The Fox

When I saw this movie I felt an instant relief already after less then a minute. The cinematography is wonderful and the tempo is just perfect, not as fast as the standard dazzling Hollywood fifty changes a minute, yet certainly not as slow as some European films can be. Morgan C Jones, who plays the main character, Simon Fox, must have been a hidden gem, 'cause this guy gets you to like even his unlike-abilities. The story revolves around a new anti-privacy law ( know your current events!). The baddies are so desperate to get the voters on their side, they even take to false flag bombings to gain the publics trust. I love how the story simply unfolds in an increasingly more tense atmosphere when also the tempo picks up and the number of action scenes as well. Most Hollywood directors take to the easy way of blowing things up in slow-motion too early for the story to have developed, this one doesn't. You can't help but wanting to know what comes next and the pay-off is ...well, mysterious is the right word I guess. No spoilers here. Go see the film yourself to find out!

You know those movies in which Christian Slater is talking in the camera and how that really sucks? I always wished he didn't do that. But now I saw a movie which could use that kind of 'acting'

It's just not a logical story. Things happen all of the sudden, but the actors seem to be ok with it and find logic in the events. I wish they explained it to me because from the point of view of a bystander the logic simply isn't there.

The acting is terrible and the filming sucks. A shot of a "traffic jam" is clearly taken on a parking lot of some kind. There is a connection with WOII but it is very weak and at the same time present all the time. The actors seem to find it logical. I don't.

Don't watch this.

It is so obvious that the director, and also producer, wished to bring something new, unusual compared to the US productions or Tom Clancy like Hollywood screenplays. It is strange in the development but classical on the shape and the scheme. There are no heroes here, nor expect ending, that is precisely what I like the most. I don't know the main lead but he's damn convincing in this man alone against evil...I remains a gloomy story, a bit slow, with some outstanding scenes, one in particular that makes you jump on your seat; very inventive, rarely shown on screen. I recommend it. Really.

Finally on demand, I missed it in the theatres, now I could watch it in the 'privacy' of my home.

Not the usual story, not the usual scenery, not the usual actors. Which is good. Instead of the commonlovestorybackground, the story has political, terrorist and historical undertones. Not filmed in the very picturesque city of Amsterdam, but filmed in a cold Holland, in a futuristic city -which sometimes is even still under construction- in caves and flat countrysides, which gives great wide views. Great cinematography!

The actors were, besides a few familiar faces, all unknown to me, which was a relief, having seen (too) many Dutch films. And they're good! The leading characters are playing great, like they've been colleagues for years already. Not all the extras are great actors though, but hey, they're extras. ;) Sometimes too many people know too much and give away too much information, but it helps to understand the story.

The story is frightening. And easy to follow: by long dialogues in the beginning you slowly get sucked into a web of intrigue. And then the movie evolves from a political thriller into an action movie, where you really don't know who's who and what's what. The soundscape gives the final push. I was in!

... the rating for this movie is the most confusing I've ever come across - no hyperbole. Just goes to show you.

I often will look for something to watch by checking the IMDB rating, and sometimes I will read the reviews to see if some people really liked it though more didn't. I sometimes have eclectic taste or at the risk of sounding arrogant sometimes people are simpletons and can't grasp the layers of a more complex film that I may enjoy.

All that said, this was a really good movie - I really enjoyed it! How it could be 4.9 just boggles my mind...