Bullhead/Rundskop (2011) - Roskam's tragic macho crime drama debut

♥♥♥♥

+ Best Belgian Movie of the Year

Matthias Schoenaerts resembles a bull himself, bared here on the poster for Michaël R. Roskam's Bullhead

When a policeman is killed, who was investigating the hormone mafia of Belgium, it has a snowballing effect for an unhealthy muscle-beast of a man, who was disabled in his childhood.

Bullhead is written and directed by feature-debuting Michaël R. Roskam (The Drop (2014)) based on the actual 1995 murder of livestock inspector Karel Van Noppen. The film thematically wrestles with the essence of masculinity in a macho world and does so with technically impressive consistence.
Matthias Schoenaerts (Girl/Meisje (2002)) creeps completely into his self-destructive, traumatized character here. Luckily the film has humor and a lively pace, because the story is very dark and oppressive.
I think Bullhead may be a bit overrated, or perhaps it is just that I can't identify with its blunted protagonist and the film therefore seems somewhat distant for me. Still this is a strong and different kind of film that's recommendable for anyone up for such a treat.

Related post:

2011 in films and TV-series - according to Film Excess [UPDATED III] 

Matthias Schoenaerts talks about the film here

Cost: Estimated 2 mil. €, or approximately 2.36 mil. $
Box office: Reportedly approximately 5.4 mil. $
= Some uncertainty, but likely a minor flop
[Bullhead premiered 2 February (Berlin International Film Festival) and runs 128 minutes. Shooting took place in Belgium. The film opened #60 to a 32k $ in 7 theaters in North America, where it peaked in 34 theaters and grossed 151k $ (2.8 % of the total gross). The film made almost all of its money in its native Belgium, reportedly 4.3 mil. € or approximately 5.07 mil. $ (93.9 %) in rentals. Roger Ebert gave the film a 3/4 star review, translating to the same level as this review. The film was nominated for the Best Foreign Film Oscar, which it lost to Asghar Farhadi's great A Separation. It won 2 AFI Fest Awards, was nominated for a César Award (France's Oscar), won 4 out of 9 Magritte Awards (Belgium's Oscar) and several other awards and honors. Roskam returned with American crime drama The Drop (2014). Bullhead is certified fresh at 86 % with a 7/10 critical average at Rotten Tomatoes.]

What do you think of Bullhead?