Customer Reviews

Pusher Trilogy

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

 

 

It's true, we've all seen crimes-go-wrong scenarios before. However, writer-director Nicolas Winding Refn does a wonderful job of focusing his camera on single characters in each film and bringing out the drama of crooks and pushers getting in over their head in some of the worst days of their lives.

In Pusher, drug middleman Frank tries to sort out a mess when he winds up owing too much to local drug kingpin Milo.

Pusher II plays like an Oedipal tragedy minus the mom, with Frank's friend Tonny taking center stage. Tonny gets out of jail and tries to ingratiate himself into the crime business of his cruel father with predictably disastrous results.

Pusher III returns to Milo, an important character in each of the previous films, as he ages and is challenged by new blood in the drug business and new challenges as he negotiates his daughter's 25th birthday party, her wanting to get in on the action, bad drug deals, prostitution and murder.

All three films play perfectly together, with recurring characters, similar themes and believable violence. The criminals are humanized in a way that doesn't let audiences off the hook, as with Trainspotting's reluctantly violent druggies. These are the dealers with cool heads who have chosen this line of work and do terrible things. Yet, at the end of the day or week, Winding Refn has let us walk in their shoes enough to see the fallibility and humanity in what 90 minutes before we might have regarded as unconscionable evil. If you want to sympathize with these characters, you'll have to admit you see a little darkness in yourself, too.

P.S. The tale of how Pusher II and III came to be is almost as cool as the films. It's covered in the documentary Gambler here, which follows him and his associates as they struggle to put together funding for the two films, not to get paid, but just to break even and climb out of moviemaking bankruptcy. Also cool are two featurettes explore how Winding Refn picked amateurs or almost-amateurs for most of the gritty roles in the last two films.

The Pusher Trilogy is the anti-gangster film in very much the same way as Unforgiven was the anti-western. Nicholas Winding Refn has stripped down the gangster lifestyle and revealed it for what it really is: brutal, unforgiving, and unglamorous. The gangsters in these films don't live in mansions; they live in dirty apartments. They don't have parties in expensive clubs; they use run down restaurants.

Each film has its own main character who has to deal with what ends up being a catastrophically escalating series of events. The first film follows Frank, a drug dealer who runs into trouble when a deal goes sour. The second film features Mads Mikkelson (the recent "Casino Royale" James Bond villain), who plays an incredibly tragic figure; the film plays on "son tries to win his father's affection" themes, while simultaneously subverting them. The final film follows Milo, a drug kingpin who is propelled into a series of tragic choices when a shipment of cocaine doesn't come in as planned.

The three films are all great; a bit on the short side, but very effective. Many critics seem to think the second one is the strongest and I tend to agree with them, although the third film, "I Am The Angel of Death," has almost the same level of pathos. If you are a fan of films like "Scarface," "City of God," or "The Sopranos" (not a film, I know), then definitely give this one a look! The DVDs are in Danish (mostly) with English subtitles and Nicolas Refn gives great commentaries on films 2 and 3 in English.

Brutal, but with a keen sense of irony, Nicolas Winding Refn's "Pusher Trilogy" is a wildly entertaining ride that's far more sophisticated than might appear at first glance. Three films that share certain overlapping characters, the "Pusher Trilogy" also links the stories with thematic similarities--but any of these movies also stand up to independent viewing. Individually, they are gritty and effective looks at the criminal underbelly--but together, they are an undeniable masterwork! Uproariously hilarious, wickedly bloody, and even surprisingly moving at times, I wholeheartedly recommend these to lovers of international film (they are set in Copenhagen) or the action genre.

"Pusher" tells the story of a low-life hood, Frank. As Frank hustles up a drug deal that turns south, he suddenly finds himself in a week long scramble to get on top of a bad situation. When bad goes to worse, he turns on his closest allies and faces the final reckoning alone. But he may just be in too deep! "Pusher" is a solid action picture. Frank's relationship with his cohort Tonny is played extremely well. His desperate machinations are a doomed excursion to the darkside and have a black humor that's uncomfortably appealing. Not the most original story in the "Pusher" arsenal, but it works really well regardless. 4 stars.

"Pusher II: With Blood On My Hands" is easily my favorite film of the trio. Why? It is understated and surprising and, of all the films, the most unique. Tonny (the terrific Mads Mikkelsen) returns from "Pusher." Some time in the future, Tonny is being released from prison and Tonny must reestablish his place in the outside world. A disapproving father, who just happens to be a crime boss, doesn't help matters. Tonny finds it difficult to be taken as a real player and is a doormat for those that surround him, both professionally and personally. Tonny actually starts to prove that perhaps he is the most worthy character amidst a barrel of bad apples and a final act of redemption is oddly heartfelt. 5 stars.

"Pusher III: I'm The Angel of Death" reintroduces Milo--a boss who has played a supporting role until now. Like a mad comic opera, "Pusher III" has Milo making dinner for his daughter's birthday party, juggling rehab meetings (he's 5 days clean), and trying to maintain business as usual with his crew. When a drug deal sours (that happens way too much!), Milo's perfect day loses all sense of balance and Milo is drawn into an unpleasant series of events leading to human trafficking. Milo's bratty daughter is a hoot as are his attempts to shanghai the addict's meetings. But ultimately, it's Milo's drug fueled descent (based on both morality and pride) that is nightmarish and unforgettable. 4 1/2 stars.

Each film works and succeeds on its own merits! But if you get the "Pusher Trilogy" and watch them in conjunction, it is a movie making magic. Together, I easily rate the product at 5 stars as the three different films enhance the others. Perfection. KGHarris, 1/11.

Just received these movies--The Pusher Trilogy, 3 disc set. Disc one, "Pusher," won't play (won't load in my Blu-Ray player, my computer was able to play previews but not the movie...). Have now tried the disc in a total of four different players with no success. Are the single disc copies of "Pusher" OK? How are people watching this?

Magnolia Home Entertainment needs to recall these...

I started PUSHER 1. Next thing you know I am finishing number 3 at some odd hour on a work night..

All three Pusher films must be put together to evaluate. Each one has its own stories and unique elements. There is some crossover of characters sans Frank. As a kid I ran on the streets of West Oakland, CA and I am critical of fake street movies. I currently enforce the toughest ghetto kids from the Bay Area's toughest areas. These three films stand up. On IMDB some Danish people criticized these films, but those people live in Denmark's suburbs and the only "Hood" they have seen is on the back of their sweatshirts.

I watched every new episode of The Wire when they came out on HBO, then the box sex STRAIGHT THROUGH when the complete series was released. Things like work got in the way of The Wire.

PUSHER is its own thing. Pusher STANDS TALL!

Episode one kicks hard from about halfway through and in the end we need to catch our breaths. Frank is a powerhouse character ripping through Copenhagen's seedy side. Its serious there. Many hardened immigrants from former worn torn countries have raised the the level of crime in Western Europe.

Episode 2 is slower, but it needs to be. It is STRONG in its own way. Many people were let down because Episode 1 was so intense and there was a long wait between films 1 and 2. The producers kept the feel, look, sound similar. Episode 2 needed to be this way. There are other parts of the underworld that operate differently then the loud wild kids on the streets. The Duke is a cold motherfu----.

Episode 3 comes at us from a completely different angle. The opening scene makes me feel so connected to the decisions by the creators. Then it takes off on its own journey.

The only mistake is that the producers did not make this a TV series and keep giving us new pieces from the Albanians, Danish, Milo's crew, King of Copenhagen, Frank, Tonny, The Cunt, The Duke/his crew and etc. They need to make Pusher 4 and intermingle these stories, but of course take us on one journey.

Everything is not perfect. We can nitpick on some parts.

They took it and made us feel it and want more. Coming from tough streets in America, I would recommend these films to ANYONE! We all have seen these type of stories. This is not reinventing the wheel. The films are gritty and take us there on the journey with them. The acting is world class. I am feeling my trip through Copenhagen, Denmark. Top of the line film making.

They took it to the edge.

The copy I've got refuses to load in three different dvd players. It plays a bit then goes crazy. The disc seems fine but the film itself goes all digital and spotty, as if it is poorly made?
Anyway thought I'd let folks know.

This trilogy is like PERFECT. Winding Refn is an amazing filmmaker. the 1st movie was great; the second movie is a brilliant analysis of the alpha male; the 3rd one is a great way to close the trilogy because the storyline is in some aspects similar to the 1st one but with-- to a slightly lesser extent-- the depth of the second one becoming a great blend. This is amongst my new favorites and together with Drive and Bronson Nicholas Refn has established himself to me as one of top greatest voices of film in the past couple of decades.

I got my package in a timely manner which was good, however the issues I'm having with this Pusher trilogy
is that only two out of the three DVD's work, parts 2,3 work just fine however the first Pusher dvd doesnt work at all.
I tried it on my X-BOX, then my dvd player, and even my labtop just to be sure its wasnt a problem with my equitment
and it turned out that part 1 of the trilogy doesnt work, I'm hoping the seller will correct my issue soon

LOVE this set of dvd's!! Mads Mikkelson!! Underworld thug-types and harsh realities of the drug culture. I watched each disc in rapid succession with a similar fascination that I had with Breaking Bad. Entertaining,fun, characterizations-dope and I'm planning to rewatch it all very soon.

..it's hard to stop watching! I'd give the first and second one 5 stars, the third one maybe 4.5. It was as intriguing and nerve-wracking as the first two but seemed a bit unbeleivable in a few places which I won't go into. This set is the one to buy though. If you liked the first one (and it's hard not to), rest asssured the ones that follow keep up the pace. With these 3 films you enter the 'pusher' world from the perspective of 3 somewhat different characters. The main character in Pusher II had played a supporting role in Pusher I. He's excellent in the second movie as well. In Pusher III, we get to step into Milo's life - Milo also played the drug lord (and very well I might add) in Pusher I.

Although the product picture shown on this Amazon site doesn't seem to have any quote reviews on the case, my copy does. From the New York Times, "The Pusher films pull no punch. They're a knock out." From Variety Magazine, "Cult status on dvd is assured." And as shown on this Amazon review, the review from the New York post which (correctly) compares Pusher to early films by Scorcese.

These films are in Dutch I think and subtitled in English. Don't let that put you off. Subtitles don't detract from a riveting and harrowing ride.