Philip Sullivan (thereeldeal)

A warm, entertaining odd couple/buddy film that never gets too serious despite obvious opportunities, but instead settles at being very good at what it does. Francois Cluzet as the quadriplegic millionaire and Omar Sy as the thug with a heart of gold have great chemistry together and turn in fine performances. Sure, the material stays pretty light and goes nowhere near the real difficulties each man faces, but then it'd be a different film. Somehow all of this fluff still leaves the audience satisfied, if the applause at the preview screening I attended is any indication. Omar Sy is particularly delightful in a performance that earned him a Cesar award for Best Actor. No need to see this on the big screen, but it's certainly worth catching if you are in the mood for an uplifting buddy film. Strong supporting cast as well, especially Audrey Fleurot and Anne Le Ny as other staff members who are forced to deal with each man's eccentricities. Watch for the film to receive an awful American adaptation starring Dustin Hoffman and Tracy Morgan (no, actually it's Colin Firth and an actor to be named later, but still...why?). Enjoy it now before it gets ruined.

The most enjoyable, original thriller I have seen in a while. It's smart, sexy, thrilling, and as a friend pointed out "What Hitchcock would make today if he lived in Oslo." Yes, it has some plot holes that let me down a little at the end, but for the most part it was engaging and kept me guessing. If you are interested, do yourself a favour and do NOT watch the trailer, which features a scene near the end that will spoil part of your enjoyment. (damn you, trailers!!!) Aksel Hennie is Steve Buscemi in a power suit and plays Roger Brown, a corporate headhunter and occasional art thief who screws over the wrong guy, gets in WAY over his head and is soon running for his life. It's a bit North by Northwest with a Tarantino twist. NOT for the kiddies, thanks to a couple of very gruesome scenes. If you like smart thrillers in the Hitchcock vein, you will enjoy this Norwegian gem. Great performances by the entire cast including Nikolaj Coster-Waldau (Game of Thrones) and Synnove Macody Lund (as Roger's wife - a surprisingly complex character, normally treated as an afterthought in these films). Check it out.