Having been alive back in 1982 when the actual kidnapping of
Freddy Heineken took place I was surprised that I didn’t remember much about it
taking place. Having recently watched and written about the history of the
brewery it discussed the kidnapping towards the end of that documentary. When I
saw that a feature film had been made about it I had high hopes. Those were
quickly dismissed as the end credits rolled on this film.
If you’re not familiar with Heineken beer then you’ve never
seen the world renowned small green bottles that it comes in. An old brewery
based in Europe at first but transplanted here to the states as well, it is one
of the most successful breweries in the world. Not only that but it remains,
basically, a family owned company. Who better to target as a kidnapping victim
then the head of the family?
Back in 1982 a group of friends are having hard times.
Having begun a small construction company times are tough. To add to their
problems an apartment building they purchased is causing them grief. A group of
squatters has taken over the building and changed the locks and due to the way
the law is written, they can’t be forced out because of this. The group of
friends tries to toss them out and ends up in jail for their troubles.
Unable to come up with a way to retain their business and to
take care of their families they come up with the idea to kidnap someone for a
huge ransom. The talk eventually comes around to a local business owner worth millions,
Freddy Heineken (Anthony Hopkins). To finance the operation the group first
robs a bank for funds. Barely escaping from that escapade, the kidnapping is
put into play. Heineken and his chauffer are taken in front of his house and
transported to a secret location while the demands are made.
If all of this sounds rather mundane the truth is it unfolds
that way as well. What little excitement there is to be found in this film
comes during the bank robbery and subsequent chase and both are short lived. On
top of that the movie makes it difficult to feel any sympathy for those behind
the kidnapping once the opening sequences are done with their arrest at the
apartment house. While based on reality it feels like a long stretch to move
from construction worker to bank robber/kidnapper because a loan doesn’t go
through. And yet that’s how it appears here.
Among the kidnappers are actors Jim Sturges and Sam
Worthington, both who have made much better films in the past. Why they decided
to get involved with this one is beyond me. Both are accomplished actors and do
their roles well here but those roles don’t feel as if they offer much in the
long run. Completely wasted is Hopkins as the kidnap victim. His scenes are
short and sweet and offer little for him to do.
I always have a hard time steering people clear of movies
that come out. I realize that there was a lot of time and effort put into any
movie, even a bad one, by the cast and crew that were involved in making that
film. At the same time, despite all of their efforts, when a bad movie is made
I feel much better about warning people to avoid it than if I were to simply
sit back and say oh yeah, good one. This movie never made me feel involved,
never made me feel for the characters and moved along at a snail’s pace
involving more bickering between the kidnappers than anything else in the
story. In the end I would say pass this one by unless you feel the need to see
everything ever made by the actors involved or have a love of Heineken beer.
Even then you might be better off to spend it on a six pack than the cost of
renting this movie.
Click here to order.
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