Reviews

I'd like to say that although the script was horrible at least Johnny Depp and Christopher Walken made the film worth a watch. We're talking about two fine American actors here.

But, even if you've enjoyed every performance you've ever seen from Johnny Depp or Christopher Walken, take a pass on this movie. I've never seen a more uninspired performance from either of them. Ever.

As for the script here's the deal - Some people who are politically connected want a certain governor dead. These are high powered people with serious money and inside connections with law enforcement. It would be very difficult to stop them.

Well, unless of course their plan was "Let's grab some random stranger off a train, kidnap his daughter and blackmail him into killing the governor for us."

Yea, that's gonna work.

The Three Stooges in a Banana Republic might come up with a assassination scheme like this. It still wouldn't work, but at least it would be more fun to watch.

I won't spoil it for you and tell you how things work out for Johnny Depp and his daughter but then again, do I really have to?

And what's up with all the revolvers? I haven't seen this many revolvers in a film since the Dirty Harry films in the 1970's.

Ondine brought together some sweet stuff - the beautiful Irish coastline, a mythological Selkie sea creature, a struggling fisherman whose life wasn't quite on track. At least two or three original, refreshing films could have taken off from there.

But no luck. Less than half way through, I felt stuck in a contrived, overwrought plot that lost all touch with its unique starting point. A creative opportunity missed.

Granted, Ondine has magnificent scenery and music. An interesting premise. Fine actors. But the film wastes all of these and hurries itself into just another Hollywood play by the numbers script. By the end of the movie I was completely bored, not caring how any of it worked out.

I second the complaints about the lack of English subtitles. Yes, if you focus you'll get most of what's said. But when native English speakers are losing 10-15% of the dialogue then there's no excuse for not including English subtitles on the DVD.

A thoroughly self-absorbed French boy wonders why three lovely women aren't quite meeting all of his expectations. Spend an afternoon with him and you won't be wondering so much.

The atmosphere and scenery were beautiful, so was the acting. Eric Rohmer has made some very sweet and intimate films but in this one he over analyzed young love until my head hurt. It was a bit too much.

If you allow yourself, you can pretend that all of Gaspard's dilemmas were interesting and profound, but they weren't.

Advice to Gaspard - Relax. Think about someone other than yourself for, I don't know, maybe five minutes. You'll see that things will work out just fine.

This is a lighthearted romantic comedy, not to be taken too seriously, nor an impressive film by any stretch. There's nothing here that you won't find in a hundred other, probably better, boy meets girl comedies.

However, if you're a fan of Kim Bodnia, and want to see him stretch, just a bit, the tough-guy role that he's developed in "I Kina spiser de hunde", "Gamle mænd i nye biler" and "Den gode strømer" then Inkasso will be worth your time.

The storyline - small-time gangster with money problems and big dreams bumps into big-time gambler (Iben Hjejle) with money problems, marriage problems and just overall problems. Of course, you can't have a romantic comedy without the romance, so you know what's coming next. The script by itself won't carry the movie. Kim Bodnia and Iben Hjejle will.

If you've seen a few of Kim Bodnia's recent films then you're familiar with the street-wise, hood image he's created. He's mastered the role and is always fun to watch. Here we get a twist. Same gangster, same tough guy, but with a weakness, a little extra dimension to his personality. He's insecure around women, not sure of himself, not always on top of things. He's a tough guy who wants something else from life. A cliché? You bet, but watch how Kim Bodnia pulls that dimension into his character. His acting, and the chemistry he creates with Iben Hjejle, is what makes the movie.

What, by all other measures, is a mediocre movie and a throwaway script is made thoroughly enjoyable by the performances of Kim Bodnia and Iben Hjejle. If you're a fan of either of their earlier work then Inkasso should entertain you.