Every since I saw Drive, I’ve been interested in seeing Danish director Nicolas Winding Refn’s other films including his acclaimed first film, the 1996 crime thriller, Pusher.
The film follows drug pusher Frank (Kim Bodnia) as he gets into more and more debt with everyone looking for the money that he owes. The film has a dark and gritty feel to it that doesn’t pull any punches in the life of crime sucks depiction. Everything Frank does seems to dig himself deeper and deeper into a hole that he can’t get out of. Frequent Nicolas Winding Refn actor Mads Mikkelsen (Valhalla Rising) co-stars as Frank’s sidekick Tonny and Laura Drasbæk co-stars as Vic, a prostitute who is in love with Frank and wants him to run away with her and away from all the trouble.
The film was extremely successful and lead to two more movies being made making the series a trilogy. While the remaining two films are good, the first movie is the best. The second film follows Tonny after he gets out of jail and the third follows Frank’s supplier Milo.
The films have been released on DVD by Magnolia Pictures here in North America. The set I bought had a problem. The first film / DVD was unplayable but after contacting Magnolia, they set a replacement with no hassle. I’ve had to deal with faulty discs before, it happens and usually the company only sends a replacement for the faulty disc but they sent me the entire set again which was awesome on their part and even better, the disc one worked.
I’ve become a huge fan of Nicolas Winding Refn and he has yet to let me down. I’m looking forward to his next film Only God Forgives and am puzzled to why he would want to be attached to a Logan’s Run remake. Still it could be interesting.