English Title: Riders of Justice
Danish Title: Retfærdighedens Ryttere
Director(s): Anders Thomas Jensen
Screenwriter(s): Anders Thomas Jensen
Studio: Zentropa Entertainments
Released: 2020
Runtime: 1h 56m
Starring: Mads Mikkelsen, Nikolaj Lie Kaas, Lars Brygmann, Andrea Heicks, Nicolas Bro
My Verdict: Moderately dark and comical. Both the black comedy and action are very measured. Solid film in every respect with decent pacing.
● Markus (Mads Mikkelsen) is a soldier serving in Afghanistan. One day, his wife Emma and daughter Mathilde (Andrea Heicks) are involved in a train accident. Amongst the deaths is Emma as well as a former member of the motorbike gang “Riders of Justice” who was to testify against its leader. Markus is then called home.
● Also on the train is Otto (Nikolaj Lie Kaas), a statistics expert who notices a suspicious man disembarking before the accident. Otto is convinced that it was not an accident and approaches Markus since the police dismissed his theory. The plot follows Markus, Otto and two of his software expert and hacker friends, Lennart (Lars Brygmann) and Emmenthaler (Nicolas Bro) as they plan their quest for justice and revenge.
● Even though the film can be considered an action-comedy, it is somewhat dark and mildly gritty. Given the death of the main characters’ wife and mother, the serious and dark tone is well established and it is some time before the more overtly comical moments occur without contradicting its dark tone.
● The most apparent theme is finding meaning not only in tragedy but in everyday coincidental events. Otto is such a character, initially seeing patterns and trying to make sense and use of them. This is not necessarily cleverly or deeply explored but it is done consistently and in such a way that the audience can sympathize with the characters.
● The other theme, related to the above, is dealing with grief. Every main character has baggage. In particular, whilst Mathilde wants professional counselling, Markus is against it. The two do talk but apart from the funeral scene in the opening act rarely do we see them in a two-shot.
● Given the circumstances, Markus also has so-called anger management issues. Some of the comedy is from this.
● Much of the comedy is from the dialogue. Markus is the serious soldier and Otto is serious by nature as well, but Lennart and Emmenthaler are flippant in their expressions. Brygmann’s and Bro’s performances are both effective with their casual and/or deadpan delivery.
● Although Otto, Lennart and Emmenthaler are to some degree “fish out of the water” tropes, this is not heavily relied upon. Whilst this is appreciated as the plot avoids being a complete farce, more accidental action would add more black comedy.
● Visually, it is shot and edited well. It is not heavily stylized. It could use more stylization. The palette is nice. There is enough variation and richness in the colors to not be intensely gritty but not quite enough to be like a film based on or inspired by a comic book.
● The action sequences, more the choreography and sequencing rather than the film editing, can be a little better. There are moments when a particular action needs to line up better than the preceding action.
● Overall, both the comedy and action (violence) are very measured. It does not overdo either; it is as if it is trying too hard not to overdo them. Although it is not meant to be laugh-out-loud from start to finish, the black comedy and action can go further. In any case, it is a solid and entertaining film.
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