Frank is a minor London drug dealer, coasting by in life, selling to habitual users and nightclub patrons. When an opportunity for a huge, one-time deal arises, Frank spies a chance to make a killing with little effort and takes a large shipment from his supplier. When things go awry and Frank is left with no drugs and no money, he ends up resorting to drastic measures to pay back his huge debt in the unforgiving timeframe he is given.
Pusher is a remake of the 1996 Danish film of the same name, whose success effectively launched the careers of director Nicolas Winding Refn and supporting star Mads Mikkelsen.
If there is anyone for whom Richard Coyle still remains Jeff from Coupling’, Pusher will drastically alter their perceptions. In place of the Welsh cloudcuckoolander is a man calm and stoic when unprovoked but violent when necessary. Instead of the ruthless sadist that dealers are often portrayed as, Frank is a three-dimensional character with hopes, ambitions and fears. Indeed, part of the plot involves his plan to elevate himself from the small time via a large drug shipment from Amsterdam, which inconveniently ties up his finances at the exact point he needs them the most.
Rounded personalities also extend to the nominal villains. Serbian drug lord Milo (Zlatko Buri?, reprising his role from the original trio of films) is pleasant and friendly when things go to plan, but will not hesitate to turn hostile if he feels he has been crossed. Likewise, his enforcer Hakan is no stranger to violence, but speaks of it matter-of-factly and takes no joy in inflicting it.
The supporting characters of Frank’s world add degrees of realism to proceedings. Tony is Frank’s somewhat gormless sidekick. Acting mostly as comic relief mainly due to his being nowhere near as tough or sexy as he thinks he is his practical use as Frank’s assistant is somewhat dubious. A touch of heart to the gritty underworld is added by Flo, an exotic dancer who also acts as Frank’s banker. Although the precise nature of their relationship is unclear, it’s obvious they share some degree of intimacy.
As the week of Frank’s life speeds by and his plans to fix his myriad problems start to crumble, his desperation becomes ever more palpable. The lengths that escalating events force him to resort to in order to ensure his continued survival elicit increasing sympathy. That the film can make you care about a criminal whose career is pretty much unjustifiable is the mark of highly skilled storytelling.
Overall Verdict: Short, fast and brutal, Pusher pulls no punches and offers no apologies. Few remakes stand up to comparison to their source, but happily this is in the minority of exceptions.
Reviewer: Andrew Marshall