Entertaining and informative look at the events of 1983 when Freddy Heineken (Rutger Hauer) President of the Heineken brewing company was held captive for 3 weeks while kidnappers demanded a 35 million Guilders ransom (around £12.5 million) for his release.

It was never going to be a 'All those ... moments will be lost in time, like tears...in rain' type of a performance from Rutger, Heineken just wasn't that kind of a man. But it's worth the watch if only to see how far an extremely wealthy mans influence can reach.

Julian Assange should watch and scrutinise this film carefully should he ever plan on venturing outside the grounds of the Ecuadorian Embassy.

Gripping crime drama based on true events, it's nicely paced and the performances are solid. Never seen a film with Rutger Hauer speaking in his own language and he's just as commanding as he is when speaking English but without the scenery-chewing.

http://www.onemetal.com/2013/03/13/21-days-the-heineken-kidnapping/

Cleverly structured thriller that focuses just as evenly on the pre-, mid- and post-kidnapping action, while never quite taking off.

Rutger Hauer gives an admirably restrained performance as the equally tormented and vengeful brewery magnate.

Certain liberties are taken with the real life events on which this is based but those embellishments are at the service of making the plot more dynamic (and carefully covered by an upfront proviso). Less forgiveable is the dearth of attention to detail paid to nailing the aesthetic touches of its 1983 setting. It has the vibe of 80s parody at times or, even worse, often resorts to just plonking a period vehicle in an undressed modern setting.

Those faults, while emblematic of some of the corners cut in the script, are relatively minor and its attempts at characterising both the kidnappers and the victim mostly pay off.

Interesting while never quite thrilling.

Gripping crime drama based on true events, it's nicely paced and the performances are solid. Never seen a film with Rutger Hauer speaking in his own language and he's just as commanding as he is when speaking English but without the scenery-chewing.

http://www.onemetal.com/2013/03/13/21-days-the-heineken-kidnapping/

Entertaining and informative look at the events of 1983 when Freddy Heineken (Rutger Hauer) President of the Heineken brewing company was held captive for 3 weeks while kidnappers demanded a 35 million Guilders ransom (around £12.5 million) for his release.

It was never going to be a 'All those ... moments will be lost in time, like tears...in rain' type of a performance from Rutger, Heineken just wasn't that kind of a man. But it's worth the watch if only to see how far an extremely wealthy mans influence can reach.

Julian Assange should watch and scrutinise this film carefully should he ever plan on venturing outside the grounds of the Ecuadorian Embassy.

Bekende verhaallijn waar engzins van wordt afgeweken omdat Holleeder uit het verhaal wordt gehouden. Nu komt het wat kunstmatig over maar wel interessant

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