Bullhead

BULLHEAD

Director : Michaël R. Roskam

Year : 2013

Genre : Drama

Rating : **1/2

  





Based on the real life murder of Karel van Noppen, 'Bullhead' is a rather interesting but flawed Belgian drama that was the country's entrant for the 2012 Academy Awards for Best Foreign Language picture, but lost to the brilliant Iranian drama 'A Separation'. Starring 'Rust & Bone' lead Matthias Schoenaerts and directed by Michaël R. Roskam, 'Bullhead' is a study in masculinity, animal ethics and unrequited love. But unfortunately, due to a weak script and bad pacing, the movie seems rather slow and has little to no characters we can anchor to. Don't get me wrong, it's well shot and acted well, but it doesn't hang together as an engrossing and captivating piece, which is a shame for a film which showcases such good performances.

Matthias Schoenaerts plays Jacky Vanmarsenille, a steroid fuelled young cattle farmer who is caught up in a murder case of a federal agent after agreeing to go into business with dangerous mafia meat traders. Crossing paths with a lost love as well as dealing with the police on his back, Jacky must delve into his traumatic childhood to try and find a solution.

Almost shot as a Michael Haneke film, 'Bullhead' is a deep psychological study of a man looking for his lost masculinity and cultural acceptance. Michaël R. Roskam is formerly a scriptwriter and 'Bullhead' is his debut as a director and this fact does become obvious pretty early into the film. The narrative is quite often muddled and I must admit, I did get lost through a large majority of the movie due to it's weak script and convoluted plot. However, it is shot beautifully and reminded me in some parts of a Haneke or Brothers Dardennes film. Set in the countryside of West Flanders, we see an urban location which is often explored in foreign language films, which is to me very refreshing compared to the regular rural settings of most Hollywood fodder. I just wish that the script had been given as much detail and attention as the cinematography and mise en scene.

Matthias Schoenaerts is startlingly good as Jacky Vanmarsenille, the steroid using, muscle clad farmer whose body looks unstable and close to explosion. Best known for his roles in 'Rust & Bone' and 'Loft' Schoenaerts is perfectly cast as the quietly volatile Jacky whose childhood trauma has forced the way he has led his life. Experiencing a hideous abuse by a local bully when he was a young boy, Jacky is still clearly damaged and affected. With his calm persona mixed with bursts of sudden graphic violence, he is a dormant volcano of rage, anger and revenge. Unfortunately, the dialogue he is given is so weak and lifeless that we don't learn much more about the character and as a result, we can't find a relatable or engrossing aspect to him. The supporting cast which includes famous Belgian and French actors such as Jeroen Perceval, Jeanne Dandoy and Tibo Vandenborre are also very good and make the most of the characterisations they are given.

'Bullhead' is a mixed bag of a film; full of good performances and cinematography but lacking in characterisations, narrative and dialogue. Matthias Schoenaerts is brilliant as Jacky Vanmarsenille, but besides his performance, there really isn't much more to recommend sadly.

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