BULLET

US, 1996, 92 minutes, Colour.
Mickey Rourke, Adrien Brody, John Enos III, Ted Levine, Tupac Shakur.
Directed by Julien Temple.

Bullet is a rather ugly film about New York gangsters, probably too strong for many audiences in the mid-90s and not widely screened. It was co-written by Mickey Rourke as a vehicle for himself. It was directed by British director, Julien Temple, whose blend of feature films and documentaries include over thirty years such films as The Great Rock ‘n Roll Scandal, Absolute Beginners, Earth Girls Are Easy, and documentaries The Filth and The Fury, Glastonbury.

The film is very strong on atmosphere, the streets of New York, a Jewish family and its traditions, the brutality of the various groups in New York, Jewish, African American, the clashes.

Mickey Rourke gives a typical performance, partly mumbling, partly alienating while wanting some sympathy. In an early role, Adrien Brody portrays his young brother who looks up to him – but is also a graffiti artist and wants something better in life. John Enos III is Mickey Rourke’s associate. At home, there is a shell-shocked brother, played effectively by Ted Levine, also an artist but with a death wish. In a role not too long before his murder, Tupac Shakur portrays the African American gangster head.

The film is only for those who are interested in the gangster genre, particularly the New York gangster genre.

1. The impact of the film? Grim? Ugly? Brutality? The world of gangsters?

2. The British director, his eye for New York and its environment? Colour photography? Editing and pace? Musical score?

3. The title, Butch Stein and his nickname? The reaction of the other gangsters in New York? His family?

4. Bullet, in jail, getting out? His taking the rap? The reaction of the prison guards? Being picked up by Ruby? His friendship with Lester? The confrontation with the junkies, taking them to the roof, their stripping and being humiliated? The later reactions?

5. Bullet, his relationship with Ruby, wanting to protect him? His relationship with Louis? Louis and his behaviour at home? The mother and father, their history in New York, bringing up the boys, their reactions to how they behave? The meals, life at home?

6. Tank, his henchmen? The clash with Bullet? Bullet trying to upstage Tank? Tank and his driving around, his henchmen?

7. Bullet and his deals, the drugs, the clubs, the women? The confrontations with Tank?

8. The character of Ruby, the violence, his being wounded? His devotion to Bullet? His artwork – and his future?

9. Louis, the background of the war, his imagination, his art, in his room, erratic behaviour? His loyalty to his brother? His final violent intervention?

10. Lester, the friendship with Bullet, his vanity? The violence?

11. The build-up to the various confrontations, New York gangster style? Murders? The overall impact of the film as a glimpse of the underbelly of New York City?