Starring: Anthony Hopkins, Jim Sturgess, Sam Worthington, Ryan Kwanten, David Densic, Jemima West, Mark van Eeuwen, Thomas Cocquerel
Distributor: Becker Film Group
Runtime: 95 mins. Reviewed in Mar 2015
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Being a criminal does not necessarily being a mastermind, a mistake probably many criminals make. It is certainly a mistake that the criminals involved in this kidnapping make time and time again.
And who is Mr Heineken, the victim of the abduction? It sounds something to do with the famous Dutch beer. And that is correct. Four young men kidnapped Alfred (Freddy) Heineken, the man who built up the Heineken company. The kidnappers think that he is worth at least $60 million in ransom.
During the opening credits, Heineken is seen making a comment to one of the criminals that most people want friends and money – he makes the point that you can’t have both. And that is one of the morals of this film.
The setting is Amsterdam, 1983. In the aftermath of recession, the four young men who had been friends since school days and who had joined for business enterprises find themselves needing to borrow from a bank but unable to provide sufficient collateral for a loan. They do have a building which has been occupied by punks and hippies. Some strong arm tactics lead them into the hands of the police rather than freeing up their asset.
The father of one of the men worked for Heineken who actually sacked him but still has an enormous loyalty to him. Brainwave! Using the word brain seems something of an over-compliment. One significant idea that they have is that the kidnapping should look like the actions of the terrorist groups of time, like the Red Brigade or Baader-Meinhoff. To emphasise this, they successfully rob a bank.
This is an international production. The conspirators are played by Jim Sturgess (UK), Sam Worthington (Australia), Ryan Kwanten (Australia), Mark van Eeuan (Holland). And Heineken himself is played with his usual intensity by Anthony Hopkins.
When the money is not forthcoming, Heineken himself is surprised and offers to pay the ransom himself, for himself and the driver who was taken with him. Of course, the four begin to get edgy as the days pass, some tempted to be violent, others preoccupied about keeping up normal appearances, visits to family, checking on Heineken’s desires, books, Chinese food…
For those not in the know, it is interesting to see how the whole plan works out, the eventual payment, the subsequent actions of the four men, the consequences for them. Interestingly, though the police are involved, the screenplay, based on the writing of investigative journalist, Peter De Vries, does not give any information about the police work except some surveillance and the response to an anonymous tip.
At the end of the film, there is substantial information given about each of the main characters, prison sentences, life after prison, criminal activity in Holland, and the continued success of Heineken himself who, on the basis of his experience, establishes a strong Security company.
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