SYNOPSICS
Bruiser (2000) is a English,Spanish movie. George A. Romero has directed this movie. Jason Flemyng,Peter Stormare,Leslie Hope,Nina Garbiras are the starring of this movie. It was released in 2000. Bruiser (2000) is considered one of the best Horror,Mystery movie in India and around the world.
The young executive of a publicity agency Henry Creedlow is a man that has repressed morbid thoughts and is walked over by most of his acquaintances: his wife is cheating on him with his boss and stealing his investments with help from his best friend; his housemaid is frequently stealing from his house and insulting him in Spanish; even his annoying poodle does not respect him. While in his daily morning routine listening to a talk show on the radio, he hears a man committing suicide live because he had been felt miserable and disrespected for a long time, and Henry feels impressed with the tragic story. The next morning, he wakes up to find his face covered by a white mask, changing his personality and letting him seek revenge against those who have humiliated him.
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Bruiser (2000) Reviews
Romero's finest since "Day of the Dead"
A man awakes one morning without his face - and he decides to take revenge on all people who betrayed him in a way. This, in short, is the story of George A. Romero's first feature film since 1992's "The Dark Half", a decent if not really convincing adaption of Stephen King's story of the same title. And even though "Bruiser" is not a very spectacular or action- and goreloaded picture, it undoubtedly is Romero's finest film since his third zombie-epic "Day of the Dead" back in 1985. It's a unique movie, rather quiet and sensibly developed: something You've see far too rarely in the last few years. The acting is also first rate, above all Jason Flemyng as the lead character. Peter Stormare is once again delicious, this time as the eccentric, sex-mad publisher of the "Bruiser"-magazine (you never really get to know what the magazine is all about, but it is obviously kind of a lifestyle magazine) and therefore Flemyng's character's boss. Stormare's enthusiastic acting is everything but annoying. There is also some well placed humor in the picture, which has been present in most of Romero's films, only that this time it's more obvious than in his earlier pictures. The humor doesn't destroy the melancholy touch, though, that makes all of Romero's pictures so unique. An audience who expects to see another "Dawn of the Dead" or "Creepshow" surely will be disappointed at first - but who ever said that "Bruiser" is a pure horror movie? It is more similar to "Martin" or even (in a metaphoric way) "The Crazies". One thing that's out of question is that Romero proves himself to be a real auteur, and it's always good to see new films from him - especially after an eight-year hiatus! Highly recommended.
Underrated but Unique and Unusual film from Romero.
Writer and Director:George A. Romero nearly hits the bull's eye with this Clever darkly funny thriller. Henry Creedlow (Jason Flemyng), who has been always a nice guy sees that things are slowly changing around him. Herny has doubts about his cold hearted wife (Nina Garbiras), his best friend (Andrew Tarbet) and his sleazy overbearing boss (Peter Stormare). The only person that Herny truly finds as a sympathetic friend is the boss' wife (Leslie Hope). Henry also has doubts about his job and his personal life. In just one morning like any other day for Henry. He wakes up with a new face that is completely white and almost emotionless and he thinks that it is only a mask on his face or only a dream. But then he finds out it is for real. Stripped of everything he has, including his identity. Henry takes all of his frustrations by going out on a bloody rampage. He is set to murder those who have betrayed him like his wife, a close friend and especially his boss. This was Romero's last film until the upcoming long awaited Zombie film "Land of the Dead". This latest feature will be coming out this summer. Romero has not made a film since the Underrated "The Dark Half" (1993). In "Bruiser", Romero shows a unique style to this film and it looks totally different than most of his pictures. The only real fault in Bruiser is the last 20 minutes of the film should have ended more compellingly. However it is closer to the original premise that Romero wanted to film. It is still a very good and very underrated film. Sadly, this independent production never received a Theatrical Release in North America but been released instead in Europe. It got released to video instead and received an Cult Following. What made this film work is the difficult lead role of Flemyng. His performance is extremely good and he adds depth with an amusing sense of humour. Simply because Flemyng gives a terrific performance. Stormare gives an amusing over the top performance as the film's unsuspected villain. Tom Atkins (Which Atkins worked with Romero before in bit parts in "Creepshow" and "Two Evil Eyes") are also star in the Film. Even Romero's Family appears in Cameos, including his wife (Christine Forrest Romero), His Daughter (Tina) and His Son (Andrew). This film maybe be flawed at times (Because the film never really fully explained the curse of Herny's.) Still, the film packs a certain punch. It is certainly one of his most Unusual films along with "Martin" and "Knightriders". One of the film's highlights are seeing The Punk Horror Rock Band:The Misfits appears as Themselves at the Climax and the film features a Good jazzy music score by Donald Rubinstein. DVD has an fine anamorphic Widescreen (1.85:1) transfer and an good:Dolby 2.0 Stereo Surround Sound. DVD extras are an running commentary by the director and producer:Peter Grunwald, a music video by the Misfits and trailers. The film may be far from Romero's best films but it is nice to see Romero directed another film in years. Let's just hope his latest film "Land of the Dead" will be a huge hit and big comeback for Romero. Bruiser is worth a look. (*** ½/*****).
The Revenge Face
In BRUISER, evidence of a surreal paranormal event is almost perfectly captured on film by George Romero. The film's protagonist, Henry, weakly worms him way through life until the morning he awakens to find a blank, white mask where his real face once was. At one point, it's suggested the mask frees Henry to indulge in his rage fantasies, and then to logically murder those who have wronged him. Henry's innate goodness won't allow him to kill innocent people, but it's interesting to see that Romero never apologizes for Henry's murder fantasies. Henry is, like all of us, capable of brutal, heinous acts, if only in our heads. As an idea, Henry's "Faceless" identity is fascinating, as it is believed that Henry has psychically formed the blank face from the material of his submerged rage. The problem becomes when Henry, and the film, decides to become parody, amused by the circumstance of the Faceless-ness. Henry's revenge, when he takes it on the vile cast of his wife, his boss, and his best friend/financer, does not reflect Henry's rage. The revenge is muted and lacking real anger, though much is made of what Henry will do when he goes after these people. Romero made possibly his technically-finest film only to lose the incredible surreal event that changed his believable, solid main character into a vengeance machine, which weakens the story and its conclusion considerably. The instant Henry understands that the mask is truly HIS face is a great moment, and there are moments in BRUISER that stand up well with the best Romero has done. It should also be pointed out that Romero comes from another time and mentality in filmmaking, when the idea of sex, sex by naked people, on-screen, in all it's almost-realism, was not ignored and disregarded...namely the 1970s, when there was something to be said for people getting it on that didn't require cutaways and soft lenses. It's almost refreshing in these puritanical days of zero-actual-sex in films, and talk talk talk of sex in every medium, and the threat of sex on "real TV" shows, to find Romero willing to show a little legs over the shoulders. Even if everyone who has sex in BRUISER is unrepentant scum, that still doesn't change the fact that we, the viewer, are witness to sex that isn't a slow-motion fantasia starring Jeremy Irons. BRUISER is a fascinating film that suddenly unravels at the end, like an old baseball hit too hard. Still worth it, just for the great attempt at something original by an original, in Romero.
The Cinema of George A. Romero.
Bruiser (2000) was the long awaited return for horror film maker George A. Romero. While it was great to see old George back in action, the end results were a mix bag. A pseudo thriller about a brow beaten man who wakes up one day without a face! The guy uses this new (or lack of) identity to strike back at those who have wronged him in the past. Will this new face have any drawbacks? Can George A. Romero still make a watchable movie? You'll just have to watch Brusier! The movie wasn't bad (but it's neither a classic) like some people have stated. It was a chance for Romero to get back into action after many film projects have died on the vine in the past ten years. He made a watchable movie on a real tight budget. Let's hope he'll get the opportunity to make more films. Recommended for fans of George A. Romero. Others will not be so forgiving.
Blue Velvet's Nicer Nephew
But not in the way we were led to suspect from the packaging. If you believe the box, Bruiser is a thrilling joy ride from acclaimed director Romero, or something like that. What Bruiser really is is psychological melodrama/thriller, mixed in with some wicked black comedy. Jason Flemying is excellent as Henry, and Stormare surprised me incredibly as the flamboyant, bad-ass publisher of the in-movie magazine, entitled (what else?) "Bruiser." I've grown used to seeing character actor Stormare in character roles, usually benign or slightly creepy (Dancer In The Dark, Million Dollar Hotel), and Flemying as vaguely menacing (Lock,, Stock; From Hell), but here both actors play against their normal image to reveal great depths of skill...both are totally believable in their roles, which adds a lot to the film. For those who know nothing about it...Flemying plays a mag exec who is downtrodden and stomped on by nearly everybody...Romero really makes you feel the depths of Hell this poor guy's in. One day, he wakes up to find that his face has been replaced by a featurless white mask...what does this say about his identity? Who IS this faceless man? Over the rest of the film, Flemying and Romero explore the subject ruthlessly (with plenty of violence, of course, because, well, this is George Romero here)...and the viewer is left with a conundrum similar to the end of a Lynch film: Did this happen? And if it happened, well...what next? For lovers of challenging film, this one is a keeper....bizarre, disturbing, and ultimately meaningful, this is Blue Velvet's benign nephew. Go see it or rent it ASAP.