Napad - La rapina

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.

A bank robbery ends up with casualties and the three robbers are out there as the evidence available isn't enough to pin them. A disgraced investigator is given an opportunity to solve this case while working with a prosecutor and he is one tough cop who goes by the book. On the other hand, the antagonist is the one who wants to stay out of prison no matter what. He is a by the book criminal who brings in the known tricks to escape. The cop has to nab this criminal in 15 days and what transpires in that period, forms the story.

This Polish investigative drama rather than a thriller sticks to it's template. I wouldn't call it a thriller as there is no suspense in who is the culprit and the steps he takes to save himself aren't surprising either. What does work though is the whole set up and the performances. There are no over the top action scenes, the writing does push towards the obvious and the backstory to the villain is not as effective. The serious cop played by Olaf Lubaszenko is the main highlight and he brings in the right amount of intensity in his performance. Two of the confrontational scenes between Olaf Lubaszenko and Jedrzej Hycnar who plays the antagonist were well executed. Overall, Justice is a one time watch at best and offers nothing new. It is the performances that drive the film.

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.

This is a very fine police drama from Poland, and it reminds me greatly of the Icelandic police drama series Trapped and Entrapped which also were extremely successful for Netflix. No pretty people, bleak surroundings, people who have problems in relationships due to their circumstances and cops who know how bad the gutter is because they are only a few steps removed from it themselves.

The current IMDB rating as I write this for the film is 6.3. That is a travesty. It may be that the writers gave away a bit to much to early, but it still was a riveting movie that one will watch to a suspenseful conclusion. Sure it is not some super sci-fi blockbuster but overall it is well done film making.

I know the setting for the movie is supposed to be in the past, I am guessing the early 2000's, but I sure hope Poland today is not as bleak as what we view in the movie.

Don't listen to the bad reviews and please give it a chance. Slow burn, good character development and motivation. The acting was very good as well that even through subtitles was able convey the character's emotions. Loved the Nolan-esque score that helps set the serious tone of the film, but of course at a much smaller scale.

Bad reviews have got to be based on the lack of spectacle that everyone sees to expect nowadays. Thanks for that MCU! No CGI, no super cops or boss girls, just a good and solid detective story. I cannot recommend it enough and I really hope more movies like this get put on the streaming platforms.