Very disappointing...

It's no definitive masterpiece but it's damn close.

Absolutely Fantastic

To all those who have watched it: I hope you enjoyed it as much as I do.

Growing up i was bullied and made fun of due to my weight. I was usually by myself unless with a select group of friends. I can only say that if it weren't for my mother putting me in boy scouts as a kid i may have grown up a lot different. Those who watch the movie need to remember that this isn't just a movie but a dramatic representation of what really goes on in life and its repercussions. I think this movie should be shown in all schools. It may show those who bully what can come of their actions. Or it may show students like me that were bullied there are other options. By finding one person to be your friend you are changing your whole world.

Bang Bang You're Dead is a film based on the high school production by the same name and it is easily one of the most powerful and life-changing movie I've ever seen. This film is 11 years old and talks about bullying in schools, how it's a huge problem instead of harmless fun, and how it changes students lives forever. Some students become withdrawn, others depressed, some suicidal, and in the rare cases homicidal. This film follows a bullied student, named Trevor, who is on the edge of becoming all four when his drama teachers asks him to be in the play, Bang Bang You're Dead. It is a play inspired by Columbine, that takes place inside the mind of a school shooter, who is haunted by those he killed. This leads to the main point of this film, will the teacher and play save Trevor or push him over the edge? On a personal note, I was pretty small and got bullied at school, until I hit puberty. This is the first film that was actually able to express all the emotions I've had inside of me for so long. Trevor expresses every feeling and emotion that comes along with being a victim and feeling helpless. By the end of this film, I was crying like a baby. It is honestly one of the most powerful and important films I've ever seen and I only wish that someone would have shown it to me when I was in school.

Trevor(Ben Foster, who may be trying to corner the market on "troubled youth who does have a heart"... but he sure can act(in general that's a high note in this); and hey, while he did portray Spacker Dave and Angel as well, here, he's nigh on unrecognizable as those(well, once when he yells, that's it)) used to be the perfect student. Then a year ago, something happened to change that. Then he made a bomb threat. It couldn't have exploded, he made sure of that, but ever since, fellow pupils, teachers and parents alike have been scared of him. He now documents his day with his camera(although this is in the background for oddly long... when they finally get around to it, it may be the best aspect of this), he's distant(responding to others with snark) and the only social group that don't treat him like a pariah are the so-called Trogs, the lowest on the pecking order. The one person who seems to still have faith in him is Mr. Duncan(Tom Cavanagh, and let me help: he plays JD's brother Dan), the drama instructor, who now wants him to take the lead in the titular play, as someone who did go through with what he suggested he would(which many others try to prevent from being performed). What talks him into it is that the cute newcomer, Jenny(Jane McGregor), has a role in it, too. Now the two last-mentioned have to try to help the boy. This is a well-done look at bullying, specifically in high school, and many will be able to see their own experience in this. It's realistic, psychologically credible(near the end it gets particularly spot-on, with words put to the state of being mentally tormented) and for the occasional clichés and the few portions of this that lose focus on the story, it's compelling and well-paced. Characters are reasonably developed(there is one or two subplots with them that feels unresolved by the end). Though the editing is good throughout, the filming can be bothersome. It draws attention to itself several times where it seems like it shouldn't, and the very opening is just obnoxious - hand-held, sudden fast-forwarding and artificially inserted static. This is moving, and genuinely tough to watch for all the right reasons(if it wasn't, it wouldn't be taking its subject matter seriously). There is a lot of disturbing content and a little violence and strong language in this. I recommend this to everyone. 8/10

I was very surprised to find out that a top quality film like 'Bang Bang You're Dead' is actually a made for TV movie. This is disappointing because 'Bang Bang You're Dead' is something that should reach a wider audience on an international level and this could have been done through theatre release. School shootings have been a key and very sensitive issue in America but this problem isn't only limited to the US. In fact, bullying is something that happens all over the world and the consequences are almost always serious leading to suicide and violent behaviour if not school shooting.Unlike, independent feature films, TV movies have the reputation of being preachy and overtly melodramatic. 'Bang Bang You're Dead' is neither. It is quite raw in its exposure and the way it tackles the issue at hand. It does not have that highly polished look one would associate TV and Hollywood movies with. The hand-held camera-work, the lack of music in the background and limited give it an authentic.It is also ruthless in its exposure not leaving anything to the imagination. The scenes of bullying and other forms of highschool violence are graphic and this works very effectively because that is how it really is. There is also a lot of subtlety in the depiction as it implies that what you don't see is more frightening than what you do. 'Bang Bang You're Dead' isn't merely a voyeuristic look at highschool bullies and their victims nor is it only about what drives kids to take weapons in school. The themes are handled very well within the film There is a possible solution which is already hinted in the title of the film. Saying more would be giving away the story.The performances deserve special mention. Familiar faces like Tom Cavanagh, Janel Moloney and Gillian Barber are suitably cast. However it is Ben Foster who's the driving force. Having not liked his performances in '40 Days Of Night' and 'Hostage' while being very impressed with what he did in 'Birds of America', I had mixed opinions of him as an actor but he clearly proves that given the right material he can do wonders.'Bang Bang You're Dead' is poignant and one of the most relevant movies that should be shown to all highschool students in school. I can only hope the fact that it's a TV movie does not stop anyone from seeing this. Perhaps it is too late to hope for a theatre release but the movie is still there and it should be watched.