Tueurs

The Belgian film 'Tueurs' ('Killers') made in 2017 has two directors. One of them, who is also the author of the story and co-screenwriter, is called Francois François Troukens and is a former bank robber who spent some time behind bars. His partner is Jean-François Hensgens who is also the cinematographer (with good results). The result of their collaboration is a 'film noir' describing a violent confrontation between policemen and gangsters with political reverberations inspired by a real (and still unsolved) case in Belgian history. However, the film does not try too insistently to propose a solution to a series of unexplained crimes, the historical connection seems to be more of a pretext. It remains a fairly well-made action film, with precisely outlined characters, even if psychologically they don't go too deep.

The film begins as a violent action film, alertly paced, in the American style. A burglary at a supermarket is followed by the elimination of witnesses. Is it just a theft, or a terrorist act? What is the connection to the string of similar crimes that happened 30 years ago? Is the fact that among the victims is a female judge who investigated the cases in the past just a coincidence? Gradually, the main heroes of the action take shape. Frank Valken is a burglar fresh out of prison, participating in the heist, but is he also guilty of the murders as the police seems to believe and is trying to prove? Lucie Tesla is a brave and incorruptible police officer who tries to uncover the truth, but the obstacles seem to come not only from the criminals but also from her bosses in the police and the prosecutor's office. Are they involved? What is the connection to the crimes committed three decades ago?

The not fully assumed reference to real cases is problematic. For Belgians, just mentioning the actual cases of Brabant murders in the 1990s is probably insufficient. For those unfamiliar with that episode in recent Belgian history, the case brought to the screen is even more mysterious. It seems to be about political murders, but the orientation of those who ordered them is unclear - what exactly were they after? The action part is well outlined, and the character of Frank Valden, played by Olivier Gourmet, is well built. Lubna Azabal's performance in the role of the policewoman also seemed excellent to me. 'Tueurs' is a well-crafted action film that would have won, I think, if the political side was more clearly explained and if the characters were given a bit more screen time to define and reveal themselves to the viewers. I often criticize modern movies for their excessive length. 'Tueurs' is one of the rare cases where I think the film would have been better if it had a few dozen extra minutes.

For me Tueurs feels incomplete. Its chief shortcoming, a story that's not well fleshed out, with characters you never really get to know. The problem with this, of course, is it makes it hard to appreciate whats going on or why people are motivated to do what they do.

By contrast, what this film does do well is action. Readily sprinkled throughout this film, its frenetic, violent and on more than one occasion, a little disturbing.

If the plot had been more substantial and this film maybe 20 minutes longer I think it could have been truly memorable. As its stands, its watchable but also easily forgettable. 6/10 from me.

Jesus Christ with a boring piece of nonsense this feels like it's like their shows something which is only a little part of the total really sad because I'm definitely interested in in de bende van nijvel.

Damn! This movie is a bomb! "Tueurs" is a belgish "Heat" version. Very dark and brutal, but at the same time exclusively stylish. Colors and camera work. The great merit of this movie is the soundtrack made by Clément 'Animalsons' Dumoulin. It boosts the atmosphere up to maximum level. A real pleasure. Watch and sweat!

The set - up of Above the Law is immediately arresting, with the viewing audience dropped straight into the middle of a very professionally planned and organised armoured car hijack, that we soon find out has links to the real - life Brabant Killers operations in 1980's Belgium.

There are other pleasant surprises to be appreciated. Clément Dumulin's score is unobtrusive, whilst nicely complementing the near non - stop action. The cast headed by Oliver Gourmet as a career crim and Lubna Azabal as his primary law officer pursuer are more than adequate in their various roles. The overall story, though clearly derivative and paying multiple homages to Michael Mann's classic Heat, is entertaining as such and is lent extra degrees of authenticity, knowing that co - director and co - screenwriter François Troukens, is a rehabilitated underworld figure in Belgium crime lore. Some of the action set pieces too are cleverly realistic and convincing given that the movie doesn't radiate a mega - budget status.

Unfortunately however, worthy Above the Law is, it never really rises much above B movie KPI's. Of major concern, as others have noted on this site, for an 86 minute film, the exposition is almost confoundingly sketchy. Characters are so lightly backgrounded, we are forced to only guess at their motivations for their on - screen actions. Nothing much is ever literally spelt out in a shortish film, which features long periods with little dialogue.

I understand the film has noir pretensions, but the lighting too often is annoyingly murky in an action film, where most things happen nocturnally. Co - director and Director of Photography Jean-François Hensgens, could have and should have done better to involve us, without expecting viewers to continually squint into poorly lit scenes.

It's a genuine pity that the production team didn't take more careful note at how well Mann draws his Heat characters and stages his scenes. If they had and acted accordingly, they may well have had ownership of a product of much higher calibre.