De zaak Alzheimer (2003)

User Rating:

7.5/10   

Director:

Erik Van Looy

Writers:

Jef Geeraerts (novel)
Carl Joos (screenplay)

Release Date:

26 September 2005 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Crime | Drama | Thriller

Plot:

Vincke and Verstuyft are the best detectives of the Antwerp police department. They are confronted with the murder on a leading executive and put all their effort to catch the murderer.

Plot Keywords:

Murder | Detective | Prostitute | Corpse | Assassin

Awards:

7 wins & 3 nominations

Cast

Laurien Van den Broeck	...	Bieke Cuypers
Dirk Roofthooft	...	Vader Cuypers
Koen De Bouw	...	Eric Vincke
Werner De Smedt	...	Freddy Verstuyft
Hilde De Baerdemaeker	...	Linda de Leenheer
Geert Van Rampelberg	...	Tom Coemans
Jan Decleir	...	Angelo Ledda
Patrick Descamps	...	Gilles Resnais
Anne-Caroline Suberville	...	Dienster
Jan Dyck	...	Taxi Driver
Miek Van Bocxtaele	...	Receptionist (as Miek Van Bocxstaele)
Deborah Ostrega	...	Anja
Gene Bervoets	...	Seynaeve
Els Dottermans	...	Eva Van Camp
Lucas van den Eijnde	...	Bob Van Camp

Also Known As:

The Alzheimer Affair (International: English title)
The Alzheimer Case (International: English title)
The Memory of a Killer (USA)

MPAA:

Rated R for violence, sexuality and nudity.

Runtime:

123 min | Belgium:135 min (director's cut)

Country:

Belgium | Netherlands

Language:

Dutch | French

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Argentina:16 | Belgium:KT | Iceland:16 | South Korea:15 | Netherlands:12 | Germany:16 | Sweden:15 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Antwerpen, Antwerpen, Belgium

Company:

MMG Film & TV Production

Trivia:

The director (a big RAFC supporter) insisted that actor Gene Bervoets (a Beerschot supporter) whistle the anthem of RAFC in a scene where he's in the car (Beerschot and RAFC are both football clubs in Antwerpen, with 100 years of enmity dividing their fans). Gene Bervoets, however, agreed to do as requested immediately. Since his character is a complete bastard, he thought it quite logical that he would be an RAFC-fan.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: The movie is set in 1995. After stepping off the train Ledda takes the escalators down in Antwerp Central station. There weren't any escalators in there at that time.

Quotes:

Angelo Ledda: [about killing Jean de Haeck] I'm sure nobody will miss him. *I* didn't.

Movie Connections:

References Memento (2000)

Belgian top thriller with outstanding performances

I was surprised to read several negative comments on this site about "De Zaak Alzheimer". Some people seem to think that the movie wasn't worth the hype, but I disagree with this. I think this is the best Belgian cop thriller ever made. The story (based on the novel of Jef Geeraerts) is brilliantly written and the cast is outstanding. Our best Belgian actors give top performances. Jan Decleir, Koen De Bouw, Werner De Smedt and Jo De Meyere are wonderful.

When I would see an American movie who is similar to "De Zaak Alzheimer", I'd probably give it 8/10. What so special about "De Zaak Alzheimer"? It is a Belgian production, made with a limited budget and a cast and crew who doesn't have that much experience in making cop thrillers in an American style. So I'm convinced the movie is really worth the hype. Also that fact that the movie was nominated and won several awards in other countries, proves Erik Van Looy really made a good impression with his movie. I also heard they're negotiating for an American adaptation of the book, what also proves the value of the movie and the book.

A sequel? No, not a sequel but an adaptation of another book of Jef Geeraerts would be suitable. Erik Van Looy is also planning on doing this, but I read it is possible we will have to wait several years for this adaptation because the expectations will be high and Van Looy of course doesn't want to disappoint the audience.

To conclude my comment I can only repeat the fact that "De Zaak Alzheimer" is a great movie and I can't hardly wait to see the American adaptation (they talked about Morgan Freeman for one of the leading roles) and the next adaptation of a Jef Geeraerts-novel by Erik Van Looy.

9/10