I bought this movie immediately as it appeared on DVD. Since very few Danish cinema is translated (or subtitled) I felt my $14 would be a good investment.
Why did I buy a new DVD release from an unknown Danish réalisateur? First, because most of the Danish thrillers I own (Pusher, Frygtelig lykkelig, Kærlighed på film, Bleeder...) have really impressed me, and I am satisfied with those purchases. Second, because dozens of Danish movies (or Danish TV series) are for obvious reasons (the language) inaccessible to non-Danes (though they've been producing first class television like Lars Von Trier's 'Riget' or Niels Arden Oplev's 'Rejseholdet').
However Tour de Force is a disappointment. Although the film starts with very innovative camera work (the opening sequences reminded me of Sin City's cinematic atmosphere) halfway down the movie we have very mediocre fighting and shooting scenes where much more effort was needed from the réalisateurs.
The few IMDb users who have rated this movie have been extremely generous. At the time of writing, this film by Kim Sønderholm has a rating of 9,5 (I gave it a six).
One can't avoid comparing Tour de Force with other Danish products like 'Pusher' and Sønderholm film pales in comparison. Both movies have a character named 'Frank', and much like Bodnia in the first Pusher instalment, our Tour de Force Frank is something of a regular guy who has to obey orders from people much higher in the crime ladder, whether they are called 'Milo' or 'Holger'.
But Sønderholm's nemesis (the so called 'Holger') is more of a Playboy than a gangster. We first meet Holger while escorted into a meeting room by black leather bodyguards. Later on we see this Holger in sleeveless t-shirts, this time escorted by ladies and conducting all business via a cellphone.
Lastly a word about the role of Slavko Labovic. An actor of Yugoslav descent, he has been called to play though underworld guys in films like the Pusher. I expected to see more of him in this movie, though his character is merely incidental, much like the short-lived roles he played in films like 'Den Gode Stromer'. (On the other hand, one cannot conceive Pusher 3 without Labovic, where he also was a secondary actor).
Why did I buy a new DVD release from an unknown Danish réalisateur? First, because most of the Danish thrillers I own (Pusher, Frygtelig lykkelig, Kærlighed på film, Bleeder...) have really impressed me, and I am satisfied with those purchases. Second, because dozens of Danish movies (or Danish TV series) are for obvious reasons (the language) inaccessible to non-Danes (though they've been producing first class television like Lars Von Trier's 'Riget' or Niels Arden Oplev's 'Rejseholdet').
However Tour de Force is a disappointment. Although the film starts with very innovative camera work (the opening sequences reminded me of Sin City's cinematic atmosphere) halfway down the movie we have very mediocre fighting and shooting scenes where much more effort was needed from the réalisateurs.
The few IMDb users who have rated this movie have been extremely generous. At the time of writing, this film by Kim Sønderholm has a rating of 9,5 (I gave it a six).
One can't avoid comparing Tour de Force with other Danish products like 'Pusher' and Sønderholm film pales in comparison. Both movies have a character named 'Frank', and much like Bodnia in the first Pusher instalment, our Tour de Force Frank is something of a regular guy who has to obey orders from people much higher in the crime ladder, whether they are called 'Milo' or 'Holger'.
But Sønderholm's nemesis (the so called 'Holger') is more of a Playboy than a gangster. We first meet Holger while escorted into a meeting room by black leather bodyguards. Later on we see this Holger in sleeveless t-shirts, this time escorted by ladies and conducting all business via a cellphone.
Lastly a word about the role of Slavko Labovic. An actor of Yugoslav descent, he has been called to play though underworld guys in films like the Pusher. I expected to see more of him in this movie, though his character is merely incidental, much like the short-lived roles he played in films like 'Den Gode Stromer'. (On the other hand, one cannot conceive Pusher 3 without Labovic, where he also was a secondary actor).