There's something about the kids in Larry Clark's films, such as this, Bully, and his 1995 classic Kids (which took place in New York and had the feel of an un-interviewed documentary),where the characters are brought so vividly to life, and their contemplations and actions in their dead-end lives, that I get reminded of the people I was around back in my grade school days (I've been out of the public school system for six months now). I remember the lay-abouts, the complainers, the overly medicated, and of course I remember the bullies, laying on abuse that sometimes they weren't even aware they were inflicting.

Nick Stahl plays Billy, bully among a circle of teenage friends in Hollywood, Florida, and his best friend from childhood is Marty, played with striking intensity by Brad Renfro, has been daily receiving torment, if not with punches and slaps, then more on the mental side. Soon, his girlfriend makes a suggestion "he should be killed", and very soon after that the circle of friends agree, and then it continues, along with a so-called hit man, a good small part for Fitzpatrick who was noteworthy in Kids.

There will be some out there who may not be able to stomach the elements - it's unrated, not a bad move, and there are as many moments of sex as in a Cinemax soft porn and as many moments of smoking dope as in a Method Man/Redman production - but that's all part of Clark's overall effect, and he pulls it off like a true craftsman and not as a overly exploitation film-maker. This circle of friends are a sad, hollow representation of the kinds of societies the youth of the nation inhabit, and the key is that it's correct, at least in such a banal suburbia. Grade: A

Marty Puccio (Brad Renfro) is a life long friend to Bobby Kent (Nick Stahl). The problem is that Bobby is a violent bully who is obsessed with gay porn and uses it to dominate his friends. Marty has sex with Lisa Connelly (Rachel Miner) but Bobby beats him unconscious. Lisa discovers she's pregnant and convinces Marty to take out Bobby. She starts recruits her friends Ali Willis (Bijou Phillips),Donny Semenec (Michael Pitt),Heather Swallers (Kelli Garner) and her cousin Derek (Daniel Franzese). The incompetent teens can't get up the courage and decide to get 'hitman' Derek Kaufman (Leo Fitzpatrick) to help.

This tale of disenfranchised youth is quite compelling. The young cast is haunting. Renfro, Miner and Stahl are perfect at being these kids who are spending all their time drinking, smoking and going nowhere. This is very much like River's Edge. Director Larry Clark, who directed Kids, is leering a lot at the young people's bodies. The meandering plot and the aimless teens keep the tension not that high. There are some interesting work from the actors.

From the same director as the incredible awful Kids, this is actually a good film. Not like a conventional teen movie, aka a teen flick or teen slasher, but a good film with dark teenage issues and realistic events. Basically Marty Puccio (Brad Renfro) has been bullied by apparent best friend Bobby Kent (Terminator 3's Nick Stahl) since they (pretty much) met, and he wants it to end. All his proper friends agree with him that he is a non-caring person, and I personally agree. He's just bad, because he drinks, shags and at some points rapes and beats people, not just Marty. So all the kids including Lisa Connelly (Rachel Miner),Ali Willis (Bijou Phillips),Donny Semenec (Michael Pitt),Derek Kaufman aka The Hit-man (Leo Fitzpatrick),Heather Swallers (Kelli Garner) and Claudia (Nathalie Paulding) decide to end it by a plan to kill him. The first attempt didn't work because of nerves, but the second time, they got him really good, or bad from whatever point of view you have. Based on true events, this really is a film that gets you thinking. Good!