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Nicolas Winding Refn's Pusher 1-3 is my favorite trilogy of danish film history. Pusher II (2004) is the best part of it. I have been a follower of Refn's work ever-since I saw his directional debut Pusher (1996) the first time. It had a great dynamic, it was brutally honest and it had a documentary-style (hand-held camera, great method-acting etc.) that gave it an authentic feeling.

The story-line: Small-time gangster Tonny (Mads Mikkelsen) is released from prison, but quickly returns to the criminal underworld and gets hired by his father "Smeden" (Leif Sylvester): a big-time gangster highly respected in the underworld. But Tonny has a hard time earning his father's respect, and on top of that, he discovers that Charlotte (Anne Sørensen): a girl he once had sex with, has given birth to his child. Tonny has a hard time making the right decisions, and one day he agrees to help his friend Kusse-Kurt (Kurt Nielsen) purchase heroin worth of 80.000 danish kroner from big-time pusher Milo (Zlatko Buric), but since they are high off cocaine and paranoid they accidentally throw the heroin in the toilet, as they think a police-man enters the room. Now they have a big problem. They have to get 80.000 kroner very quickly...

In 2004 Nicolas Winding Refn almost went bankrupt, because his previous film Fear X (2002) which was shot on a big-budget in Canada, did horribly in the theaters and at box-office. Refn knew that a sequel for Pusher would do very well (Pusher 1 was the most engrossing debut film ever of Denmark) and the universe of the film had lots of artistic possibilities - therefore he decided on making it a trilogy. And Refn very much proofed that it is possible to make artistically interesting films out of rather commercial interests.

It could be argued that Pusher 1 glamorized the gangster/drug underworld at times. This is NOT the case in Pusher II. Although Pusher 1 did show the decay of a cold man in a cold milieu, we never really got into his feelings. In Pusher II we get to feel the pain and coldness (even when Tonny himself doesn't). Pusher II is a docu-drama based on realism (like Pusher 1), and only three characters are real actors. The rest of the cast consists of people off the street, and this very much adds to its authenticity. They do a great job! The second half of the film has a few very beautiful artistic scenes (almost dream-like) that almost pauses the film and gives its audience time for reflecting. In the scenes we see very dominant red colors and the music is almost ambient-like. A great idea that works very well - even in such a realistic film.

Mads Mikkelsen, Leif Sylvester and Zlatko Buric do terrific jobs. They are (as usual) very professional and passionate actors. But the real surprise is the untrained street-actors. They add SO much to the realism and rawness of the film. Pusher II is shot on DV-camera with a hand-held style, but it's far from Dogme. Many scenes look terrific, and the playing with distinctive colors red and green works well. I also have to give credit to Peterpeter's great rock/80's synthesizer soundtrack. It really under-builds the scenes in a scary way.

I highly recommend Pusher II (and the rest of the trilogy) to everyone! A perfect example of an artistic film that actually works for all audiences! 9/10

After Refn made an unsuccessful English-language debut with 2003's "Fear X," he returned to Denmark to shoot parts two and three of "The Pusher Trilogy." But the new films aren't a continuation, and the layoff didn't dull Refn's ability to tell an engaging crime story. In "Pusher 2: With Blood On My Hands," the film explores a drug-dealer's former sidekick as he deals with new challenges in the world of crime, drugs, and becoming a father.

Frank's ex-sidekick from the first film, Tonny, wonderfully played by Mads Mikkelsen is fresh out of prison. Tonny is eager to prove his worth as earner and son to his crime boss father (Leif Sylvester Petersen), known as the Duke. Routinely called a loser by everyone he knows -- he practically invites abuse by sporting a tattooed "respect" on the back of his bald head. Tonny also tries to ingratiate himself with his recalcitrant father (Leif Sylvester Petersen), who can hardly trust him with anything. The back-breaking straw is the appearance of a baby that Tonny's old non-girlfriend (Anne Sorensen) claims is his. The bitterness and betrayal mounts as Tonny begins to wonder if he should rewrite his life, and the fate of the neglected infant.

At its core, the film about is about broken families and serves as a stark reminder of the lasting effects on our actions can have on future generations. Tonny's entire life has been spent on only one thing: trying to gain the approval of his father. And not only that he learns on his release that he is very likely the father of a baby boy, one so neglected by his junkie mother that he hasn't even been given a name yet. Refn is painting a bleak picture of a child without a chance. He is in complete control behind the camera, but this film belongs purely and simply to Mikkelsen. He is absolutely stunning, flawlessly embodying the insecurities and desire that drives Tonny. Against all odds, Tonny becomes a sympathetic hero in an increasingly tragic tale. It's not hard to spot the need that drives his self-destructive behavior: it's practically written all over his face - or at least the back of his head.

Dedicated to Hubert Selby Jr., Pusher II moves in the familiar territory of the New York writer, night scenes populated by strippers, drug addicts and hopeless petty criminals. Unlike Last Stop Brooklyn, and the first movie in the trilogy, Pusher ends on a high, pun not intended, with a glimmer of hope to illuminate the Scandinavian night that most of this movie seems to embrace.

Eight years have gone by since Frank from Pusher broke Tonny's head with a baseball bat. Frank is now gone, and Tonny, the eternal screwup, seeks criminal success working for the big boss himself: his father. What he finds of course is deceit, empty violence, cocaine-fueled failures of all kinds.

Even when seeking redemption in a loveless world Nicolas Winding Refn's characters are still unable to talk except that with fists or knives, unable to act or to stop acting if not by chemically quelling one's fears. This movie is less violence, but perhaps even scarier than Pusher II. It is because of the absolute absence of human empathy or maybe just because is a little bit of Tonny in all of us.

Just like Pusher, Pusher 2 presents you with a world of rain, seaweed and concrete. Mybe not even concrete but mere plain dirt.

Although not as strong as Pusher it still grabs you and keeps you in its arms through the entire journey of Tony's confusing and degrading life, right out of prison.

Fragile and non-existing relationships develop back and fourth and eventually it is obvious why the main character is where he is in life; near the bottom of a downslope. Violence and drugs mixed with maybe not so unexplainable relations hands you a bitter and sad father and son situation.

As a fan of all of Winding Refn's movies, this is up there with Pusher (1) and Bronson. A painfully realistic picture of the Scandinavian crime underworld, with very few winners and many, many losers ruining their lives. This movie does not hold back on anything - it's not the Hollywood glorifying tale about "career criminals" - it shows the reality of this life, with no honour and so many betrayals. Tonny is a character from the first Pusher movie, this time just out of a jail sentence, returning to his former associates, with no money, no real friends and no assets whatsoever, seeking refuge at his crime boss father, who has always despised him and humiliated him.

Desperate to make some kind of livelihood and impress his dad, "Smeden", he turns to some old companions, only to find betrayal in return. He's not "tough enough", more sensitive and unsecure than others in his crowd, and pays a heavy price for it. There's no winners or losers here; It's the real world, and it will leave you emotionally drained after seeing it, but if you are looking for a realistic depiction of a modern criminal's haunting, gruesome and stressful life - look no further.

Our protagonist, Tonny, is an ex-con and general screwup who just about everyone dislikes, for good reasons. His father, girlfriend, co-workers and most of his associates consider him to be the biggest goober head around, and from his actions you won't think they are far wrong.

There is a lot of drug use in the film, but not much dealing, so the title is a bit misleading. However, the movie is good because of the excellent acting and the general zaniness of the plot; you never know what kind of mistake Tonny is going to make next. What's sure is that he will make one, and probably in the next couple of minutes. He's the kind of guy you can like on the screen but would be horrified to find living next door.

Mads Mikkelsen as Tonny is awesome; he's about as far from the part of Le Chiffre in Casino Royale as a character could get. At first I had a hard time believing it was the same actor.

Watch this when you're in the mood for a Danish gangster film featuring some madcap fun and general foolishness.

'Pusher II (2004)' follows Mads Mikkelsen as Tonny, a side-character from Pusher '(1996)', as he once again exits prison and tries to earn his father's respect by stealing cars for his dodgy business. As he begins to adjust back to non-incarcerated life, he comes to discover that he himself may have a son. The film can be easily watched without having seen its predecessor, despite the fact that it features a couple of the same characters and makes one or two references to that prior title's plot. It's quite a bit different from that movie, too. It isn't an exercise in ratcheting tension and increasing desperation, rather it's a relatively introspective drama about fatherhood and, more specifically, the central character's relationship to it. He strives for a connection with his cold and uncaring dad, while struggling to reconcile his own responsibility to the child he may or may not have fathered. Ultimately, it's about breaking the cycle of apathy that has trapped the fairly unintelligent protagonist in a world of small-time crime, emotional (and physical) impotence and an absence of love. Of course, the flick still deals with bad men who do bad things (particularly to women) and get paid for it, but there's an aspect of tenderness - however subtle or, even, intangible it may be - that makes this story much more affecting than it otherwise would be. As such, it's an experience that will stay with you for longer than 'Pusher (1996)' and, for my money, that makes it better. The movie isn't always especially compelling, primarily because its pacing drags a little here and there, but it's always entertaining enough to keep you engaged. It's also varied in terms of tone, often going from dark comedy to poignant tragedy and back again, which keeps you on your toes and prevents any significant boredom. The picture feels cohesive overall, with a solid understanding of its themes and the patience required to really hammer home its emotional elements. Even though it may seem like a brash crime saga on the surface, it's actually a rather considered art film that sneakily delivers a surprisingly solid character study. Mads Mikkelsen is superb in the starring role, subtly portraying a litany of emotions often without even saying a word. Overall, this is a considered and affecting picture that makes you care about its protagonist despite his sometimes brutish nature.

I've seen Pusher II during the Thriller and Film Noir Film festival in Cognac. It was a shock at the end. When lights were on, people don't say a word. The last time I was so mute was at the end of "once were warriors". The violence in Pusher II is so realistic, so close, so terrifying for the future of all the characters than we really hope there will be something, even very little, happy at the end to help us to breath. The main character seems to be a bad guy but he's a loser, looking for the love of a father. All his past, aka his friends, family, etc... are lost. i've met the director, he said this a real look on a way of life in his country; but don't think it's just outside : this story can exists everywhere. Some sequences are like nightmare without sleeping. And for the hero, the last hope in his life is a baby, his son, but for what kind of life ? Incredible, powerful, beautiful, PUSHER II mixes all these feelings to be one of the best movie of this year, a movie which marks your spirit like hot steel.

This movie - like Pusher - has a really unique atmosphere. There is something completely mesmerizing about it. Even though it has little action it is interesting and intense. The main character is a criminal who is struggling with himself and those around him. He wants his crime boss father to love him, to respect him. In order to accomplish this he has to prove himself as a hardworking criminal. As a viewer we want to see if he succeeds as a criminal and earns the respect from his father, or if cuts ties with the criminal environment he has been in for so long.

I gave it 7/10 stars.

Pusher II follows Tony after he is released from prison. Everyone seems to think he is a retarded bum. As the movie develops, it starts to turn out that Tony is much more than that. Tony evolves into an anti-hero, and you definitely get sucked into his character.

Pusher II is anything but a follow-up to Pusher I. As said in previous reviews, it's a film 'on it's own'. Frank from Pusher I is only mentioned briefly. A small appearance of Milo from Pusher I is also in place.

This is a great film with a lot of depth in the Tony character. It's flawlessly acted and the cinematography is gritty, just right for this kind of movie.

If you liked Pusher I, you'll like Pusher II. Pusher 3 is also coming shortly....

Pusher II keeps the great acting and very good direction of Pusher, but it loses some plot-wise. Whereas Pusher felt like a story from beginning to end, Pusher II feels more like a collection of well crafted scenes.

Also the director slightly over-establishes Tony's emotional state, in showing scene after scene how impotent he is, how unloving his father is and how everyone views him as sh-t. He does get away with it though, since the acting and directing overshadows it anyhow.

As a sequel you might ask why it was made - but as for acting and direction, this is as good as it gets.

Mads Mikkelsen is awesome, almost superhuman, in his acting here but the movie is quite disappointing. I had seen nr 1 and 3 and now saw this one. Unfortunately it follows the trend of pointless testosterone in Danish gangster movies. Milo only appears briefly. Bodnia does not appear at all. I love Refn as a director and it is not really his fault. The directing and script is great. The supporting actors are so weak as to almost ruin the movie. Mikkelsens dad looks more like Jørgen Leth than a gangster. The acting is so totally amateurish and indeed many of them are not professional actors, I guess. Anyway, this movie (and all of Refn's movies) is still worth seeing.

PUSHER II: WITH BLOOD ON MY HANDS is a sequel to the Nicolas Winding Refn's 1996 feature debut, and this time the story follows Tonny (Mads Mikkelsen) who just got out of prison and is looking to straighten out his life. Of course with these types of movies, you can usually guess that it will be really difficult and the person will likely fail despite their best efforts. Without spoiling anything, I can say that the resolution to this oft-told story isn't as downbeat as you might think. Mads Mikkelsen, my favorite part of PUSHER, does an even better job this time around as his character is further developed and easier to root for. The filmmaking style is much the same also but doesn't have the quite the same narrative structure, which works a little better in my opinion. The strongest part of this film is the writing, which does a good job of setting Tonny apart from the filth that surround him. Sure, his hands aren't really clean, but he's pretty tame compared to the people around him. Even the tattoo on the back of his head ('Respect') gets some significance, as it's the one thing he never gets from anyone, not even his father. Respect is always beyond his reach and field of vision. And that's just a single example of how PUSHER II is thematically deeper than its predecessor. I do think the basic story it tells is one that, like PUSHER, has been done before and better, but a criminal/junkie trying to go straight is ultimately a more compelling story by default. From a technical standpoint, the cinematography, while still digital, is greatly improved and the hand-held camera-work feels more controlled. I didn't mention this with PUSHER, but with this film also the score and soundtrack are incredible. In this one particularly, there was some of the electronic-style music that would feature heavily in DRIVE and ONLY GOD FORGIVES. Overall, PUSHER II is a significant improvement over PUSHER that has a more sympathetic lead character, compelling story, and one of Mads Mikkelsen's best early performances. Even if you didn't care for PUSHER, I would still highly recommend seeing this sequel.

I really liked PUSHER, but PUSHER 2, is even better. I just saw it and it's already one of my favorite movies of all-time. Great character development in Tony's role, also his father is is very well portrayed without spending much time on that. Also the cinematography and the direction are great, they should be taught in seminars on how to make a great action-drama-neo noir thriller. And the music!! The music is just amazing.

I really impressive and empathic view of a low life in Copenhagen criminal underworld.

Really interesting and fascinating look at the lowest part of the criminal underworld and the people in the bottom are kind of stupid.

The main character is such a pathetic and sad person, only thing keeping him up is Coke, and is just you want to see him get a backbone. Sad person used and Push round by everybody around him, and love by no one it's an interesting movie but also sad.

In Italian gangster movie they have class, in more organized crime movies they have an a code, but this one feels so dirty like this is the bottom of everything. That is a code but the code is does Daddy like this.

Movie colors really stains out, the greens of sickness the yellows of disgust and t the red color of hate and intense feelings.

Really good casting really feels like the low life of Copenhagen brought forth and the women of Amager are shown in bad but really funny Light.

Good cinematography funny dialogue that felt like Copenhagen. And the good soundtrack. It's not as good as the first movie, but this is going its own Direction that is way more sad, and tragic.

I have learned that people criticize PusherII for not having the same high pace as the first pusher movie did. It is important not to expect more of the same if you have chosen to watch pusherII. The first pusher movie concentrates on, and describes the drug dealer Frank. Pusher II, follows Franks former partner Tonny. He's the one being beaten by Frank with a baseball bat in pusher. Tonny and Frank are to very different personalities and the story being told in PII is very different from the story in the first Pusher so it is impossible to recreate the same pace and feeling. Luckily Nicholas Winding Refn is'nt trying to repeat history, he has made a whole new movie, which is entirely it's "own". PusherII is a fascinating and frightening story of Tonny the lowlife and his slow climb towards a meaningful life. PusherII equals the first Pusher.

Pusher II (With Blood On My Hands) is the second instalment of Nicolas Winding Refn's Pusher Trilogy. This time the focus is on Tonny (Mads Mikkelsen), fresh out of prison, who is trying to reconnect with his father(Leif Sylvester), who has his hand in various criminal activities. But pops doesn't want him around, has no love for Tonny, whom he thinks is an embarrassment. And it's his spurn of Tonny, that sets Tonny on a course of defiance.

Love.

The 2004 Danish sequel to the 1996 original. Focusing now on the lead's right hand man from the first film, played by Mads Mikkelsen, who has just been released from jail (whether by some infraction he committed before in the previous entry or some other incident we're never told) as he injects himself into the life of his criminal father where he hopes to pick up where he left off but no sooner does he greet his dear ol' dad, he shows up as his garage w/a stolen Ferrari all smiles only to get browbeaten. From there he hooks up w/a garage buddy & goes through a series of misadventures (along the way he finds out he fathered a child from a woman who can't stand him) w/a botched drug deal (the drug supplier, again played by Zlatko Buric, provides the dope) which puts Mikkelsen's partner on the run which becomes more entrenched when we find out Mikkelsen's dad is the person his partner owes the front money to. Definitely better than the last installment (crisper lensing w/a pretty good car heist a highlight) but the same dour & devil may care outlook sinks the majority of the film w/only a glimpse of hope seen at the end which makes the future just a smidge brighter.

Great film. It's been a long time since the first, so my expectations were not all that high .

We have seen about 100 films about Danish criminal society lately and I thought the subject was being a little over-exploited, but fortunately I was very positively surprised.

Don't expect it to be as much of an adrenaline rush as the first, though it certainly has its moments. However, the society is depicted in a very ruthless manner, as not being all-that-cool after all... The film is great, we follow Tony, he's pretty much like a dog thats been beat too much. Go see it!

Tony is released from prison - again. This time he has his mind set on changing his broken down life, but that is easier said than done (plot).

The movie is unusual in the crime movie genre, or at least in Hollywood versions. We usually see portrayals of the guy who comes from nothing, gets rich as a Mafia boss or drug dealer, and takes a fall in a big way. "With Blood on My Hands: Pusher II" is the more personal story of a big, sad kid trying to please his dad, who happens to be involved in the world of crime, Finally the actors (Mads Mikkelsen, Leif Sylvester and Zlatko Buric) do terrific jobs. They are (as usual) very professional and passionate actors.

'Pusher II' improves upon its predecessor, if only by a little.

I found this 2004 flick to be comparatively more pleasant to watch, not in terms of a lack of violence or anything (there's plenty!) but more so just as a film in general - it feels more well made and a bit more progressive story-wise. It's still nothing perfect or anything that enthralled me at all, but I definitely class it highly (albeit minorly) than 'Pusher'.

I would've preferred a sequel that followed up with Kim Bodnia's Frank, at least character-wise anyway as actor-wise Mads Mikkelsen is the one I'd prefer to watch instead. Mikkelsen puts in a good performance, 8 years on from his acting debut in the original. Away from Mads, Leif Sylvester Petersen is probably the standout - though all the support cast are pretty much level with each other to be honest.

I'm interested to see where the third and final flick from this series goes, given Mads Mikkelsen's absence and, from what I gather from the tiniest of look-ups out of pure nosiness, Kim Bodnia's continued disappearance. Viaplay recommended 'Pusher 3' at the end of this film and their promo image features Zlatko Buric, so I know he makes it a hat-trick of appearances at least.

I put this DVD in my queue because the director, Nicolas Refn, went on to direct "Drive", which made many critics best lists for 2011. So I was curious what his appeal was from his earlier films. Filmed in Denmark, this is definitely a low budget film that seems to be more of an independent effort than a studio film. Fans of "Drive" may see this as a chance to witness the director's distinct style. You will notice the use of heavy colour and throbbing Euro-dance synthesiser music to set the tone for moments of tense danger as our main character walks into a room. Tonny, the main character, is almost a cartoon character in the way he makes bumbling mistakes all the time. It is a great achievement by actor Mads Mikkelson to portray him as very human and emotionally frail. Otherwise this film would fail to earn any sympathy or interest. Shot in hand-held documentary style, this small film follows shady characters in their garage to their small homes and the whore-house. The dialogue at times feels improvised, and less happens over the course of the film than one would expect. On the other hand, careful attentions was paid to make sure the story didn't fall into an easy trap of cliché crime drama. As we try to figure out the intentions of Tonny, he does something unexpected. It helped create a character arc eventually. My guess is the the first film of this trilogy provides necessary character background that is missing in this film. However, as a standalone film, one can appreciate what other film producers saw in this director and brought him on board to something bigger. Refn was able to successfully translate his unique vision with an actual budget in "Drive".

It might be hard to recommend this film to a non-European audience that might not be used to such low budget productions. But if you compared it to some independent efforts that make their way into local film festivals, you can find some appreciation in the personal touches that help make the film stand out. In this case you have a charismatic lead actor, a director's appealing vision, and a story that defies expectations.

It would have been so natural for "Pusher II: With Blood On My Hands" to pick up where the original film left off, but writer/director Refn makes the bold and brilliant decision to not so much make a sequel, as an "equal".

The connective tissue is all there; this is very much set in the same grimy, smalltime criminal underworld of Copenhagen, and retains some of the same characters such as an appearance by Zlatko Buric's drug lord Milo, but this time the spotlight is on Tonny - the sidekick played by Mads Mikkelsen in the first film.

Mikkelsen was great in "Pusher" - playing a dead-eyed thug who seemed to want to cause chaos because he had nothing better to do. If you had told me that Refn and Mikkelsen were going to put Tonny centre stage in the sequel and examine what's made the man, and what might be ahead for him, I would have said that's either brilliant or very stupid.

Luckily, these guys are at the top of their game and it comes off wonderfully. Refn resisted the impulse to replicate the propulsive man-on-a-mission structure of his first film, allowing for a slightly more relaxed pace. The engine of the plot is once again set in motion by the need of a man to earn money to pay off his drug debts but Refn expands on the glimpses we saw in the first film of the criminals personal life by introducing Tonny's father; a notorious local crime boss.

Refn is interested in how men become who they are - how the pressure from our fathers and our peers to be tough, to be violent, to be ruthless, and to make money has a devastating effect on how we grow, or fail to.

Tonny has no desires other than to have a good time, and to earn a place in his father's affections through proving himself as a criminal, but upon learning that he may have a son, there is a gradual, nagging dawning in Tonny that maybe there should be something more.

Refn offers no models of manhood other than the cut throat criminals Tonny has always been around. It makes change for Tonny difficult, and Mikkelsen etches the slow personal growth perfectly. There is no big revelatory moment, just a man looking about in moments of quiet and asking himself if this is what he wants.

The handheld, street level vision of Copenhagen is as believable and compelling as it was in the original, but in choosing to forge a new identity for Pusher, Refn opened up swathes of new terrain to explore.