Pusher: Trilogy [DVD] [2005] [Region 1] [US Import] [NTSC]

Initially unimpressed, I was really drawn into these films, as they quickly became compelling viewing. The Copenhagen drug world is a horrible place to be, peopled by characters whose lives are unrelentingly grim: pimps, whores, thugs, junkies, pushers. All of them on the make, all of them ready to pull a fast one on the next guy, if they can make a fast buck from it. Even the women are horrible types and many of the scenes in which the action takes place are bleak and garishly-lit. There are scenes of extreme violence, carried out in a most casual manner.Each of the three films in the trilogy follows one main character through a period of about 24 hours. There is Frank, the small-time pusher for whom it all goes so badly wrong in every deal. Tonny is a shaven-headed, heavily tattooed nutcase who can't seem to do anything right. All he wants is to impress his dad, but his dad now has a much younger son to love. Milo appears to be Serbian ex-military. In the first film, he is a drug kingpin with a ferocious looking sidekick who deals with all the problem cases. In film 3, his power is on the wane and he has to suffer humiliation at the hands of younger dealers, all of whom want to be boss.These films are like documentaries. They could be shown to young people as a warning against the perils of drug-use. They give a very different take on the Scandinavian model.Highly recommended.

A terrific trilogy which centres around those connected to the copenhagen underworld. Each film has characters who overlap into the others but no prior knowledge is needed to enjoy this amazing series of films. My personal favourite is the second instalment which has a really strong performance from Mads Mikkelsen who struggles to cope with his newfound responsibilities as a father. I found the first film to be the weakest as it's hard to sympathize with the lead character (Frank) who tends to use his girlfriend in any way he can. The final chapter provides the most humour (most of it very dark at times) as Milo struggles to hold on to his position as top dog in the criminal empire. Without a doubt this trilogy is one of the best things you're going to see and is far superior to any Brit-flicks which tackle the criminal underworld.

Caught part of the first part of this trilogy late at night on Channel 4 and it really interested me. The gritty realism is just as I like it and the exploration of the darker side of european life is refreshing as we don't often see this in English/American films. The three films seem to become more extreme as they progress, although each step up seems lgical and plausible. The acting is superb, as are the characters themselves and the relationships are complex and not stereotypical Each film draws you in and even at it's bloodiest and most uncomfortable you just have to watch.

Beware the hype. Pusher is okay - though given the unevenness of the direction, the acting and storylines I'd give it no more than 3 stars. Of the Trilogy the final Pusher 3 stays in the mind and is in many cases the most difficult to watch - the violence somehow being both grotesque and banal at the same time. My problem with the films was because there were so many anti-heroes in them all - there was nobody to connect with or care about. There were passages in the two earlier films that bored me stiff. The Character of Milo - the Serb Drug Baron - is the most intriguing. A bumbling figure of fun almost - in the 1st film - develops into a callous monster by the 3rd Film.

Superb trilogy based around drug traffiking in Copenhagen suffers only from a weak final part.In Pusher we follow Frank as one bad deal sends his life into meltdown destroying his relationship with his best friend Tonny and putting him at the mercy of drug kingpin Milo.Pusher 2 follows Tonny's story whose attempts at rehabilitation are thwarted at every turn by his own stupidity, possible fatherhood, the hatred of his father and an unhealhty friendship with Kurt.Pusher 3 follows Milo through a day organising his daughter's birthday party while trying to ward off various threats to his empire.Overall the trilogy benefits from superior performances throughout,a (to these eyes at least) frighteningly realistic depiction of the drug culture with it's attendant violence and greed and an electrifying soundtrack. Pick of the bunch is Pusher 2 with Mads Mikkelson superb as Tonny. Beware that both 2 and 3 have shocking endings.

Buy it. All fantastic films, not a scene wasted.Great discovery with superb acting,story dialogue , cracking script,pace, music, you name it.I have now ordered Bleeder, only wish the director had made more films.Also very interesting directors comments throughout , he was only 24 when he made the first one , and shot in in about six weeks.The best films I have seen for a long time, and I love films.

The violence and settings, plus the very sexual scenes uplift the mind in to the modern days of this world.Some features of murders are horrific as you witness the insides of victims being slaughtered like cattle.I have never before seen a movie like this one.The whores are shown to be exposed to tremendous violence, and that they should expect same as detailed by the drug lords.Lots of puffing dope in this film, everybody seems to be an addict.Well worth seeing.