BULLHEAD (Rundskop) (2011) - ♦♦♦♦

Directed by - Michael R. Roskam

Written by - Michael R. Roskam

Starring - Matthias Schoenaerts

"BULLHEAD is the story of a young cattle farmer who is approached by a veterinarian to make a shady deal with a notorious beef trader. But the murder of a federal policeman and a confronation with a mysterious and traumatic secret past event in the young man's life sets off a dangerous trail of events. 

ROSKAM's film, which was inspired by the true events surrounding the killing of a high-profile government livestock inspector, can be described as a testosterone fuelled melodrama. It has clear structural flaws. An awkward use of flashbacks makes the story seem a little too intricate, and sometimes even gets in the way of what would otherwise have been a perfect and constant build up of a dense and violent tension that then erupts gloriously in its powerful final sequence. 

Nevertheless, ROKSAM's character study remains compelling throughout. This is not only because of the enigmatic nature of the leading character Jacky, who dominates the story's narrative. It is also most notably due to MATTHIAS SCHOENAERTS in a masterful, magnetic turn. 

As the leading character, SCHOENAERTS carries with credibility the complexity of his character, that shifts from constant extremes of emotions quite abruptly. Aside from the skill of portraying this side of his character, that could easily have gotten out of hand, it is also the visual impact of his imposing physicality contrasted by his essential concealed vulnerability that contributes greatly to the impact of BULLHEAD."

Drama, Belgium/Netherlands