Schneider vs. Bax

I was not particularly interested in Schneider vs. Bax, although I am quite a Van Warmerdam-fan – especially after his magnificent movie, Borgman. I thought it would be a dark, sombre, shoot 'm up, where man's barbarous, grimy soul would be shown. But the movie proved me wrong. It is a far more comic and playful film than I suspected. Yes, it is a shoot 'm up: a hunt between two hit man. But it is as far removed from ordinary man hunt movie as can be. The grim, dark humor of Van Warmerdam, the beautiful northern Dutch water landscape and the intricate script makes it a great movie experience. Schneider vs. Bax is the next great Van Warmerdam film.

Typical Van Warmerdam movie: absurd and funny, and for most an acquired taste. I thoroughly enjoyed the movie but the ending was not satisfactory, as if they ran out of budget for a final part. Like jazz improv, I think an absurd plot should return (within reach) to a realistic home.

Two things bugged me though:

• Drug use incapacitated a number of characters at different times, which seemed nonfunctional regarding the plot, unless the argument is to be able to shift focus to other characters. In this vein, it seemed unnecessarily crowded with characters that did not seem to add much (for example, Ramon's girlfriend)
• Continuously running/locking in and out of rooms in this tiny bungalow (or through the reeds) seemed an unnecessary distraction as well, and looses its effect after a while.

I can't help but think that addressing the last two points could have been used to add a bit more depth to the characters, their relationships, or a more satisfying penultimate act.

After 'Abel', 'de Noordelingen ', 'kleine Teun', 'de jurk' and many others, this is another example of Alex' special, wonderful qay of storytelling. He has this very special way of filming in a hyper-realistic fimstyle, with an ironic sense of humor. You have to understand 'the language'. The situations are absurd, the human relations are often distorted, the humor is wry. I love it! Who needs music, when a movie is this brilliant?

This could be a Van Warmerdam for beginners. It has the typical Van Warmerdam weird style, but the story still kind of makes sense. After his quite dark (but great) movie Borgman, this one is a bit more lighthearted.

Two quite capable killers / fathers are commissioned to take each other out for unclear reasons. There are whoever many people walking in the way and they would like to get the job done without to much collateral damage. In a way many of the characters in this film are more like 'real people' than in the average film. Many, but not all, its still a Van Warmerdam..

I really liked it.

Schneider and Bax have a lot in common. Each is a hit man. They are both good at what they do. They also work for the same employer. Each, amazingly, has a job to do at the same time and on the same day. Also, both are targets. Each is unknowingly tasked with killing the other. This is where the similarities end however. Schneider and Bax have opposite styles, personalities and lives. Schneider is a family man, or at least he appears to be. He lives in the city and is methodical, devious and relentless in going about business. Bax, on the other hand, is carefree and lighthearted. This relaxed attitude is aided considerably by the heavy doses of drugs and alcohol he consumes. With his nightmare of a girlfriend and family, he probably needs them. As Schneider closes in on Bax the latter is visited, in turn, by his daughter, father and girlfriend, each of whom is unstable and volatile.

This thrilling dark comedy is full of twists and turns as the hit men are constantly dealing with complications they did not expect. Alex van Warmerdam also directed Borgman, which is as zany as it is creepy (I loved it). Like Borgman, Schneider vs. Bax is also very different from traditional Hollywood slop, and van Warmerdam adds much more humor to the mix this time. The acting, directing, images and storyline are all good. The film falters only in that not enough money and talent was provided in order to move the film to the next level. Seen at the Toronto International Film Festival 2015.