Movie Summary:
Duncan Vizla aka The Black Kaiser, a professional hitman is
14 days away from retirement and winding down when he is ostensibly called in
for one last job by his employer – Damocles – who in reality want to kill him in
order not to pay him his pensions benefits thus saving cost (yes, you read that
right!) However, the team of colourful, young assassins sent in by Damocles CEO, Mr. Blut, to kill Duncan are having a hard time tracking him down as he lives a
quiet life in an undisclosed snowy town.
My Review:
I settled in to watch this on Netflix expecting a John Wick-esque
movie as the preview had led one to believe (eye roll at the puppy cut) but no,
Polar is not “John Wick on LSD”, but it is its very own kind of movie.
I loved the colours and if you think that the characters
looked like they came straight out of a comic book then you’re right: Polar is
based on the eponymous comic book series published by the great Dark Horse
Comics.
Mads Mikkelsen as Duncan Vizla is perfect casting; everyone
else just melts away in his presence with the exceptions of maybe Matt Lucas as
the colourful and loud Mr. Blut and his on-screen opposite Vanessa Hudgens as the
quiet and mousy Camille. I love me some Mads (although I have not seen the Hannibal
series) as his role as Le Chiffre is the most underrated Bond villain ever but
I digress. Mads owns the character and you can see the blend of cold, ruthless
killer and aging professional including a certain je ne sais quoi.
Polar’s plot was great, pacing very good and though all the colourful
characters might be a bit outlandish for some, it is all rather solid and finds
sound footing between camp, entertainment and what movies adapted from comics
can be. But please what kind of fucked
up contract did these hit-men sign? Didn’t they read the fine print? And what
is even more worrying is that a professional hit-man organisation will set out
to kill its workers so as to get out of paying their pensions upon retirement? Oh
well, I guess the name “Damocles” should have tipped everyone off and if they
missed that then they deserve what they got.
Look out for Johnny Knoxville (in the opening scene) and
Richard Dreyfuss as retired hit-men.
