Who payed the critics

The film was still a fun one that will make you laugh and have you leaving the theater feeling like you just stole something valuable and got away with it.

a film so unique, intoxicating and bizarre that it not only demands another viewing, but is also forgivable as a satirical comedy where the jokes eventually take the back seat.

The movie turns out to be a little better than the average. Starting from a romantic formula often seen in the cinema, it ends in the most predictable (and somewhat bland) way.

I was intrigued by the premise of the movie and the clearly flawed and complicated but somehow hopeful character of Roger. I also loved that it was Norwegian (I'm American) and all of the Nordic characters, scenes and themes.However, for me, about 30 minutes into the movie it took a few sharp detours and I ended up not really knowing what I was watching. I could not possibly see how the later scenes followed from the earlier scenes, they seemed completely incongruous. The characters began to behave completely irrationally, I guess motivated by some background that we were never told about or something, I was lost.There were many extremely graphic scenes, I guess you can't really get away from the graphic violence these days in any suspenseful movie but I thought they were just way over the top and took me out of the story.I began to lose interest about 2/3 through but did manage to finish, and the ending tied up the story in such wildly implausible tying-of-knots that I literally laughed out loud.I'll definitely watch for the actors again and look forward to seeing other Nordic themed movies. Hopefully they can show some restraint with the gore next time.

Roger Brown is a brash corporate headhunter in Norway. He spends more money than he has on his statuette wife Diana with her model looks who runs an art gallery. He's trying to compensate for his short statue but the one thing she really wants is a child. He cheats on her with Lotte and is also an art thief to support his extravagant spending. He and his unstable partner-in-crime Ove Kjikerud replace the originals with forgeries to buy time. Diana introduces Roger to a wealthy former-businessman Clas Greve (Nikolaj Coaster-Waldau).I love this character with his inferiority complex. He's a Napolean figure and I like his marital relationship. He's a fresh take on the art thief. Nikolaj Coaster-Waldau is a great threatening presence. The chase thriller is great. However there are a couple of unreal twists at the end. The ending should be more interesting.

Most of the people would be septic when they hear it's a Norwegian movie but Hodejegerne (or Headhunters) will prove them wrong. It's an excellent crime thriller with a lot of twists that keep you in suspense and entertained until the last second. I wish they would make more movies of this quality. Much better then most of the American high budget movies in this genre. Aksel Hennie plays Roger Brown, the headhunter and art thief, and does it brilliantly. Nikolaj Coaster-Waldau as Clas Greve might be better known as Jamie Lannister in Game of Thrones but here he proves he can act in whatever movie. In fact all actors did a great job. The movie might start slow but after a while you get sucked into the story and can't wait to see what's coming. I really enjoyed this one.

"Hodejegerne" or "Headunters" is a Norwegian film directed by Morten Tyldum who you might know for the last year's Oscar contender "The Imitation Game". Despite knowing the praise that this film received, I didn't know it would be this good.I watched it yesterday and the characters are still in my head, specially the main one, Roger Brown, played by Aksel Hennie whose first film I saw was "Last Knights" and the difference in the acting is day from night. He is so good in this one, playing a insecure man who makes his money by stealing art paintings. On the other side we have the menacing Nikolaj Coaster-Waldau, the Jaime Lannister of Game of Thrones who is probably becoming one of my favourite performers in the industry. He commits himself to any role and he is quite amazing. He has the looks and the acting chops and I believe we'll see more of him in the future. I must also make a nod to the two feminine characters in this one : Diana Brown, Roger's wife, played by Synnøve Macody Lund, who is surprisingly good, one of that kind of actress who deserves a place in the spotlight and Lotte, played by Julie R. Ølgaard, another actress who is just amazing. "Headhunters" is certainly the proof that foreign films can be brilliant! An American remake is on the plans but I'm sure it won't surpass the original. This one is clearly overlooked. Watch it!