Pusher Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		5.0
Audio		5.0
Extras		1.5
Overall		3.5

Pusher Blu-ray Movie Review

Push comes to shove.

Reviewed by Martin Liebman June 25, 2013

Pusher looks like any number of other disposable, interchangeable British Crime/Drug pictures, but in fact it proves itself a superior film when compared to most of its kind, playing with a very personal, frantic, bleak, almost hopeless tone that pulls the audience into an ever-darker world of physical, mental, and emotional corruption. It's the story of a wrongdoer who doesn't cross the crime boss but who instead fails him, disappoints him, and ultimately leaves him no choice but to pursue payment by means other than cash. It's the tale of an ever-more-desperate attempt to collect money, even if it shatters lives, tears apart friendships, and maybe even rips out what's left of a man's own soul. It's the ultimate example of money being the root of all evil, addiction a road leading to nowhere, and the price of crime being higher than anyone is willing to pay. It's a no-frills, straightforward, dramatically gripping, and emotionally chilling picture that's amongst the best of its kind.

Not enough.

Frank (Richard Coyle) makes decent money dealing drugs on the street, but he's certainly not anybody of much importance. He keeps company with the fast-talking but small-brained Tony (Bronson Webb) who at least keeps a smile across Frank's face. Frank is also seeing a stripper/drug addict named Flo (Agyness Deyn). Frank learns that one of his old prison mates wishes to set up a deal for a substantial amount of cocaine. Frank turns to the only source he knows for that much, an old friend by the name of Milo (Zlatko Buric). The deal is struck on friendly enough terms; Milo sees Frank almost as a son, but even a bond that tight can be broken by a single deal gone bad. And that's exactly what happens. The deal turns sour when the police arrive; someone close to Frank has tipped them off, and he has no choice but to dump the drugs. He's off the hook with the authorities, but there's still one problem: he owes Milo a lot of cash that he doesn't have, and he'll have to come up with the money minus a product to sell. Milo extends Frank a longer leash than most, but he'll find just how long that leash may be when Frank keeps turning up without all of the money.

Though it plays with a familiar dynamic -- in fact, it's a remake of an 90s movie of the same name -- Pusher succeeds on its style, thrives on how well it's made, and works in large part because it does a great job of bringing the audience into a fairly dark world, not so dark physically but certainly dark emotionally, and one that grows ever darker as the film progresses. It's a raw, straightforward, no-frills glimpse into the criminal underworld. it's not sexed up but rather crude, seemingly honest, and oftentimes hopeless. The friendliness between the characters turns quickly into depravity, meanness, hate, spite, doubt, and fear. All of those sorts of negative vibes build a very positive story that depicts how a world can shatter when a single mistake explodes into a devastating flurry of violent events that cannot be undone and in the name of a demand that cannot be met. As it becomes clear that Frank cannot get the money, the picture takes a turn for the violently surreal, culminating in a final shot that will leave audiences with plenty to ponder as they file out of the showing.

There's also the case of the characters. Pusher's lead is in many ways a different sort than the average Crime film hero/antihero/whatever one would call a protagonist who happens to be a pretty bad guy at the end of the day. He's at least a stand-up man, not running from his troubles and actually facing Milo with courage and conviction. Of course, that "honor" only buys him so much time, because in the criminal underworld, loyalty only stretches so far, friendship's even thinner, and money rules above all else. Maybe that's what makes Pusher so interesting. There's no real rooting interest here. Every character is flawed and largely unlikable, all of them pieces in a game of illegal and in many ways immoral activities that can only end badly, maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow, but sure to someday cause a whole lot of trouble. And that trouble is what drives the plot. Pusher may not be the classic "escapist" picture, but it does introduce an entirely new reality for its audience, a dark and bloody reality and certainly one far removed from the norms of society and one in which there isn't black and white or even shades of gray but just figurative muscle, literal manipulation, and a thirst for power and wealth that can never be satisfied.

Pusher Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Pusher's high definition presentation is nothing short of extraordinary. The digitally photographed motion picture reveals incredible details and brilliant colors, coming about as close to film quality as digital currently can. Color balance is faultless. There's no bleeding, no dullness, and no colors too exaggerated or in any way unnatural. It's brilliant when need be, bland when need be, and only influenced by light sources -- soft yellow overheads, dark neon and spotlight-lit clubs, sun-washed exteriors -- in each scene. Details are just as impressive. The transfer showcases even the finest skin nuance, the smallest clothing stitch, and the most subtle city background elements with striking accuracy. The image is razor-sharp throughout and clarity is unbeatable in every shot. Flesh tones are natural and black levels are deep and pure. There's no banding, no excess noise, nothing to detract from a picture-perfect Blu-ray transfer.

Pusher Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Pusher features a a truly amazing lossless soundtrack. The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 presentation is dynamic and exciting. There are plenty of high energy, very fluid, incredibly natural, and fully immersive moments, almost all of them when the soundstage becomes a strip club and the heavy techno beats spill into the listening area with a tightness and authenticity that really must be heard to be believed. These moments make for intense listens, defined by the heavy, deep, steady bass but really made by the clarity that extends even to the most uptempo and loudest elements. The track handles everything else just as well. City ambience is amazing, very well implemented and making full use of the surround channels. A police interrogation scene proves very well defined with a steady, almost hollow sort of underlying sound that's reinforced by excellent dialogue reverberation. Traditional dialogue plays smoothly and evenly from the center. Various action sound effects, too, enjoy high-end precision. This is an engaging, active, and highly entertaining listen that might very well become a go-to demo track for the rest of the summer.

Pusher Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Pusher contains two extras.

• The Making of Pusher (HD, 18:16): Cast and crew discuss the process of crafting a remake, the characters, casting, themes, the plot, and more.
• Premiere Q&A with the Director, Producer and Cast (SD, 12:15): Jason Solomon hosts Executive Producer Nicolas Winding Refn, Actors Agyness Deyn and Richard Coyle, and Director Luis Prieto for a chat before the premiere.

Pusher Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Pusher flirts with a stale structure and dramatic irrelevance, but whatever cliché and tired plot devices are present are masked by a quality technical assembly, strong acting, and a fascinating glimpse into a dark world in which there are no heroes but rather only people maneuvering through life with whatever advantage they can get or leverage they can use, and that usually means something bad for everyone else and, probably in the end, the one working the system, too. Pusher is no classic, but it's a solid entry into a rather stale British Crime cinema landscape. Anchor Bay's Blu-ray release of Pusher features fantastic video and audio. Unfortunately, the supplements are sparse. Recommended.