny.

I originally saw the first two on Film 4 years ago and so now, with this trilogy have caught up the final one, as well as refreshed myself with the others.

I was a bit surprised that Pusher 2 & 3 shared a disc whilst the original had one to itself. That second disc runs to over three hours but it's neatly menued so you can easily play one or the other. Quality doesn't seem to suffer either.

Yes, it's subtitled but following them and the often frenzied action gets the brain buzzing and you get sort of high as the films throws you about like a rag doll. A quick word of warning - those of a sensitive, or narrow-minded nature should keep well away; all three films have very angry teeth, with graphic violence, drug taking, liberal swearing and no holds barred sex and nudity, the scenes of which, by the way, due to the overall grottiness of the environments, are far from erotic.

A terrific trilogy which centres around those connected to the copenhagen underworld. Each film has characters who overlap into the others but no prior knowledge is needed to enjoy this amazing series of films. My personal favourite is the second instalment which has a really strong performance from Mads Mikkelsen who struggles to cope with his newfound responsibilities as a father. I found the first film to be the weakest as it's hard to sympathize with the lead character (Frank) who tends to use his girlfriend in any way he can. The final chapter provides the most humour (most of it very dark at times) as Milo struggles to hold on to his position as top dog in the criminal empire. Without a doubt this trilogy is one of the best things you're going to see and is far superior to any Brit-flicks which tackle the criminal underworld.

If you haven't heard of, or watched the Pusher movies then you are missing out on the delights of world cinema.

This is great filmmaking, that's not that widely known because of the commercial blockbuster nature of mainstream British cinemas.

This DVD release is the chance to appreciate a relatively over looked classic.

The three films are based around the lives of three Copenhagen pushers and the cycle of violence and despair they live in and around. Each focussing on a different main character, out of the same world.

If you liked La Haine or City of God, or the best of the Dogma movies, this trilogy will deliver. Intelligent filmaking, raw and real, without glamour or sentinmentality.

Makes 'Lock, Stock...' look like Noddy..

An excellent, extremely visceral look at the Copenhagen underworld focussing on three main characters, Frank, Tonny and Milo. A totally unflinching, almost unbearably realistic slice of the lives of three drug dealers (and drug users) that is very difficult to watch at times (too much so for at least two of my friends). If you like your films raw and gritty then this is about as extreme as it gets. If, however you are squeamish then leave this one alone - particularly Pusher 3! You will not under any circumstances finish the trilogy thinking the world to be a better place other than to thank god that you're not in that demi monde. This is a brilliantly crafted piece of extreme film making by a very gifted director and incredibly committed cast.

Buy it. All fantastic films, not a scene wasted.

Great discovery with superb acting,story dialogue , cracking script,pace, music, you name it.

I have now ordered Bleeder, only wish the director had made more films.

Also very interesting directors comments throughout , he was only 24 when he made the first one , and shot in in about six weeks.

The best films I have seen for a long time, and I love films.

Who'd have thought it; a set of gangster films set in Denmark?! Most people outside of Denmark think Lego, Danish pastries and bacon, and that's about it!

Anyway, I saw the first of the trilogy a good few years ago now, and really enjoyed it. I was surprised that there had been two new films with some of the same characters from the original movie.

The first movie is about Frank, and a drug deal that goes wrong, and, more and more, Frank finds himself in a pickle, and things go from bad to worse. We also meet Milo, a scary ganglord, and Tonny, a sort of bald-headed loser and friend of Frank, who ends up getting a battering from Frank. This is a really good movie.

The second movie is about Tonny, who is played by the excellent actor Mads Mikkelsen, in the first two films. He has got out of jail and finds he is about to be a father; he is hardly good father material. Well, things go from bad to worse for Tonny too, and he ends up in one unhappy experience after another. This is also a good movie.

The Third movie is about the ganglord Milo, who is in all three movies. This is about an aging gangster who finds that he and his territory is being encroached upon; and he doesn't like it. It also involves his daughter's marriage, and we see Milo juggling his square world with his underworld, and a drug addiction, and like a juggler he tries to manage all three; not too successfully as it stands. This is also a shocker, as you'll find out when you watch it!!! Not for the squeamish in any way!!!

So, this sheds some new light on Denmark, but these are excellent films that transcend this little-known corner of Europe, and for my money rate as some of the best gangster/underworld dramas ever made.

Caught part of the first part of this trilogy late at night on Channel 4 and it really interested me. The gritty realism is just as I like it and the exploration of the darker side of european life is refreshing as we don't often see this in English/American films. The three films seem to become more extreme as they progress, although each step up seems lgical and plausible. The acting is superb, as are the characters themselves and the relationships are complex and not stereotypical Each film draws you in and even at it's bloodiest and most uncomfortable you just have to watch.

Superb trilogy based around drug traffiking in Copenhagen suffers only from a weak final part.In Pusher we follow Frank as one bad deal sends his life into meltdown destroying his relationship with his best friend Tonny and putting him at the mercy of drug kingpin Milo.Pusher 2 follows Tonny's story whose attempts at rehabilitation are thwarted at every turn by his own stupidity, possible fatherhood, the hatred of his father and an unhealhty friendship with Kurt.Pusher 3 follows Milo through a day organising his daughter's birthday party while trying to ward off various threats to his empire.

Overall the trilogy benefits from superior performances throughout,a (to these eyes at least) frighteningly realistic depiction of the drug culture with it's attendant violence and greed and an electrifying soundtrack. Pick of the bunch is Pusher 2 with Mads Mikkelson superb as Tonny. Beware that both 2 and 3 have shocking endings.

if you want to be challenged, gripped, intrigued, eager for the next plot to untwist then this fast moving yet candid observation about the criminal characters involved with crime and drugs might just be the assault on your senses you are looking for...

addictevly watchable, like a page turner of a book, thus never dragging, the first film hits you with the authentic stamp of approval of what Refn, the director is capable and leads you down a rabbit hole of the everyday minutia of the main and sub-characters daily lives.

once you see the first film you will want to watch the last and the only way to do that is to watch the one in between!

if its the only trilogy you treat yourself too this year, it will have been worth it.

A documentary type drama of drugs prostitutes and car steeling, pusher 2 is definately the best out the three Mads Mikkelsens is a ginius and a great lead part, definately the easiest to follow and the best story line out the three.

Note: These films are not for the faint hearted.

A good watch, especially for those ill days