Review of Kidnapping Mr. Heineken (2015) by Preston L — 22 Sep 2015

Kidnapping Mr. Heineken is based on a true story when 5 friends in Amsterdam kidnapped renowned beer tycoon Freddy Heineken (Anthony Hopkins). The 5 men, in an attempt to get money, kidnap Heineken and hold him for 35 million dollars, which at the time, was the largest ransom for a single person.

Things I Liked:

Anthony Hopkins. Hopkins, as he does in nearly everything, is great. He plays Heineken at first with power and then slowly dips into madness as the cabin fever and the isolation of being kidnapped sets in. He shines through and owns every scene he is in.

Things I Didn't Like:

The Tone. The movie is almost completely without humor. It's gritty, dry, and as a result a bit hard to watch. Movies that stay gritty and intense have to have moments that break that and release the audience or they have to be so intense that we clenching every part of our bodies in anticipation. This one does neither and it's hard to sit through.

The Plot. This movie is based on a true story and those typically are either really interesting or really bland. This one is a weird hybrid. It starts out really interesting as you watch the 5 guys make the plot to kidnap Heineken. But once they have it it gets monotonous and then, by the third act, you just want the film to be done.

Overall. Overall, the film is forgettable. It has a strong performance from Hopkins but he is only a supporting character and is not in the movie as much as the rest of the main cast, who while good, are forgettable. The plot and tone get so lost along the way and the movie drags and falters until you just wish it would end rather than anticipating the conclusion.