Bruiser Rating: Release Date: 01 October, 2002 Retail Price: $14.98 OUR Price: $12.99 You SAVE: $1.99! Cast: Jason Flemyng Leslie Banks Tom Atkins George Foster Complete Cast (9 total)

Bruiser Reviews

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A Waste of Film
Once again another stinker from George Romero, let's hope he sticks to something else besides making films. The purpose of this film I can not guess except to bore the viewer out of his mind, the plot is basic, weak and dull. The idea is that a man gets to be someone else and he has a mask, don't be fooled like I was by the packaging claiming this is a "Kafka-esque" version......



3.5 stars. Pretty good, but far from Romero's classics.
I guess I'd have to say that this movie is a bit underrated. It's not brilliant, and it peters out towards the end, but it's generally well made and sufficiently entertaining. Lots of people out there seem to be disappointed in this film at least partially because it wasn't what they expected. So I'd better say up front that this really isn't a horror film. It's pretty much just drama, with a bit of a horrific edge to it, I suppose. It's certainly not as good as Martin or Dawn or Night, but it's a respectable addition to Romero's filmography.

Here, George is taking on the modern corporate world, (and by extension, modern society as a whole) as is quite popular in film today, as evinced by the severe cult popularity of Office Space and Fight Club. Bruiser takes a different approach than either of those films. eschewing the comic or black-comic approach for a more straight dramatic approach. (Well, it's actually got a fair bit of dark humor in it, but not enough to classify it as a black comedy) Lots of people will, I'm sure, find it's approach problematic, as our unnoticed, put-upon protagonist Henry decides to resort to violence (murder) to reclaim his identity, and the film never condemns Henry's actions on any level.(Though it does suggest that he could do other things which would make him happy) I, for one, don't believe that George Romero is suggesting that we all go out and kill everyone who we feel is using us or treats us badly, but well, that IS what Henry does. That right there pretty much serves as a plot-synopsis. We are introduced to Henry, and see how everyone uses him and how miserable he is. He later wakes up with a white mime-face, and decides to take action, reassert himself, and get revenge. That's about it, and it works well enough. The acting is quite good, though the characterization is occasionally problematic. Flemyng is solid as Henry, he looks just right for the part, and does a fine job throughout the later portion of the film, despite the limitations of the mask. Everyone is fine, though I do have some problems with Peter Stormare as Henry's boss, and the primary villain of the film. He's probably best known as the terrifying and taciturn Gaer Grimsley (or something like that) in 'Fargo', but he takes a completely different route this time. Simply put, his character is too over the top. I don't doubt that there are at least a couple bosses out their who act a lot as he does, but he's just too much of a spectacle to work completely. Having him be just as much of a jerk, but in a somewhat less flamboyant way would've been more effective, I think. But, what can I say, I did dislike his character, as I was supposed to, so it can't be called a real failure.

The film opens up particularly well, and we are introduced to Henry's world quite efficiently. I think the brief little fantasy sequences are especially effective, and do a good job of showing us the disparity between how Henry acts, and how he actually feels. The middle section is fine too, if not as good, as he starts to take his revenge, but it dips quite a bit at the end. The last section of the film, during a huge, wild party, is dragged out too long, and nothing much really happens. And, it gets a little weird too and overly elaborate for no apparent reason. And the very last scene of the movie is a bit cheesy and pointless, too. Still, the film works as a whole. It's got a nice visual style, with sorta of sleek and beautiful sets which are cold and inhuman as well, just as they ought to be. Romero's rapid-fire editing is toned down to have more long, calm shots. I like his older style, but this one fits the film pretty well. Lots of people dislike the score, but I think it works very well. It's a bit unconventional, which I like, and it fits the whole tone of the film pretty well. It's often sad, but in a sorta dull, flat way, nicely representing the dreary, low-key tedium of Henry's life.

That's it. Certainly not Romero's best, but his fans ought to at least check it out.

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