Featured Audience Ratings

• Josh L

  
  This film should be mandatory viewing for not only kids in the age group where bullying is prevalent, but EVERYONE ELSE involved or uninformed about just how emotionally wrenching it can be for the victims. Bully features 5 stories of kids who were bullied for different reasons, from… More
  This film should be mandatory viewing for not only kids in the age group where bullying is prevalent, but EVERYONE ELSE involved or uninformed about just how emotionally wrenching it can be for the victims. Bully features 5 stories of kids who were bullied for different reasons, from being a "nerd" to openly gay, and a couple of the victims even committed suicide because they simply could not take it anymore. The parents, schoolteachers, police, and any other adult responsible for someone else's children are absolutely clueless to the situations and think there's no real problem, it's just "kids being kids". Their ignorance and lack of tolerance for what happens while they are in control of these kids is infuriating and sometimes mind-blowing. I could not believe how stupid some of them truly are. How did they even get a job as an assistant principal if they cannot properly handle these situations? The filmmakers give an unflinching look at how bullying effects more than just the victims and it just makes you want to get up an help in any way you can. As someone who was bullied (although not nearly as extensive as these kids), I can completely relate to this film. Even if you don't relate, its plea to take a deeper look is unwavering. If there is one complaint, it's that the film kind of makes you think there really aren't any answers to some of the situations, but there definitely always is a solution. Despite this minor complaint, Bully is a film I will push on anyone I can, and it should be shown in classrooms around the world as mandatory viewing.

• Sunny D

  
  "Bully" is an extremely well crafted and well directed film. The protagonists' stories are heartbreaking, but the film is a bit incomplete. I wish Hirsch had explored the storyline of at least one bully, but despite this hole, the film is a great watch. Grade: B

• Idrees K

  
  A much needed wake-up call that provides insight regarding the current state of bullying in the education system. Well executed and should come as a slap in the face for certain groups of people who may not have previously realized the damage that bullying is doing in the school… More
  A much needed wake-up call that provides insight regarding the current state of bullying in the education system. Well executed and should come as a slap in the face for certain groups of people who may not have previously realized the damage that bullying is doing in the school system.

• Everett J

  
  "Bully" is an amazing documentary about the bullying problem here in the United States. It follows a couple kids who are bullied, a girl who brought a gun on a school bus because she was being bullied, and parents of kids who committed suicide because they were bullied.… More
  "Bully" is an amazing documentary about the bullying problem here in the United States. It follows a couple kids who are bullied, a girl who brought a gun on a school bus because she was being bullied, and parents of kids who committed suicide because they were bullied. This is by far one of the saddest and most important movies I've seen in a long time. This should be shown in schools, so kids can see the devastating consequences of picking on other children. I was never really bullied in school, but I remember a couple kids who were, and I wish I could go back and be friends with them or stop some of the bullying. This is a real problem in our schools and this movie really helps shine a light on it. I almost(I said almost, but I didn't) tear up a couple times during this. Some of it is so ridiculous at how bullying is handled by teachers, that it couldn't possibly be real. But it is. I think everyone should watch this, and hopefully it will help to eventually putting a stop to this.

• Jeff "

  
  Bully is an important documentary that is truly eye opening and poignant right from the start. The issue of bullying has plagued schools kids for generations, and it is nothing new. No one deserves to be bullied and it is a problem where teenagers at times feel so helpless that they… More
  Bully is an important documentary that is truly eye opening and poignant right from the start. The issue of bullying has plagued schools kids for generations, and it is nothing new. No one deserves to be bullied and it is a problem where teenagers at times feel so helpless that they commit suicide. This film shows the toll that many experience sue to bullying and raises important questions and awareness. The film is not without its flaws, and a lot of reviewers have pointed out that the filmmaker doesn't confront those who do the bullying. Bully exposes the toll, but leaves a lot out. Everything we've seen here, we've seen it and gone through it. I did feel anger and disgust at some of the reactions of some adults and the lack of action to prevent abuse. The films shortcomings are in the one side story of those being picked on. The film would have been much more fulfilling if Lee Hirsch would have confronted the bullies and gotten the entire portrait and gravity of the issue. We see the pain that the victims go through, but we don't see any effective action to make actual changes. However, the film tells an important story and it is a must see documentary. I expected a better documentary on the subject, as I feel this is a subject that needs to be told right. Maybe this film will spark much needed debate, and spawn another much more detailed film on the bullying issue.

• Tracy K

  
  Some have criticized this film for failing to focus on actual bullies themselves, but in defence of that, I suggest while the origin and methodology of bullies bears scrutiny, this is not their film. The actual concept of bullying is what takes front and centre here, and its… More
  Some have criticized this film for failing to focus on actual bullies themselves, but in defence of that, I suggest while the origin and methodology of bullies bears scrutiny, this is not their film. The actual concept of bullying is what takes front and centre here, and its heartbreaking effect on victims and their families. Often disturbing, always frustrating...how have we been so blind to the suffering of children when this film makes it seem so obvious?

• c0up  

  
  'Bully'. Absolutely devastating. This needs to be screened in every school and seen by every parent. No one knows how bad it is.

• Jonathan H

  
  Bully definitely has an agenda, and director Lee Hirsch makes no bones about delivering on that premise, but it's an agenda that is real and that has been overlooked for far too long. To point out that the film highlights relatively isolated incidents is to completely miss the… More
  Bully definitely has an agenda, and director Lee Hirsch makes no bones about delivering on that premise, but it's an agenda that is real and that has been overlooked for far too long. To point out that the film highlights relatively isolated incidents is to completely miss the point: if one kid kills himself as a result of bullying, it's a serious problem. This documentary is a powerful and poignant wake up call to our all-too-apathetic society.

• Randy T

  
  One of those life-altering documentaries that EVERYONE should see. This isn't a perfect film but its social and ethical significance is immense.

• Tyler C

  
  Bully is a carefully well-constructed documentary on one of the biggest issues present in the public American education system, which mostly thrives off of its observation of the main subjects/victims. However there are certain parts that are overshadowed by poor camerawork, and a… More
  Bully is a carefully well-constructed documentary on one of the biggest issues present in the public American education system, which mostly thrives off of its observation of the main subjects/victims. However there are certain parts that are overshadowed by poor camerawork, and a lack of substance more than just the observing. In addition. similar to the lack of substance, the message its trying to deliver is present throughout, but it's too simple in its overall appeal. Despite the nitpickets I have with it, it's still a movie that should be seen by every pre-teen and teen across the country to be more aware of the bullying crisis in America. However like the Kony 2012 campaign, this film's promotion will simmer down after a short while.

• Matt G

  
  Full confession alert: I really disliked Bully. Discussing my hate towards the film will be tough - but it was wasted potential and horribly shot. Although bullying is a serious problem in the country, Bully fails to provide a single statistic regarding the subject. The parts shown in… More
  Full confession alert: I really disliked Bully. Discussing my hate towards the film will be tough - but it was wasted potential and horribly shot. Although bullying is a serious problem in the country, Bully fails to provide a single statistic regarding the subject. The parts shown in the film represent a small number of bully victims, while director Lee Hirsch doesn't inform us of the big picture and how important it is to make a more broad approach to the subject. Even though Hirsch has the best intentions for the film, it does not mean that it a worthwhile film. Additionally, it would have been nice to see some interviews with the bullies - not just the victims, which would make for a different perspective. This is a highly controversial film that most likely won't make a difference nor will it gain a big audience. If you're astonished that teens are doing terrible things to one-another in school and officials are unable to do anything about it, I have no idea what planet you have been living on.

• William D

  
  "Bully" is not the best film of 2012, but it is certainly one of the most important. It should be required viewing for all Americans age six and up. It's a long-overdue documentary that tackles what its press material calls "the bullying crisis in America."… More
  "Bully" is not the best film of 2012, but it is certainly one of the most important. It should be required viewing for all Americans age six and up. It's a long-overdue documentary that tackles what its press material calls "the bullying crisis in America." It chronicles the horrific torment endured at school by several children. I was especially haunted by the angel with a slightly deformed face who is mercilessly ostracized and abused almost every day. The filmmakers (who deserve some kind of national medal of honor) somehow got permission to tag along with this boy to and from school, capturing on film the abuse he receives. The abusers were not in the slightest put off by the cameras! They're proud of what they do! But the film doesn't stop there. It shows what happens when these kids tell adults about what's happening. The adults twist everything and somehow end up protecting the bullies! There's one principal in particular whose twisted mind is exposed brilliantly. I feel we need the top psychologists to wrap their minds around this and diagnose this problem. There's some bizarre psycho-social sickness running rampant in American society (and surely other countries as well) that we don't have a name for. This brave film hopefully will move us closer to diagnosis -- and then treatment.

• Aaron N

  
  Alex: I feel like I belong somewhere else. There is a certain power in seeing parents and children alike present inexcusable situations to what is supposed to be a collection of people responsible for not only teaching, but leading and protecting a student body, and have them do… More
  Alex: I feel like I belong somewhere else. There is a certain power in seeing parents and children alike present inexcusable situations to what is supposed to be a collection of people responsible for not only teaching, but leading and protecting a student body, and have them do little to stop it. In Bully, there are a number of scenes that reflect poorly on the actions that are not being taken to stop abhorrent behavior and the audience will react accordingly. This is a documentary that chronicles a few students from schools in a few different states, as they deal with being bullied, which is an interesting idea for a film topic. I do think that a proper message is established by the end of this film, which is commendable, but that said, I also think this film has issues of redundancy and focuses to closely in some areas, while staying away from others that would seem to be just as important. Still, regardless of Bully amounting to being fairly average, and despite its needless controversy, the film presents an important topic, which has enough to make it worthy of a wide audience. read the whole review at thecodeiszeek.com

• Markus R

  
  Already the most important Documentary of the year. Like a real time therapy session for anybody who has ever been bullied in school, "The Bully Project" or "Bully" as it has been retitled, may not only be responsible for stirring up more pre-release controversy… More
  Already the most important Documentary of the year. Like a real time therapy session for anybody who has ever been bullied in school, "The Bully Project" or "Bully" as it has been retitled, may not only be responsible for stirring up more pre-release controversy than any documentary in recent history, but also be one of the timeliest documentaries ever released. What director Lee Hirsch tries to do here, is give audiences and inside look at bullying in today's public schools by actually documenting a few victimized teens (ranging in ages from 12 to 16) as they are in the midst of day to day social bullying. The film begins with the story of a boy named Tyler, who killed himself as a direct result of being constantly ridiculed and physically abused from his peers at school. Hirsch films Tyler's parents as they discuss the dire epidemic that is school bullying today, and then we get to see bullying through the eyes of a child in a heartbreaking reality, as Hirsh introduces audiences to Alex, age 12. Alex is an undersized boy who is subjected to constant ridicule and scorn from his peers. And I'm not just talking about older kids at school calling him names. Hirsch follows Alex as he is seen getting his lunch stolen, physically hit in the back of the head, shoved to the ground and in one case stabbed with a pencil on the bus (as the bus driver does nothing). The tragic mental and physical abuse this child goes through will reduce many audience members to tears instantaneously. For others, the emotional damage this young man goes through on screen will be nothing less than anger inducing. If you had forgotten how bad it was being a teenager when you went to school, Alex will serve as a not so subtle reminder of how brutal some kids have it. And what's worse is Hirsch's depiction of how out of touch the adults are with their children, in conjunction with how seemingly unflinching school administrators act when confronted about bullying in their own schools. Now "Bully" may sound like a film that is subtly attempting to scapegoat teachers for not taking bullying more seriously. And there is no doubt that some anti-"Waiting For Superman" company man will ridicule this film for placing a lot of the blame on school administrators, but offering up little solutions. But while some can see this film with "blame game" glasses on, the real moral of the story here is only to show how much bullying is in fact a nationwide epidemic, that needs to be addressed in a more serious open forum than it has been (in the past). Not to take away from my review, but allow me to be critical for a moment. If I had to say that there was anything essentially wrong with Hirsch's film, I would have to bring up two points of contention: 1. On a strictly filmmaking note, and not to sound like an uncaring Bully supporting Republican or anything, let's just say (when pertaining strictly to the structure of the film) that not all bullied children are created equal. Aside from Alex, Hirsch also follows Kelby, age 16. She is a lesbian living in the South, reminiscing over all of the verbal and physical abuse she had suffered by the hands of her Bible belt, homophobic peers and teachers; to the point where she had to leave school. So, while her story is compelling, it is told from the point of view of a person who has already been through the ringer, while Alex is seen as still being in the trenches. Hirsch also followed the extreme case of a girl named Ja'Meya, age 14. Ja'Meya is a Southern girl who actually fought back, by taking a gun on the school bus with her after (what seems like) extensive bullying. Ok, so I could see where Hirsch was going with this storyline, attempting to show what a child could be reduced to do under the heightened stress of constant bullying. But watching Ja'Meya's plot play out, it became glaringly apparent that her story doesn't quite fit with the flow of this film. In fact, Ja'Meya's story brings "Bully" to a halt a few times. I really don't know how else to explain it. The truth is, all these two storylines do is amplify how compelling and truly heart-wrenching little Alex's scenes really are. In saying all of that, I am not ridiculing or downplaying what Kelby and Ja'Meya went through. I am strictly (and very slightly) ridiculing the director's storytelling abilities. And 2. "Bully" does not touch on any of the online bullying, which (in this reviewer's opinion) will serve as a HUGE mistake on the filmmaker's part. I know that Hirsch finished filming around the same time as all of the online suicides and that rather large anti bullying campaign a few years ago. So for there to be absolutely no mention of cyber-bullying in this film is rather perplexing. Final Thought: Unfortunately at times the subject matter of "Bully" is better than the film itself, even though Hirsch does daring work. What I mean by that is, that for how hard hitting his subject matter was, the filmmaking (or how the film was put together) could have been better if it would have included every aspect of bullying. In many ways this film only scratches the surface. In saying that, the film does more than serve its purpose. This isn't just a movie about the struggles of fitting in. This is an uncensored look into a bullying epidemic that up until a few years ago had been mostly swept under the rug of American society. So, even though it is doubtful that "Bully" will be the most well made documentary I see all year, it will most definitely be the most important; and one not only every child should see, but entire families should see together. Side Note: Ever since the Weinstein Company has been petitioning the MPAA to assign "Bully" a "PG-13" rating instead of the dreaded "R", there has been controversy surrounding its distribution. There have since been reports that the Weinstein Company plans to release this documentary as "Unrated" to get around the MPAA stranglehold, which may doom it to the dreaded "limited release" realm of no return and rarely seen. High profile advocates of this films message, such as Anderson Cooper, Phil McGraw, Kelly Ripa and novelist Rosalind Wiseman, have ridiculed the MPAA for their seeming attempt to keep children from seeing "a film that every child must see." And I tend to strongly side with their platform. So what is the deal? Why was (until quite recently) "Bully" pulling an "R" rating? Does "Bully" advocate bullying? No. Does it use language that your twelve year son/daughter/sister/brother doesn't hear at school every day of his/her life? No. Is the violence and depictions of ACTUAL Bullying in this film gratuitous? Again, no. And (the one that terrifies the MPAA the most) is there any nudity? NOOOOOO. The biggest controversy of this film, and the main idiotic reason that this film pulled an "R" rating for the longest time, is the fact that audiences will actually see middle school and high school kids visibly getting shoved around, punched, and called awful names. And while the images here will be disturbing to parents and teens alike, they need to be seen by a demographic that is actually living through the controversial themes the movie brings up. The awful truth is that 13 million children are bullied every day. So, for the MPAA to have slapped it with an "R" rating is simply irresponsible. "Bully" is a cut and dry example of subject matter superseding the MPAA's fundamentally rigid beliefs of counting the number of F-bombs in a movie. Watch a documentary called "This Film is Not Yet Rated"; this is nothing new from the geniuses who run the MPAA. Written by Markus Robinson, Edited by Nicole I. Ashland Please visit my page on Examiner.com http://www.examiner.com/x-52464-San-Jose-Indie-Movie-Examiner and leave any comments you have about this or any review. The more hits I get the better. Thank you. Follow me on Twitter @moviesmarkus

• John B

  
  I was bullied when I was younger and that experience was not pleasant but it is nothing in comparison to what the kids in this film have to endure. It perhaps comes as no surprise that some chose to take their own lives. A horrible picture of an American school system that chooses not… More
  I was bullied when I was younger and that experience was not pleasant but it is nothing in comparison to what the kids in this film have to endure. It perhaps comes as no surprise that some chose to take their own lives. A horrible picture of an American school system that chooses not to protect their kids.

• Palmer R

  
  I will have to admit, I'm nothing but disappointed in this movie. It could have been the call for justice that it should have been, effectively creating some real change and showing the nitty gritty of this very real issue, much like Morgan Spurlock's "Super Size… More
  I will have to admit, I'm nothing but disappointed in this movie. It could have been the call for justice that it should have been, effectively creating some real change and showing the nitty gritty of this very real issue, much like Morgan Spurlock's "Super Size Me" did (since then he's been hit or miss, but that first movie was pretty fantastic at stopping the fast food industry dead in its tracks). That film effectively made fast food "uncool," and was partially responsible for the health craze we see now. "Bully" on the other hand is a movie that by existing, violates its own message. It documents the lives of various people who have been affected by bullying, all of whom are very poor and very rural (no city folk here), and literally watches them suffer. Especially when they decide to tail one of the kids, and film him being attacked on a school bus. The camera literally lingers as the kid is almost murdered on camera, being strangled by another kid. No one intervenes, ever. It lets the bullying happen just to prove its own misguided point. That in itself is sickening. The filmmaker, called Lee Hirsch, should be ashamed of himself just for his own indifference to the suffering of these kids. He milks the issue for his own devices, and never ever bothers figuring out a solution. Sadly, this has worked, and this film will be nominated for an Oscar, most likely. And eventually it even stops focusing on bullying itself. The rest of the film is devoted to pointless looks into the lives of the victims, watching the brother of a kid who killed himself walk aimlessly around for almost half an hour (yes, this happens) and a lesbian drone on for several minutes about how great her friends are, while they also walk aimlessly around. It actually brings more attention to the fact that this girl "made" another girl gay (or so the film seems to claim, I'm not making an opinion there) than about her bullying experiences. Then it cuts right to that kid being tortured earlier being tortured again, on the same damn school bus. This time around, an obese kid's stabbing him with a pencil and bashing his head into the metal seat. Still the director (who also filmed) does nothing. He just watches. The only good that comes out of this inaction is that the kids who pull all this crap, at least on that one kid, have their faces identified to the world. You can only hope that someone kicked the crap out of them in retaliation. The even sadder part is that D-list celebrity after D-list celebrity have been pretending to support this film in a desperate attempt to make money of the appreciation of the audience. The biggest offender from my brief Google search was the one-hit wonder Sean Kingston, of the song "Beautiful Girls." Oh and a couple of the actors from the hit TV show "Glee," which is openly sexist, racist, anti-Semitic AND homophobic. Great people, all of them. Just goes to show that not even an attempt to stop an important issue can be wholesome and pure anymore. This film is an example of the half-assed way we here deal with our problems: pretend that we care. Maybe bullying will go away one day, but this movie didn't help.

• Alec B

  
  If your surprised that teens are awful to one another and that school officials are unable or unwilling to do anything than I don't what planet you've lived on your whole life. The major problem with "Bully" is that it spends too much time presenting… More
  If your surprised that teens are awful to one another and that school officials are unable or unwilling to do anything than I don't what planet you've lived on your whole life. The major problem with "Bully" is that it spends too much time presenting "shocking" scenarios and interviewing emotionally devastated parents and bullied kids. We all know how out of hand its gotten and that more kids are turning to suicide than ever before but the 'why' is definitely more important than the 'how' or the 'what'. I'm not saying the stories told here don't deserve to be brought to light, I'm saying that the situation is far more complex than what we get a glimpse of in this movie. We never really see the bullies perspective or hear from enough school officials outside of what the filmmakers chose to show us. If 'Bully' is just supposed to be a wake up call society, I don't think it really presents the devastating gravity of the situation. The film ends with a powerful call to action, but what is it asking us to fight against? Bullying has always been a problem, but why has it become so rampant now? In an age of the internet, 24 hour news and a generation of children lost in that overbearing media environment, the answers and solutions are, unfortunately, going to be a lot harder than just social activism.

Read all 17 featured audience ratings