FILM REVIEW: Bullhead

A gritty film set against the backdrop of cattle ranching and the "hormone mafia", Bullheaduses the structure of a crime drama to flesh out interesting, tortured and layered characters - until the cops-and-robbers dynamic throttles the plot.

Director: Michaël R Roskam

Cast: Matthias Schoenaerts, Frank Lammers, Jeanne Dandoy

Up until that point, however, Bullhead is not short of surpri ses and riveting performances from its Belgian cast.

Jacky (Matthias Schoenaerts) is a second-generation cattle man, one who's been injecting his cows with growth hormones since he was a child. That practice is forbidden in Belgium, but allowed in the US. Back at home, Jacky's got a fridge full of steroids with which he injects himself, resulting in a bulky physique and fits of rage.

Lest you assume that director Michaël R Roskam - in his feature debut - is making an obvious parallel between the two, Bullhead takes us back to Jacky's childhood and the horrifying incident which leads to his present-day juicing. And Jacky's not the only one who is still scarred by that trauma - his cousin and one-time best friend, Diederik (Jeroen Perceval), also remains affected.

The film works best as it lets us into the characters' heads - from Jacky's coping mechanisms and clumsy attempts at courtship with his childhood crush Lucia (Jeanne Dandoy), the owner of a perfume boutique, to Diederik's awkward flirtation with a policeman to whom he is providing information as part of a sting operation against hormone smugglers.

Even though the crime story winds up overwhelming the proceedings - there's an ongoing subplot about a policeman's murder - it's the characters who make Bullhead so powerful and unique.

Roskam clearly trusts his audience to follow along, giving us subtle clues and unspoken sentiments without sharply underlining everything or connecting the dots for people who haven't been paying much attention.

The trio of leads are thoroughly captivating, particularly Schoenaerts, who's got one of the most arresting physiognomies since Tom Hardy's breakout role in Bronson. Even before Jacky speaks, his face and body are already telling us a story. It's a heartbreaking performance that puts the actor, who apparently gained 27kg to play the role, firmly in the one-to-watch category.

Roskam, too, belongs there. Bullhead may have its minor flaws, but the details - from a mob sit-down at a racetrack to the regional Belgian prejudices between Flemish and Walloon criminals - all seem just right.

Even if Roskam leaves the Oscars empty-handed, this first-time filmmaker has crafted an impressive calling card. - Reuters

• Bullhead opens at cinemas today

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