2 Movies Like Bleeder (1999)

Staff & contributors

, 1996

Films about drug dealing aren't particularly new, but the way Pusher delves into their lives feels different– more realistic than glamorous, somewhat like a guerrilla documentary, with the handheld camera as a silent, unnamed witness. As the camera follows low-level dealer Frank through the course of a week, Kim Bodnia skillfully garners empathy with the way he holds himself through the pressure, and does the opposite when he does the same wrongs that were done to him. The story itself may be simple, but writer-director Nicolas Winding Refn made his mark through this debut, inadvertently creating a franchise and influencing Danish cinema.

Genre: Action, Crime, Drama

Actor: Gordon Kennedy, Gyda Hansen, Jesper Lohmann, Karsten Schrøder, Kim Bodnia, Lars Bom, Laura Drasbæk, Levino Jensen, Lisbeth Rasmussen, Liv Corfixen, Mads Mikkelsen, Michael Hasselflug, Nicolas Winding Refn, Peter Andersson, Slavko Labović, Thomas Bo Larsen, Vanja Bajicic, Zlatko Burić

Director: Nicolas Winding Refn

From the director of Drive comes Bronson, the true story of a man who was sentenced to seven years in prison but ends up spending three decades in solitary confinement. Tom Hardy is phenomenal in this dark comedy. His character is so likable and you quickly feel sorry for what he is going through. No one can help him no matter how much he asks for it. Bronson has class, great acting, hilarious comedy, and a true story backing it up. There is nothing not to love about this film.

Genre: Action, Crime, Drama

Actor: Amanda Burton, Andrew Forbes, Hugh Ross, James Lance, Joe Tucker, Jon House, Jonny Phillips, Juliet Oldfield, Katy Barker, Kelly Adams, Luing Andrews, Mark Powley, Matt King, Neil Broome, Tom Hardy, Tracy Wiles

Director: Nicolas Winding Refn

Rating: R