Wolf

I tried to watch it an hour or so but couldn't finish the job. I've lived and worked in the area called Kanaleineiland (where this takes place) and know what that's like. In this movie the criminals are portrayed as charismatic bad guys with a certain charm but I can tell you: there is no charm! Those criminals are utter scum and don't deserve a romanticized movie about their lives. Their lives are wasted and of no use for society. A generation lost. They have no moral codes, no 'honor amongst thieves' or anything like it. They prey on innocent women, children, hell.. anyone! Steeling, cursing, lying, hating, stabbing, shooting, robbing, destroying.. This movie should have shown them for what they are: cowards, lazy useless tumors of society. Instead it tries to show they actually have a heart.. but they don't. For them, every woman is a prostitute, except maybe their own mothers. Skip this awful propaganda and spend your time on something useful.

Must say I have got to be in the right mind to watch subtitled movies. When I found out this was black and white I so nearly stopped watching this. AM GLAD I Didn't. This film is a great watch. Sex drugs guns fighting but with a bit of a story line. although a bit gangster cheesy in a few bits its kept me wanting to watch more. I think the bits of the film can relate to anybody who has grown up in a less than posh town. If in doubt give it a watch no its not no great masterpiece but id watch it twice and that's saying a lot. A lot of ppl just think of Amsterdam when they think of Holland ans yes its a crazy place(pls go if u can lol) but Holland like every other euro country has its rough places. Enjoy

Just got back from the cinema and felt a strong urge to review this movie.

It's successful predecessor 'RABAT', also produced by HABBEKRATS, combined with the rather interesting trailer are what made me curious about this movie.

I can't say I stepped into it without expectations, quite the opposite, as the trailer leaves you no option really:) But WOLF lived up to every expectations I had and more.

Everything from how precisely Dutch street life is depicted, choice of actors, to story-line, realness & rawness, are what make this movie an absolute must see. It manages to captivate the observer from start to end without a doubt.

For many it will create insights into a world that has remained unknown to them & for some it will be a movie close to their heart, close to their own lives & experiences. Either way, you will surely not be disappointed.

I believe it's save to state that HABBEKRATS has proved to be more than a one-hit wonder and they are here to stay.

As for me, I proudly & warmly welcome any Dutch production of this caliber!

Wolf follows a young kickboxer named Maj as he drifts into the criminal underworld ran by the Turkish mob. Wolf is a film jammed pack with genres. Sports Drama. Crime Drama. Family Drama. Take your pick, this film has it all. While that seems ambitious for one film, Wolf pulls it off with talent both on screen and behind the scenes. Shown in black and white, Wolf starts with Maj and his best friend stealing mopeds from a shop. A scene that starts right off the bat and let's you know what kind of film you're in for. Now, while the film's plot is clichè, Wolf makes up for its familiar path with a grand array of thoughtful performances and provocative subtext. Marwan Kenzari is perfect in the role of Maj. He's a brooding and vicious man played with a cold and brisk demeanor. Kenzari's skills are able to keep us going from start to finish as we see Raj's ups and downs with the utmost honesty. Despite these qualities, Wolf often drowns itself with repetitive scenes, including ones in which Maj and his terminally ill brother share brotherly bonding time. While these scenes are well acted and paced, by the end of the film, you're left with the feeling that it gave nothing to the story except drag it out. With a bloated runtime of barely over two hours, you begin to feel the effects of it in the middle of the film but quickly tries to get back on track with the more interesting plot of the mob and Maj's descent into his own personal hell. Wolf is very much so a character study of a violent man with a heart of gold. While he is no Carlito Brigante or Michael Corleone, Maj is a more disturbed individual with a dark past and family life that is more than estranged and borders on dysfunctional. The film features some brutal and abrupt scenes of violence that are very realistic and beautifully choreographed, despite some of them feeling as though director Jim Taihuttu went out of his way to shock us. Instead of shocking, some feel a bit drawn out and intended to add more character to Maj but instead makes the audience feel less sympathetic with his situation. There are great qualities to Wolf but some moments of greatness do not entirely forgive some of the weaker moments. One of which featuring Maj's old girlfriend jumping from one gangster to the next, which proves to be a bit more costly than Maj originally intends it to be. Again, another subplot that could have been cut down just a bit. Overall, Wolf is entertaining and features moments of sheer brilliance but the familiar and sometimes bloated story keeps it from achieving pure greatness.

Like many saying this must be the best ever Dutch movie. At least from the list I have seen so far. The movie surprised me from the every corner with the great cast and powerful performances. Made me to think like I am on a right movie at a right time. Yeah, the subject was quite a strong as the title indicates, though it was not that brutal yet enjoyable.

A movie that depicts the social lives of the different ethical groups who endeavor power to rule and to lead sustainable lives. It was a crime-cum-sport-drama, but took all the time to build a better platform for the last quarter of the movie. In the initial hour the story was well developed with fine characters and leaves nothing behind you to carry a bag of doubts. The boxing concept would have not been a necessary, though politely blended into the mainstream story just like the Korean movie 'Punch'.

The main character Majid was good. This is the character that encounters everything in the story like emotions and conflicts in his unpleasant life. When his family and romantic life was not arranged properly, he got a slot to rewrite his social life and he has to act tough regarding the approach he chose. The tale of his gang was quite predictable, especially the twist that coming from that way was as expected. Then what makes this movie so special? Well, all together like a multi-face of a character that reshapes according to the situation was displayed precisely. Not only the actors, but praisable job was done by the writer and the director. This underworld and multi-cultural story is definitely not for everyone for many reasons. This could be a perfect entertainer if you take lightly everything you going to see. Overall one of a better movie of the year from this geographical region.