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Bullet
1996 100 min United States of America R 16+
★6.8
Action, Drama, Thriller, Crime
Director: Julien Temple
Trailers
Description
A tough, Jewish ex-con just released from prison crosses a powerful drug dealer and former prison rival in his return to a life of crime.
Starring
Mickey Rourke
Actor
Frank Senger
Actor
Adrien Brody
Actor
Key opinion
Bullet is a polarizing, gritty crime drama that functions as a raw, semi-autobiographical character study of its star and co-writer, Mickey Rourke. While some viewers find its fragmented structure and bleak narrative deeply compelling and authentic, others dismiss it as a poorly paced, amateurish exercise in low-budget exploitation.
| Acting | Mickey Rourke delivers a raw, highly authentic performance that blurs the lines between character and his own real-life personal crises. | |
| Acting | Ted Levine’s portrayal of the war-scarred, psychologically damaged older brother is a standout, widely regarded as one of the film's strongest performances. | |
| Production | The film succeeds in establishing a potent, oppressive, and melancholic atmosphere that effectively captures the decay of urban life. | |
| Screenplay | Opinions on the screenplay are divided: some view its fragmented, cynical nature as a profound and honest exploration of self-destruction, while others find the lack of a cohesive narrative arc frustrating and messy. | |
| Pacing | The pacing is a point of contention; supporters appreciate the deliberate, contemplative tempo, while critics find the film slow, lethargic, and poorly constructed. | |
| Cinematography | Visual quality is debated, with some praising the gritty, saturated aesthetic, while others characterize the cinematography as flat and visually uninspired. |