Cinematography:
Jean-François HensgensComposer:
Clément DumoulinCast:
Lubna Azabal, Olivier Gourmet, Kevin Janssens, Bouli Lanners, Tibo Vandenborre, Alexandre Picot, Jean-Louis Sbille, Anne Coesens, Johan Leysen (more)VOD (1)
Plots(1)
Frank Valken, a high-flying armed robber, has just carried out one last seamless major heist. At least that's what he believes... As the ideal suspects, Valken and his gang find themselves caught up in a criminal case dating from thirty years earlier. It looks as if the mad killers are back... (Venice International Film Festival)
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Reviews (3)
This really delighted me! A rather obscure film set in Belgium, which surprised me with its coldness and overall pessimistic approach. The main group of thieves and the general tone of the film can be compared to Mann's Heat, especially with the realistic shootouts and excellent, almost delectable sound design that viewers will undoubtedly love—something that the French (and now the Belgians) never disappoint with (the opening sequence in the parking lot was so naturalistic that I was left dumbstruck). In terms of acting, I was probably most impressed by the lead actor, Olivier Gourmet. I didn’t really remember any of the supporting characters distinctly. The main plot initially presents a lot of the characters' thought processes, and I got a bit lost, but as time went on, everything started to make more and more sense. The final resolution was fine, but I was expecting something that would evoke a higher level of emotional response in me. Still, it’s a decent crime film where you have no idea what will happen to any character on the screen. A nice piece. I give it 76%.
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The storyline is straightforward and slightly predictable, but the rough feel of a Western European crime movie and the adequately cold work with the characters are just cool. And most of all, everything rises and falls with the “good gangster” masterfully played by Olivier Gourmet. The scene where he and his buddy get rid of police cars on the highway beautifully revels in the youthful rebellion of cocksure guys who believe themselves to be above the law. It reminded me of the confidence of De Niro’s band from Heat, a masterful work in the same genre. Above the Law is great for fans of French action/crime films, but only for them. Don’t expect anything else from it.
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Belgium comes up with a stylish and raw gangster flick that won't leave fans of similar films cold. In the 1980s, Belgium was in the grip of a gang of ruthless thieves who left a trail of dead bodies in their wake, and they didn't care if they were women or children. They were never caught, and that doesn't play into the hands of Valken and his crew, who are now the prime suspects. The performances are excellent (Olivier Gourmet is classically great and I also liked the policewoman plpayed by Lubna Azabal). It's nicely Western, dynamic, adrenaline-fuelled, twisted and properly manly. Belgium pulled it off. 80%.
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