Headhunters

The run away favorite at just about every film festival over the last couple months is finally coming to the US.  "Headhunters" is the first film from writer Jo Nesbø and follows in the Scandinavian film insurgence that has resulted in the Hollywood remakes of "Brothers" and "Girl with the Dragon Tattoo".  "Headhunters" is a thriller directed by Morten Tyldum that delivers on its fast paced approach and unexpected twists.  Even for a thriller the film has just enough lighthearted humor.

The story follows Roger Brown (Aksel Hennie) who is a corporate executive headhunters that is a jerk at work, cheats on his beautiful wife Diana (Synnøve Macody Lund) and is an art thief to subsidize his lifestyle of the house he cannot afford.  Oh yeah, he is also 5'6" tall and has a bit of an inferiority complex.  To give his wife the grand material objects that he thinks he needs to keep her happy with him he works on the side as an art thief.  However, this secret life becomes more than he can handle when he steals from Clas Greve (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau) who is a former mercenary with an agenda.  As a result of the art target, Roger Brown becomes the target of Clas Greve own man hunt. 

Aksel Hennie was brilliant in his performance delivering a character that you cannot help but dislike at first, as someone that is a thief, adulterer, and all around jerk in the office.  However, as the story evolves, so does his character and you cannot help but want to cheer him along through each of the obstacles that he must push through and do things that he wouldn't dream of in a million years, just to stay survive.  The most likely reason you will have interest in this film is Nikolaj Coster-Waldau who is known for his role as Jaime Lannister on the HBO series "Game of Thrones".  All of the other performances in the film are equally impressive including the Eivand Sander as Ove Kjikerud, the accomplice to the art thefts with a lust for Russian prostitutes. 

As with most foreign films, the majority of American's will likely be apprehensive to sitting through a film with subtitles, but this is one that you should take the plunge with.  Your options otherwise are to wait for a couple years until Hollywood remakes the film or you can read the book.  If you do take the plunge, you will be treated to a 5 Quack film that you will be telling all your friends about.  Anticipating an American remake you will no doubt have your own ideas of who should be cast in each role, so please reply with your suggestions. 

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