Headhunters

Whatever you're expecting… It won’t happen. A genre chameleon about a stunted Walken which proves that Joe Nesbø works well on the film screen despite the plotholes (the age of the corpse one can forgive with half-closed eyes, let's say, but the hospital staff or the one who finds Roger - is it possible that no one would get in touch or ask them after the case was publicized?). (02/11/2012)

I enjoyed this film. It's a crime thriller with a touch of drama and pitch-black comedy, and there's even a romantic element. I’m a fan of Jo Nesbo, especially the series featuring Harry Hole. Having read “Headhunters,” I’m surprised to say I liked the film more than the book. The main "hero" was extremely unlikable from the start, my sympathy grew as he was faced with more and more shit (literally). Nikolaj Coster-Waldau knows how to portray a bad guy. He has done it many times before and pulled it off again. This is the third time I’ve seen the film. I knew how the story would develop and how it would end, and I still loved every minute of it. Plus, I have to appreciate the lesson to be taken away from this film: when traveling on public transport, always sit between two obese passengers – it’s definitely worth the temporary discomfort. (12/19/2016)

I admit that my concentration was not at the level that such a renowned Nordic film deserved (when I get a text message from my dream girl, perhaps only Stanley Kubrick has better chances...), but I can defend my three stars. I didn't like the way the story was conceived and constructed, how the director forced me to explore and enjoy the mostly physical suffering of the main character, for whom he could generate almost no sympathy at the beginning. Moreover, the plot scheme seems unnecessarily complex, contrasting sharply with the straightforward, atmospheric and suggestively violent second half, which, on the other hand, is exactly what I was looking forward to and what even Americans are not so skilled at – an entertaining, formally chilling and at times almost black-humoured whirlwind of playful and, above all, functional script tricks and naturalistic imagery, whose only weakness remains its sheer coldness and emotional detachment. It's like watching a beautiful football match, filled with goals and great action in the second half, but between Tanzania and Zimbabwe – I'll be satisfied, but I won't care how it ends :-D 65% (10/14/2015)

Aksel Hennie was born for the role of the slippery Roger and the polished charisma of Nikolaj Coster-Waldau suits the film, but unfortunately, the originality was somewhere else. For every well-constructed idea or bizarre joke, there is also one wasted. I enjoy both the dramatic introduction and the chilling development of the thriller, but in the end, due to some minor simplifications, there is a lack of more satisfying twists. The Jo Nesbø source material has more lightness in it. (12/12/2015)

After watching it, I’m somewhere between three and four stars. Sure, the unique Nordic style is undeniable, and I enjoyed how the film’s darkly comedic tone felt like it could have been handled by the Coen brothers (I haven’t read Nesbø's book). The acting was absolutely top-notch; the lead duo, Aksel Hennie and Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, fully embraced their roles, and I can’t find any faults there. As for the plot, the creators had it meticulously planned out until about halfway through, with everything on screen not being predictable but rather revealing the cards of both sides flawlessly. However, the final third felt a bit over the top. As many reviewers mention, there were a lot of coincidences, and it seemed like the writers were paving the way to the final catharsis... which was good, though. So, it’s a well-made film, but it’s missing that final edge to reach the very top. I give it a solid 7.5/10. (07/29/2022)