Ex Drummer (2007)

Director:

Koen Mortier

Writers:

Herman Brusselmans (novel)
Koen Mortier (screenplay)

Release Date:

31 January 2007 (Belgium)

Genre:

Comedy | Crime | Drama | Music

Plot:

Three handicapped losers who form a band ask famous writer Dries to be their drummer. He joins the band and starts manipulating them.

Plot Keywords:

Writer | Drummer | Evil | Blood | Drugs

Awards:

3 wins & 1 nomination

Cast

Dries Van Hegen	...	Dries
Norman Baert	...	Koen de Geyter
Gunter Lamoot	...	Jan Verbeek
Sam Louwyck	...	Ivan Van Dorpe
François Beukelaers	...	Pa Verbeek
Bernadette Damman	...	Mother Verbeek
Joris Van Der Speeten	...	Jan Verbeek 10 years
Nancy Denijs	...	Ivan's Wife
Nomie Visser	...	Ivan's Daughter
Dolores Bouckaert	...	Lio
Wim Willaert	...	Jimmy
Barbara Callewaert	...	Christine
Jan Hammenecker	...	Dikke Lul
Vinnie Bonduwe	...	Friend Dikke Lul
Chantal Wannyn	...	Erna
Tristan Versteven	...	Dorian
Sebastien Dewaele	...	Stef Vanneste
Hans Claerhout	...	Fan Dries
Eric Vanrenterghem	...	Mayor
Flip Kowlier	...	Jury Member
Frank Dubbe	...	Jury Member
Kurt Vandemaele	...	Jury Member
Sophia Theys	...	Jury Member
Peggy Heyninck	...	Woman Parking Lot
Patrick Cronenberg	...	Buss Driver
Sylviane Aliet	...	Woman car
Marcel Deblauwe	...	Referee
Greta Baert Bruynoghe	...	Mother Koen

Directed by
Koen Mortier

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Herman Brusselmans		novel
Koen Mortier		screenplay

Produced by
Ruben Goots	....	executive producer
Eurydice Gysel	....	producer
Koen Mortier	....	producer

Original Music by
Arno
Flip Kowlier
Millionaire
Guy Van Nueten

Cinematography by
Glynn Speeckaert

Film Editing by
Manu Van Hove

Casting by
Kris De Meester

Art Direction by
Geert Paredis

Costume Design by
Catherine Marchand

Art Department
Jeroen Bogaert	....	set dresser
Diego Deceuninck	....	construction assistant
Kurt Rigolle	....	props
Peggy Verstraeten	....	set dresser

Sound Department
Mathieu Cox	....	sound re-recording mixer
Marc Engels	....	sound
Aline Gavroy	....	foley re-recording mixer
Senjan Jansen	....	sound designer
Olivier Thys	....	foley artist
Seppe van Groeningen	....	boom operator

Visual Effects by
Bert Deruyck	....	digital compositor

Camera and Electrical Department
Bart Bleuze	....	first assistant camera
Wouter Dewilde	....	first assistant camera: second unit
Jan Lemmens	....	grip
Philippe de Smet	....	key grip
Dieter Van der Eecken	....	gaffer
Olivier Van Tendeloo	....	clapper loader
Dieter Vanderbeke	....	electrician
Jo Vermaercke	....	Steadicam operator
Jo Voets	....	still photographer

Editorial Department
Arnout Deurinck	....	digital intermediate supervisor

Other crew
Nicolas Daenens	....	making-of
Koen Maenhout	....	scanning technician

Production Companies

• CCCP
• Czar
• Quad Productions (co-production)
• Mercurio Cinematografica (co-production)

Distributors

• A-Film Distribution (2007) (Belgium) (theatrical)
• A-Film Distribution (2007) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Legend Films International (2007) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Tartan Films (2007) (UK) (theatrical)
• Tartan (2007) (USA) (theatrical)
• A-Film Home Entertainment (2007) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Blaq Out (2011) (France) (all media)
• CCCP (2006) (Belgium) (all media)
• L'Altrofilm (2008) (Italy) (all media)
• Legend Films International (2007) (Germany) (DVD)
• Palisades Tartan (2009) (UK) (all media)
• Palisades Tartan (2007) (USA) (all media)
• Siren Visual Entertainment (2007) (Australia) (DVD)

Also Known As:

"My Way Is the Highway" - International (English title) (closing credits title)

Runtime:

UK:101 min | Belgium:90 min | Canada:104 min (Toronto International Film Festival) | USA:100 min

Country:

Belgium | France | Italy

Language:

Dutch | Flemish

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Belgium:KT | Netherlands:16 | Germany:16 | Australia:R | New Zealand:R18 | UK:18 | USA:Not Rated | Italy:VM18

Filming Locations:

Middelkerke, Flanders, Belgium

Company:

CCCP

Trivia:

The movie was intended to be filmed by Jan Bucquoy (The Sex Life of the Belgians (1994)) and an option was made for the novel but because the subsidies of the Flemish government were withdrawn for Camping Cosmos (1996) (made in 1996 not far from the location of Ex Drummer (2007)), he could not make the movie because of financial problems. The movie was made ten years later by Koen Mortier.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in L'incertitude des choses (2013)

Soundtrack:

2 Morro Morro Land

Nicely done adaptation, true to the novelist's style

For the portion of Herman Brusselmans's oeuvre I've read, the movie gave me quite the same feelings as his books. Is that a good thing? It is if you like the man's early work. It shares the very cynical humorous comments the protagonist dispenses in reaction to the other character's actions, as well as his patronizing lecturing towards the young attractive females.

None of the characters are even remotely likable. They're antisocial, immoral sometimes even homicidal ugly bastards and bitches. A normal conversation between them is simply impossible, insults and curses galore. At times it can get a bit cartoonesque.

Is it funny? Yes. Well, funny crude. Everything is quite over the top: the nudity, the violence and especially the music, which saves the film for a great deal. The soundtrack is an amalgam of Belgian and international noise rock, with some softer tracks to ease the pace.

I found it 90 minutes well spent, even if it dragged on a bit too long in the end.