Bang Bang You're Dead (2003)

I have to say the main character in this film reminds me a lot of myself. Depression, bullying, and suicidal thoughts are things that plague me to this day. But strangely enough this is the only film that comes to mind as far as something I can truly relate to. The whole film showcases a compelling story supported by great acting and writing. This film is something that should be shown to high school students because bullying is a very largely ignored problem that could lead to things such as suicide and mass school shootings.This is definitely one of my favorite films but not many people would understand the true feelings expressed in this film. If you are majorly depressed this film comes to be almost life changing. I will keep this film in my mind and heart to keep going and I more than highly recommend this film. That isn't all I have to say but for now it's enough thanks for reading my review.

Bullying, it's something that has been ongoing for decades in schools, at work, in clubs and even on the street. Some people are aware of it and walk by it, pretending that by not paying it any attention it will eventually go away. Others are oblivious to the fact that it even exists.Children are like fragile caterpillars that are shaped by society and parents who possess the utmost responsibility to aid those youngsters in morphing into majestic butterflies. But, it doesn't always go as planned and something along the way hinders that process.Bang Bang You're Dead sheds light on a much overlooked subject – bullying. The movie's beauty lies in the fact that it does not point the finger at a single individual as one would expect it to. It simply gives you the facts and leaves you as the sole judge in the matter. The movie revolves around a high school, the birthplace and current habitat of bullying. It shows us the details we, more often than not, neglect. It emphasizes the presence of trigger factors that steer the acts of savagery we hear about in the news. So, in short, it gives us the raw and dreadful truths that we are just never told.The movie shows us the immense role the parents play in every kid's life. Parents should be the shoulder that every child can lean on, and even though they may sometimes be at fault, even though they may be ignorant to what is really going on, they cannot be fully blamed. Then we move on to the authorities in charge, and the educators, who fall short when it comes to carrying out their duties simply by failing to see the big picture. They disregard acts of harassments between students as "child play" and are then astounded when those acts have brutal outcomes. The movie stresses on how those in charge should seek to view both sides of the story, for they hold the key to alleviating such unnecessary catastrophes.The one thing I found most striking about this film was how it gave the limelight to every single character, giving them a chance to tell their story for a change. It was simply grand, how no one person was singled out as the "victim", how no one was portrayed as a "saint". There are actions and to every one of those actions there is a reaction which may not be equal, contrary to belief. Sometimes, it's even greater. One cruel act can lead to relentless hatred…and that's where it all begins.For the first time we find ourselves confronted with the idea that acts of hostility and those who carry them out do not go without justification. This film does that so elegantly without ever leaning towards condoning those deeds.By the end of the film we are hit by the realization that we each have a part to play, even if we were unaware of it – and should we disappoint in doing our part, it leads to a spiral of events that only seen to go downhill. We are all part of a chain which merely becomes an ornament should one of us flunk their task.The movie leaves us asking ourselves – who is really at fault here. And the answer is simple – we all are. Kids are being bullied every day – and it's not going to stop until we all take a stance and face ourselves. Because whether we like it or not, we all play a role in this and only when we comprehend that obligation will we truly put an end to this, once and for all.7.5/10

What Fast Times was to the 80s, Bang Bang may be to 2002. Entirely different films tone-wise, these two titles may, nevertheless, present each decade's primary concerns revealingly.Bang, Bang, You're Dead gets its title from a play of the same name. That play examines the conscience of a fictional high school boy who went on a killing rampage not dissimilar to the fairly recent all to real ones.Bang, Bang, the movie provides us with a reason to believe that the play is a necessary one. Trevor, the main character, seems to be (to have been) on the brink of the kind of meltdown that could lead to columbine type violence. We encounter Trevor in the middle of his story, as the previous year saw him in trouble for a threat of violence. As a result of this outburst, Trevor is looked upon with suspicion by almost all of the other members of his community. Instead of receiving support from those tasked with being concerned about his welfare, he instead is objectified into a certain kind of _character_ whose options are limited.Mr. Cavanagh gives us a fine performance of what is more or less his TV character, Ed, thrust into the well-meaning and perhaps wiser than the rest of the community, theatre teacher who believes in Trevor's fitness for high school. Despite the outrage of the community, he wants to cast Trevor as the lead character in the play Bang Bang, You're Dead. Unfortunately, the folks in the town only know the basic elements of the play, as is indicated by their systematic failure to correctly recite the title.A study of the tenuous connections that hold a community together, and how those connections can lead to tension that pushes the breaking point, Bang, Bang shows us that we are not always as free from responsibility of our outcasts as we might suppose.Where the film "Bully" gave us a fairly unsympathetic case of teenage power dynamics and the explosive results, Bang Bang takes an intensive (and realistic) look into the conditioning done within high school halls. In the present mood of paranoia about the threats from outside of US culture, it's important for us to see that even in what might seem to be the most protected of our inner sanctums, we may force some elements of ourselves into an almost violent desperation. That this could occur to a middle class white male in a most similarly raced and classed environment, hopefully gives us pause when we think about the marginalization we force on those further from the so-called center.

A troubled teenage boy, Trevor Adams (Ben Foster) returns to his high school for his sophomore year after being expelled for threatening to blow up the high school football team. This time he carries a video camera everywhere he goes, catching things on film usually ignored by administrators in the high school setting. He is casted as the main character in the school play, "Bang Bang You're Dead", in hopes to bring the town to understand what drives these kids to hurt their classmates and shoot up their schools.I've read mixed reviews on this film, but I honestly can't understand why anyone would only give this film one star. People complain about the cliché cliques (well those usually exist in the high school setting), the "teacher who cares" cliché (well, he was needed to drive the point home), and the fact that the "loser" caught the interest of a semi-attractive girl. (Well, he's not exactly ugly, and she has a mind of her own. How is that unrealistic? I've seen it happen a lot.)These clichés are hardly evident to most viewers - I've seen the film twice and barely noticed them. Who cares if there are clichés as long as the film makes a point and does it well? That's what made me rate this film so high. It moved me, it made me think, and it aroused mixed emotions within me. Anger at the ignorance and the bullying, hopeful that Trevor will make everyone see the truth in a nonviolent way, and relief that a film had the balls to point out that the thing many schools turn their back on is the cause of many school shootings.The cast was amazing, especially Ben Foster as Trevor. He really brought the character to life, and I doubt the film would have had the same effect on the viewers if he wasn't in it. The supporting cast did a good job as well, but his performance was the most memorable to me.I loved this film and I feel it does a great job of showing what these students go through every day - and they do it without having to use profanity. It shows that a little violence, and even the slightest name calling can push someone over the edge. It's intense, and probably one of my favorite films to come out after the year 2000.