Napad

A Polish crime investigation thriller caught my interest with its intriguing plot. I was expecting an edge-of-the-seat thriller, but it turned out to be quite laid-back.

The movie, partially based on a true story, centers around a bank robbery where three employees and a security guard were gunned down in cold blood. An ex-police officer is given a chance to reclaim his former life by solving the case within a stipulated time.

The movie has a promising start with the crime scene and the formation of an investigation team, setting expectations for a thrilling experience. However, it introduces suspects early on, leaving no room for guessing, as the culprit becomes evident almost immediately, killing much of the suspense. The pace of the movie is slow, and with no major revelations, it becomes tiresome to watch.

Olaf Lubaszenko, as the investigating officer, fits the role perfectly, delivering a subtle performance that shines throughout. He is ably supported by Wiktoria Gorodecka, while Jedrzej Hycnar, as the prime suspect, steals the spotlight and showcases a range of emotions, proving his acting mettle.

The cinematography is top-notch, capturing the essence of the '90s setting convincingly. While it's understandable that the movie aims to stay true to real-life events, it lacks the dramatic spice needed for a captivating watch. This is where the movie fails to deliver. With bloodshed and gory scenes, it's definitely not one for the kids.

If you plan to skip this, you're not missing much. An investigation movie should have arcs of thrill, suspense, and twists, and this one falters in all these areas.

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A particularly brutal bank robbery takes place in Warsaw. So bad that the planned bank merger in the now democratic Poland of 1995 could be at risk. A long-retired police officer from the former secret police named Tadeusz Gadacz (Olaf LUBASZENKO) is suddenly reactivated. His ultra-brutal methods from his communist past could now be useful again. Gadacz is to support the young inspector Aleksandra Janicka (Wiktoria GORODECKA) in her investigations. It quickly becomes clear that the young Kacper Surmiak (Jedrzej HYCNAR) and his two friends Marek (Stanislaw LINOWSKI) and Bartek (Lukasz SZCZEPANOWSKI) could have something to do with the bloody robbery. But in Poland after the fall of the Berlin Wall, a policeman like Gadacz can no longer torture the truth out of them...

The global streaming provider NETFLIX has added a very exciting crime film by Michel GAZDA to its program. It tells very emphatically about the trials and tribulations of the post-reunification period in the former communist Poland. In terms of structure, it is of course very reminiscent of the Spanish crime classic LA ISLA MINIMA from 2014, but is so haunting, moving and unique that watching this heist movie in the guise of a dark social portrait is definitely worth it! The Polish film industry has repeatedly proven in recent years what great genre stories can be discovered there.

It's a decent crime/thriller filmed in a minimalistic style, focusing on human emotions and expressions rather than on special effects and fast-paced action. If you like that type of movie, it's worthwhile to watch. The acting is excellent, especially the main cop. Tadeusz Gadacz is portrayed as a highly-skilled investigator with a murky past, and the plot weaves in political elements, such as the privatization of large banks, adding layers of tension. This movie truly shines if you are Polish, or maybe you understand Poland's political and social context in the 90s, where the film is set, and subtle jokes or references are made. That's how you'd make most of this movie, I'd say. Then it's 8/10 for sure.

The prologue explains that the movie is partially based on factual events, which show throughout the film.

Surprisingly well written dialogues, substantly inspired by "Psy", in this film which is a creative interpretation of a real-life bank robbery during the political changes in Poland in the 90s.

You will find many reviews criticising the fakeness of the case, but if you approach Napad/Justice the way the filmmakers want you will get a really entertaining police thriller with a body count like in the good Midsomer Murders, a grim old secret communist policeman in the lead, suspense that comes out of absolutely nowhere, a not particularly sensible investigation, but for all that very pleasantly acted (even the child actors!), with really good dialogue and great sets and costumes (I give a seal of approval as someone who remembers the 90s from my childhood and teenage years).

Basically, it was clearly an attempt to create a typical American thriller from a streaming service, only set in Polish early capitalism reality. And in this category I have no hesitation in recommending it.

Napad was a overall decent crime movie. Set during the early 90's we see a former cop his done on his luck untill one day he is approched with the opportunity to get his old life back, with one thing. He has to solve a grizzly bank heist that left four people dead. The clues are few but our hero must work with a young police woman in order to find out the culprits in time. I think this film had a good flow. It built up the mystery. Maybe certain parts could be better as I felt the movie was too long and couldve been more impactful if it were shorter. Good cast though, characters were written well and overall a enjoyable crime film.