Zaak Alzheimer, De (2003)

User Rating:

7.5/10   

Director:

Erik Van Looy

Writers:

Jef Geeraerts (novel)
Carl Joos (screenplay)

Release Date:

26 September 2005 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Crime | Drama | Thriller

Plot:

Vincke and Verstuyft are the best detectives of the Antwerp police department. They are confronted with the murder on a leading executive and put all their effort to catch the murderer.

Plot Keywords:

Retirement | Undercover Cop | Cleavage | Phone Tracing | Belgium

Awards:

7 wins & 3 nominations

Cast

Laurien Van den Broeck	...	Bieke Cuypers
Dirk Roofthooft	...	Vader Cuypers
Koen De Bouw	...	Eric Vincke
Werner De Smedt	...	Freddy Verstuyft
Hilde De Baerdemaeker	...	Linda de Leenheer
Geert Van Rampelberg	...	Tom Coemans
Jan Decleir	...	Angelo Ledda
Patrick Descamps	...	Gilles Resnais
Anne-Caroline Suberville	...	Dienster
Jan Dyck	...	Taxi Driver
Miek Van Bocxtaele	...	Receptionist (as Miek Van Bocxstaele)
Deborah Ostrega	...	Anja
Gene Bervoets	...	Seynaeve
Els Dottermans	...	Eva Van Camp
Lucas van den Eijnde	...	Bob Van Camp

Also Known As:

The Alzheimer Affair (International: English title)
The Alzheimer Case (International: English title)
The Memory of a Killer (USA)

MPAA:

Rated R for violence, sexuality and nudity.

Runtime:

120 min | Belgium:135 min (director's cut)

Country:

Belgium | Netherlands

Language:

Dutch | French

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Argentina:16 | Belgium:KT | Iceland:16 | South Korea:15 | Netherlands:12 | Germany:16 | Sweden:15 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Antwerpen, Antwerpen, Belgium

Company:

MMG Film & TV Production

Trivia:

Official Entry for Belgium for the Best Foreign Language Academy Award 2005

Goofs:

Anachronisms: Some of the cars carry European-style license plates (full width, with a blue European mark on the left side - most clearly seen on the Mercedes cab that Ledda rides in). These were not yet introduced in 1995, the time the movie is set.

Quotes:

[Freddy hooks up a phone-tracer]
Eric Vincke: Is that legal?
Freddy Verstuyft: No... Japanese.

Movie Connections:

References Memento (2000)

Finally a great Belgian "policier"...

It takes a lot of guts to make a Belgian "policier". It's like making an American western without John Wayne, or a French flick without Jean Gabin or Alain Delon.

New times, new directors, new actors... Director Van Looy found his actors. Not only are they good, they are outstanding. Much will be said about the three main actors: Jan Decleir, Koen De Bauw and Werner De Smedt, but look closely at the supporting roles. Hilde De Baerdemaeker is one of the coming Belgian ladies... read my lips!

The script is based on a book by author Jef Geeraerts but for once the adaptation is better.

The dialogues are tongue in cheek, and for fans of "NYPD Blue" or "Homicide" this movie is a real treat. When the lights come on in the theater you want to look at your TV guide and check when the next episode is due...

The camera is nervous, it follows the action closely and the music is very well chosen. Also, without being chauvinistic, it's wonderful to see all the action take place in one of the largest European cities: Antwerp.

One of the best Belgian movies yet? Yes. A nice build up of characters, situations, drama. It's not easy, but it has been done.

Director Van Looy found his real commitment, a police thriller. You can compare this movie with "Memento" (the memory loss) or "Se7en" (the dualism between the two investigators) but better yet to "The Insider". Watch it: you will find out why.