Vincke and Verstuyft are one of the best detective teams of the Antwerp police force. When they are confronted with the disappearance of a top official and the murder of two prostitutes, the trail leads to the almost retired assassin Angelo Ledda. Since Ledda starts showing symptoms of Alzheimer's, it's getting more and more difficult to complete his contracts. When he has to murder a 12-year old call-girl, he refuses and becomes a target himself. While Vincke and Verstuyft are chasing him and counting the corpses, Ledda is taking care of his employers. Vincke and Verstuyft are the best detectives of the Antwerp police department. They are confronted with the murder on a leading executive and put all their effort to catch the murderer. This is one of the best movies ever made in Belgium. This is actually the only good movie ever made in Belgium.(In my modest opinion of course.) An aged hit-man refuses a job (to kill a little girl) and takes revenge on the men who hired him. In short that's the story, but the movie is so much more than that. We get a taste of the real police life in Belgium (and all the problems that come with it). It's a miracle we solve any crimes here.<br/><br/>I had a very positive feeling for Angelo Ledda, the hit-man (played by Jan Decleir, one of our best actors). He has Alzheimer and is slowly forgetting everything. As a last good deed he wants to rid the world of the actual bad guys. The ones that always give the orders, but they never have to pay for their crimes.<br/><br/>I think this film deserves a place among the best Hollywood movies. It's too bad that, as a Belgian movie, it never got a chance to reach the top in other countries… A Belgian production about a hit man whose skills get decreased due to the Alzheimer's disease. Well, it sounds original, quite exotic (I haven't watched much Belgian cinema, and I guess neither have you). Whatever, what really counts are the final results, and the final result is rather mediocre. It is a detective movie that's been clearly influenced by hundred of films of that genre, with some characters that are simply ridiculous, a script that leaves a lot to be desired, and an excessive length…<br/><br/>The same old story: European filmmakers trying to copy the worst American cinema, but with less money and with worse actors.<br/><br/>Fairly disposable.<br/><br/>*My rate: 4/10 Director Erik Van Looy has filmmaking chops to spare, and while he has created a sharply shot and crisply paced film, he isn't able to make it all cohere.
Schmaree replied
344 weeks ago