Roger Brown (played by Aksel Hennie) has married a long way above his station – his wife Diane (by Synnove Macody Lund), is stunningly elegant and beautiful and Roger spends his days finding ways to afford to keep her living in the opulent manner she deserves. He has a job as a successful executive headhunter, assessing candidates for senior management positions – but he needs to supplement this income, so he runs a sideline as an art thief. He’s good at that too – the scam he conducts with his crime-partner Ove (by Eivind Sanders) is foolproof and lucrative. To maintain his high-living persona, he also has a girlfriend, Lotte (by Julie Oldaard) but he doesn’t treat her very well. One day, Roger meets the perfect candidate for both schemes …. Clas Grave, (by Nikolaj Coster-Waldau) – an owner of priceless art and a great executive catch. Roger sets his usual plan in motion, but this time things go very differently ….
This movie is based on the best-selling crime novel by Norwegian Jo Nesbo and it loses nothing in its dramatisation. The plot is drawn very well and the twists are each produced with expertise. The drama goes to places the viewer doesn’t expect, which is great. It’s violent in parts, but there are also snippets of black humour that fit well. The performances of all five key characters are blended into a well-paced and expertly developed thriller. This work earned the director, Morten Tyldum, an Amanda Award in Norway in 2012. Yes, it’s a good movie.
Made in 2012. Directed by Morten Tyldum
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