Headhunters (2011) Hodejegerne (original title)

Director:

Morten Tyldum

Writers:

Lars Gudmestad
Ulf Ryberg
(more)

Release Date:

26 August 2011 (Norway)

Genre:

Crime | Thriller

Tagline:

The hunt is on.

Plot:

An accomplished headhunter risks everything to obtain a valuable painting owned by a former mercenary.

Plot Keywords:

Painting | Headhunter | Art | Gun | Art Gallery

Awards:

Nominated for BAFTA Film Award. Another 4 wins & 8 nominations

Cast

Aksel Hennie	...	Roger Brown
Nikolaj Coster-Waldau	...	Clas Greve
Synnøve Macody Lund	...	Diana Brown
Eivind Sander	...	Ove Kjikerud
Julie R. Ølgaard	...	Lotte (as Julie Ølgaard)
Kyrre Haugen Sydness	...	Jeremias Lander
Valentina Alexeeva	...	Natasja
Reidar Sørensen	...	Brede Sperre
Nils Jørgen Kaalstad	...	Stig
Joachim Rafaelsen	...	Brugd
Mats Mogeland	...	Sunded
Gunnar Skramstad Johnsen	...	Monsen 1
Lars Skramstad Johnsen	...	Monsen 2
Signe Tynning	...	Morning Show Hostess
Nils Gunnar Lie	...	Morning Show Host
Baard Owe	...	Sindre Aa
Sondre Abel	...	Okonomisjef
Morten Hennie	...	Styreformann
Irina Eidsvold	...	Patolog
Kyrre Mosleth	...	Vekter Nils
Martin Furulund	...	Vekter Per
Mattis Herman Nyquist	...	Ferdinand
Torgrim Mellum Stene	...	Atle Nerum
Camilla Augusta Hallan	...	Sykepleier
Anjum Salwan	...	Drosjesjafer
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Daniel Bratterud	...	Vakt (uncredited)
Petter Askø Næss	...	Pressefotograf (uncredited)

Directed by
Morten Tyldum

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Lars Gudmestad
Jo Nesbø		novel
Ulf Ryberg

Produced by
Anni Faurbye Fernandez	....	executive producer
Marianne Gray	....	producer
Lone Korslund	....	executive producer
Christian Fredrik Martin	....	executive producer
Paul Røed	....	line producer
Asle Vatn	....	producer
Mikael Wallen	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Trond Bjerknes
Jeppe Kaas

Cinematography by
John Andreas Andersen

Film Editing by
Vidar Flataukan

Casting by
Jannecke Bervel

Production Design by
Nina Bjerch Andresen

Costume Design by
Karen Fabritius Gram

Makeup Department
Stuart Conran	....	prosthetics supplier
Rick Marr	....	special makeup effects artist
Jim Udenberg	....	special makeup effects artist

Production Management
Trond Mjøs	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Martin Ersgård	....	first assistant director
Nina Samdal	....	second assistant director

Art Department
Olivier Marcouiller	....	scenic artist
Tord Moberg	....	carpenter
Daniel Røsset	....	assistant property master
Thomas Underhaug Fosseli	....	assistant property master
Monja Wiik	....	art department coordinator

Sound Department
Petter Fladeby	....	sound re-recording mixer
Kenneth Gustavsen	....	sound recordist
Bent Erik Holm	....	sound effects editor
Stig Holte	....	sound effects editor
Tom Erik Lie	....	boom operator
Morten Pilegaard	....	foley recordist
Tormod Ringnes	....	sound designer
Tormod Ringnes	....	supervising sound editor
Ketil Ronold	....	boom operator: second unit
Espen Rønning	....	dialogue editor
Morten Solum	....	sound recordist
Erik S. Watland	....	foley artist
Erik S. Watland	....	sound effects editor

Special Effects by
Søren Skov Haraldsted	....	special effects assistant coordinator
Mark Hedegaard	....	special effects technician
Hummer Høimark	....	special effects coordinator
Claus Nørregård	....	special effects welder
Finn Thomasen	....	armourer: daily

Visual Effects by
Olve Askim	....	compositing
Ole Geir Eidsheim	....	visual effects artist: Gimpville AS
Lars Erik Hansen	....	visual effects supervisor
Dylan Richard Hopkin	....	visual effects artist
Morten Jacobsen	....	digital compositor
Samuel Karlsson	....	digital compositor
Christian Korhonen	....	visual effects artist: Gimpville AS
Kjetil Kulander	....	visual effects artist: Gimpville AS
Severin Mathiesen	....	digital compositor: Gimpville AS
Severin Mathiesen	....	matchmove artist
Morten Moen	....	digital compositor
Simon Dahle Nyhus	....	visual effects artist: Gimpville AS
Jan Svalland	....	digital compositor: Gimpville AS
Otto Thorbjørnsen	....	digital compositor

Stunts
Niklas Brennsund	....	stunt double
Deni Jordan	....	stunt coordinator

Camera and Electrical Department
Eirik Holst Aagård	....	focus puller
Erik Aavatsmark	....	still photographer
Anders Eide	....	key grip
Christen Kenneth Gran	....	lighting technician
Ole Petter Hergum	....	camera trainee
Jim Kolborg Nilsen	....	grip
Carl Christian Raabe	....	still photographer
Pål Ulvik Rokseth	....	camera operator: "b" camera
Pål Ulvik Rokseth	....	second assistant camera
Geir Rossebø	....	lighting technician
Hans Petter Sydsæter	....	gaffer
Marius Tharaldsen	....	grip
Knut Westad	....	best boy grip
Espen Zubi	....	camera car operator
Espen Zubi	....	grip
Espen Zubi	....	rigging grip

Casting Department
Andrea Eckerbom	....	casting assistant

Editorial Department
Jonas Aarø	....	assistant editor
Julien Alary	....	colorist
Terje Kjetil Gillebo	....	dcp technician
Klaus Gretland	....	assembly editor
Dylan Richard Hopkin	....	on-line editor
Morten Nagel	....	post-production coordinator

Music Department
Peter Fuchs	....	music engineer
Rasmus Hansen	....	orchestrator
Allan Wilson	....	conductor

Other crew
Gregers Dohn	....	promotional trailer
Stein Ove Horten	....	location scout
Tom Joelsen	....	post-production coordination
Mercedes Madicken Langvad	....	production coordinator
Audun Skarbøvik	....	location manager

Thanks
Berna Levin	....	special thanks

Production Companies

• Friland
• Yellow Bird Films (co-production)
• Nordisk Film (co-production)
• ARD Degeto Film

Distributors

• Alliance Films (2011) (Canada) (theatrical)
• Cathay-Keris Films (2012) (Singapore) (theatrical)
• Drei Freunde Filmverleih (2012) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Earth Star Entertainment (2012) (Japan) (theatrical)
• Impacto Cine (2012) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Innoform Media (2012) (Singapore) (theatrical)
• Lumière (2012) (Belgium) (theatrical)
• Lumière (2012) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Magnolia Pictures (2012) (USA) (theatrical) (subtitled)
• Mares Filmes (2012) (Brazil) (theatrical)
• Momentum Pictures (2011) (UK) (theatrical)
• NFP Marketing & Distribution (2012) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Odeon (2012) (Greece) (theatrical)
• Rialto Distribution (2011) (Australia) (theatrical)
• Alta Films (2012) (Spain) (all media)
• Ascot Elite Entertainment Group (2011) (Switzerland) (all media)
• Film1 (2013) (Netherlands) (TV) (limited)
• IPA Asia Pacific (2011) (Thailand) (all media)
• IPA Asia Pacific (2011) (Vietnam) (all media)
• Kino Swiat (2012) (Poland) (all media)
• Lumière Home Entertainment (2012) (Netherlands) (DVD) (Blu-ray) (retail)
• Lumière Home Entertainment (2012) (Netherlands) (DVD) (retail)
• Magnolia Home Entertainment (2012) (USA) (DVD)
• Nordisk Film (2011) (Norway) (all media)
• Roadshow Entertainment (2012) (Australia) (DVD)
• Vendetta Filmes (2013) (Portugal) (all media)
• Vertigo Média Kft. (2012) (Hungary) (all media)
• Warner Home Video (2012) (Germany) (DVD)
• Zeno Pictures (2012) (Netherlands) (DVD) (Blu-ray) (rental)
• Zeno Pictures (2012) (Netherlands) (DVD) (rental)

Special Effects

• Dansk Speciel Effekt Service

Other Companies

• Digital Post Services  world-wide servicing
• Dolby Laboratories  sound mix
• Kameraudlejningen  camera equipment provided by
• Slovak National Symphony Orchestra  orchestra
• Slovak Radio Concert Hall  music recorded at

Also Known As:

"Hodejegerne" - Norway (original title)
"The Headhunters" - International (English title) (literal English title)

MPAA:

Rated R for bloody violence including some grisly images, strong sexual content and nudity

Runtime:

100 min

Country:

Norway | Germany

Language:

Norwegian | Danish | Russian | English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital (5.1 surround)

Certification:

USA:R | Norway:15 | Denmark:15 | Australia:MA15+ | Netherlands:16 | UK:15 | Ireland:16 | South Korea:18 | Canada:14A (Ontario) | Singapore:M18 | Hungary:16 | Hong Kong:IIB | Argentina:16 | Finland:K-15 | Germany:16 | Portugal:M/16

Filming Locations:

Skøyen, Oslo, Norway

Company:

Friland

Trivia:

Casting for the twin police officers Monsen proved particularly difficult because the twins had to weigh over 220lbs and be identical. Lars Skramstad Johnsen and Gunnar Skramstad Johnsen fit the bill.

Goofs:

Continuity: The license plate of Clas Greve's car is a Dutch diplomatic plate. The letters "CD" (for Corps Diplomatique) on it are issued exclusively for that purpose. But he is not a diplomat and no diplomat may lend him such car.

Movie Connections:

Features The Girl Who Played with Fire (2009)

Soundtrack:

Weathervane

Norwegian crime thriller with twists

Dark Scandinavian crime movies being all the rage lately, this intelligent, action-packed thriller didn't disappoint. I went into the film without reading the book or indeed knowing a single thing about the film. I enjoyed it.

I was drawn into this northern world with its interesting people and beautiful natural scenery. What also made this movie stand out was the fast-paced plot with many unusual and unexpected twists. It is the kind of film that has you glued to your seat to see what could possibly happen next to the main character. Roger Brown, the headhunter, becomes headhunted. (But what's the story with the English name??)

No movie is perfect. There were a few plot problems and I have to admit I looked at my watch half way through, despite the fast pace.

Perhaps the film could be faulted for showing only two types of Norwegians: rich sophisticates and yokels (all blond of course). Aren't there any ordinary middle-class people in Norway?

Also, some of the scenes may be too difficult for the squeamish to watch. Not exessive, but just a little over the top.

I'd give this film a higher score, but I am not a fan of the genre. Still, I did enjoy it for what it was and would recommend it to anyone. It's a good movie.