Customer Reviews

Bad Boy Bubby

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

In the film Bad Boy Bubby, the title character is a thirty-five year old man child who has been locked inside a cramped, dingy room by his abusive mother for his entire life. When Bubby's Pop suddenly shows up after a thirty-five year absence, Bubby is flushed out of his home, and the only world he has ever known, by his Mom and Pop, and into the "real" world, where he experiences equal measures of human cruelty and human kindness.
The film is at times bleak, harrowing, funny, heartbreaking and ultimately hopeful. All of the actors do a very fine job, but Nicholas Hope's performance as Bubby is absolutely stunning. There's a long tradition of actors delving into roles of this type, Sling Blade, Awakenings or Rain Man for example, and while Hope's performance isn't as widely regarded as the lead performances in these three films, it surely would be if the film Bad Boy Bubby had received a wider release - especially in the United States, where until now it has been practically nonexistent. Now however, thanks to Blue Underground and this great DVD release a much wider audience will hopefully be able to see this exceptional film for the first time.
Once again Blue Underground has done a really topnotch job. The film transfer looks great and there are two sound options: a 5.1 Dolby Digital Surround and a Dolby Surround 2.0. Of special note, the sound for the film was recorded using a binaural sound system that is meant to allow the viewer the experience of hearing everything the same way the main character would. The extras on the disc are a 24 minute interview with director Rolf de Heer, who describes the interesting binaural recording process and reveals a lot of fascinating insights and details, including the fact that over 30 different cinematographers were used to shoot the film. There is a second 15 minute interview with Nicholas Hope who discusses his career before, during, and after Bad Boy Bubby. The short film that led to Nicholas Hope being cast in the role of Bubby, titled Confessor Caressor, is also included. And finally, there is also a theatrical trailer for Bad Boy Bubby and a poster/stills gallery. In all a great disc befitting a remarkable film.

I first learned of this film from the curator of film at the George Eastman House in Rochester, NY. He said he had been on lay over from a plane trip in Brussels. Since he was a film curator, he tries to see rare films from the world. He ended up seeing Bad Boy Bubby. His search for the film to be shown in the US involved having to use the internet and people he knew in the Australian Film Industry to track down a print of the film. He ended up having to contact the director directly to obtain a 35 mm print of the film. I was really bowled over by it and have seen the film twice on the silver screen. I was thrilled to see that it was so easily available on DVD.
The story portrayed is about a man who has been locked away in an apartment by his mother his whole life. Bubby's language and intellectual development has been stunted by the abuse suffered over the years. Life changes a bit when his long lost father returns and Bubby ends up in the world, unable to do anything but mimic what others say and sounds. Bubby emerges from an abusive household to a hostile world which slowly warms up to him and becomes more compassionate. As Bubby is exposed to more compassion and kindness, he mimics the compassion and kindness others have shown him. A good allegory on how people are affected by the way they are treated. A very beautiful black comedy with heart.

One of the best movies I've ever seen. It takes you from one completely twisted moment to the next - with an astonishing ending that makes you think. Definitely not for the faint-hearted or closed-minded.

This movie is certainly an eye-opener. It may shock and disturb in some places but will leave you on an emotional high. You can feel yourself being consumed by the movie and almost living in the character and growing with him. Be warned this movie will stay in your head for a long time. But on a positive note there is a happy ending and is quite comical in some places, both purposely and accidently. The special features are excellent and anyone interested in movie making like myself, will definitely enjoy the very insightful directors commentary.

It really means something in the end, believe it or not. And its just enough raunch to make you uncomfortable and laugh all at once. It may seem a bit slow in the middle, but really its life changing and pretty cool, when you consider what he does. I love this movie. I have only seen it once, and my roommate loved it too.

This movie will probably offend some people, but it is mostly a highly amusing black comedy. The central performance from Nicholas Hope is simply fantastic despite all the unconventional aspects of a character that has not been let out of his room for over three decades. Because Bubby has no clue about social convention it is almost impossible to predict what happens next - this makes for an interesting and shocking viewing.

The supplements on the DVD also contains an interesting insight into how the character was created. It shows Nick Hope to be a very precise and thoughtful person who we do not see enough of on the big screen.

Hollywood could never ever make a movie like Bad Boy Bubby - make sure you check Bubby out for yourself!

I found this film amazing. It takes you through the journey of a man who has the most repressive of upbringings and shows how he triumphs in the world, in the most unusual ways.

You called almost call it a subverted Forest Gump, only with much more soul.

Before you know it you will be sharing Bubby ism's with your friends too! Them not be Angel T***'s :)

'Mesmerising' if described in one word. Well, what can I say, the film has a lot to offer and its much more than a visual treat. The fact that the film focusses on a dark subject, it doesent turn out to be dull or boring at all, infact the film is extremely flamboyant, full of life and you will have your eyes glued to the screen. Nicholas Hope is impeccable, hats off to him for such an exellent and phenomenal performence. Its a film to think over again and again and will definately have your life changed.

Bad Boy Bubby is a drama,dark comedy that was created in 1994 in Australia.This twisted movie covers taboo subjects such as incest, child abuse, blasphmy and animal cruelty.

Bubby is a 35 year old man who has been trapped in a two room slum and has never seen the outside world. He lives with his mother, Flo a disgusting woman who prevents Bubby from going outside by telling him that he will die instantly from the posionus gases in the air. One day, Bubby's father came back to the house 35 year after he left. Both Bubby and his father wer astonished to see each other. Bubby's father is a conman who dresses up like a priest. When he first met Bubby he seemed friendly twards Bubby and insisted Bubby to call him "Pop". However, as the movie progressed, it turned out the father was an agressive drunk. He beats Bubby and both him and Flo take turns making fun of him. Eventually, Pop kicks Bubby out of the house in to the outside world. At first Bubby is scared that he will die from the air. But after realizing that the air won't kill him, he decides to explore the outside world. Yet,Bubby has no morals and he doesn't know what to expect.Durring his journey, he meets some bad people such as Salvation Army girl who seduces him, the traffic Cop who beats Bubby up and then leaves by the side of the road and A group of woman who kicks him. He also gets in to bad situations such as going to jail, getting kicked out numerous times from stores and resteraunts and having no place to live. Bubby also finds out that most of the people that he has met judges him by the way he acts, not by who he is. He realizes that people think that he is a bad person so, Bubby tries to act like Pop. Bubby thinks if he acts like Pop, people will accept him. Eventually, he finds good people who accept him the way he is. He become friends with the members of a pub rock band that turn him into his lead singer and he meets Angel, a very kind nurse who looks after people with physical difficulites, and they both eventually become lovers.


It's pretty sad how Bubby is treated. He was abused by his parents and was trapped in a two room apartment. When he finally becomes free, he gets mistreated outside because they see him as a bad person when really, he just wants someone to love him back. Good that thing he did find some people wo care for him and love him because if he didn't find thoes people, he probably wouldn't survive in the outside world.

This has to be one of my absolute favorite movies. A hidden cinematic gem if there ever was one. After you get over the initial shock of the first few scenes, you'll absolutely be rewarded with what I believe to be an oddly inspiring story.