The Alzheimer Case (De Zaak Alzheimer) (Belgium, director Erik Van Looy): Although based on a novel, this stylish police thriller’s main conceit (“hitman has Alzheimer’s”) could have been lifted from a Hollywood film executive’s idea of “high concept”. Except that it would have made a forgettable Hollywood picture. Instead, director Van Looy sets this story in his native Belgium. Police detectives Vincke and Verstuyft are like a modern day Starsky and Hutch, without the bad haircuts. Who knew that Antwerp even had police, never mind such cool ones? Their job is to track down the man who’s killed several high-profile politicians and a young child prostitute.
Reminding me a lot of Terence Stamp in The Limey, veteran actor Jan Decleir portrays aging hitman Angelo Ledda, whose refusal to kill the young girl leads him to seek revenge on the people who want her dead. His deterioration is a cause for sympathy as well as a plot device. He must complete his “mission” before he forgets his reasons for carrying it out. He also plays a cat and mouse game with the police who are trying to solve the killings, staying one step ahead until he can no longer think clearly.
Van Looy admitted his fondness for “police thrillers with a soul” and especially for the work of Michael Mann, and the influence of Mann is everywhere. If you like Mann, you’ll like this film. Well-developed characters, moody cinematography and fine acting didn’t completely save this film, though. I thought the plot was a little too straightforward, and the film itself was about 20 minutes too long, with a couple of false endings that could have been re-cut. I think I would have given a shorter version of this film an 8, but even if it was a slightly derivative cop film, it was a slightly derivative cop film in Flemish!
Film’s Web Site: ms.skynet.be/alzheimer
(7/10)
I had pretty much the same opinion of this movie. I really liked it, even though it was ultimately nothing new. I think the reason it works is that Jan Decleir is just so damn cool. Good call on the Limey comparison.
I really liked this movie, who knew that belgian people are good moviemakers… I think this movie showed the emotions of ledda (the bad guy) really good, what makes it diffrent than the other cop-movies.
I’m from Belgium and so I’m not really able to look at this film from the same perspective you do, so I’ll have to take your word for it when you say it’s good. What does surprise me a little is that you can find this movie good, even though it’s in Flemish in stead of English, so I suppose you’re not lying when you’re saying it’s good.
Secondly, I do have to mention that all the things you see in this movie are pretty much accurate, certainly when looking at real life in Belgium. People used to think Belgium was all about choclates and beer but since a few years, the crimes of childabuse hang over our country like dark clouds over Mordor. The competition between the Belgian Federal police and the -almost military- Civil Guard (Rijkswacht) are not only true, there suprisingly accurate!
So, I think it’s clear for you guys that Belgians are capable to a whole bloody lot more than just making chocolates or bad wetter! 😉
greetz from Flanders
Filip