Dead Man Down (2013)
Cast: Colin Farrell, Noomi Rapace, Terrence Howard, and Dominic Cooper
Director: Niels Arden Oplev
Synopsis: When loss unites the lives of two strangers, will seeking revenge cause them to move on or form a friendship?
Review:
Niels Arden Oplev teams back up with Girl with the Dragon Tattoo actress Noomi Rapace in Dead Man Down. The film is slow to build as the viewer learns more about the characters back-stories, which allows for a volatile final act. The two main characters, Victor (Colin Farrell) and Beatrice (Rapace), are both dealing with a loss in their lives. Both characters self-narrate their own back-stories. The director allows viewers to learn how these two characters were brought together before the intensity grows.
Along with Farrell and Rapace, Dominic Cooper plays Victor’s friend and crime solving wise-guy, Darcy. Cooper gives a good performance as part of the second storyline.Terrence Howard plays Alphonse, Victor and Darcy’s crime boss. Howard’s performance is a little over the top as a crime kingpin, especially in the final act. One surprise in the casting was Armand Assante, who plays a business man with very little screen time.
Colin Farrell shines in this movie. His character’s grief, as well as his conscience, shows throughout the movie. The viewer can feel how each part of Victor’s plan is emotionally exhausting. This could be one of Farrell’s better performances. Noomi Rapace brings so much emotion to her character without uttering a single word. Her performance was a delight to watch. One scene between Victor and Beatrice has so much heartbreak. It wasn’t just the dialogue, but the reaction of each actor. Both Rapace and Farrell convey so much through their expressions that the viewer can feel the heartbreak.
Once the 117 minutes begin to connect the story lines, the movie goes by quickly. The film feels very intimate due to the close-ups of the main cast members. Viewers feel as though they are sitting in the room with each character on-screen. The pace of the story quickens throughout the film, which keeps the audience present. Some of the scenes shot in the city felt unrealistic. One example is the sniper shooting, because cops took too long to respond to shots. The unrealistic feel was not a major problem in the scheme of the movie, but the scene felt improbable.
Upon watching Dead Man Down a second time, I noticed the quality of the sound. Some scenes lacked sound and it felt right to inject silence in that moment. One example of this was the scene when Victor drops Beatrice off after he does what she asks. That moment of quiet conveys more than any music or sound could. Another scene where sound plays a small role is Victor and Darcy’s face-off at the end. There is very little dialogue or sound. The only sound that is present is the sprinklers. There are some different languages throughout the movie that have subtitles. Most of the music is subtle, expect for one song that is played twice in the movie. The song stands out during the movie because it is in French.
The film had some flaws, but Dead Man Down is an entertaining, intelligent thriller that is worth a look.
Moviegeek101 
Good review. Farrell and Rapace kept it all interesting, everything else however, not so much. Still, it had it’s moments.
Thank you for your comment. I do agree with you about Farrell and Rapace keeping the movie interesting. It was great but I did enjoy it.
I watched the movie based on your review and I’m so glad I did. I loved the visual ‘tone’ of the movie. I really thought for a little while I was watching a movie, not based in NYC, but in another country = what a great job of bringing the viewer into the multi culture aspect of NYC. The chemistry between Farrell and Rapace was delectable. I loved his portrayal of the grieved, widower and her portrayal of her character’s shame, pain and strength. From the minute they meet on screen you want them both to come out of their mutual pain and anguish together. Thank you for recommending!
Thank you for posting. The one thing I love about the movie was the multi-cultural feel of it. I love Oplev’s direction in this movie. The little moments between Farrell and Rapace were amazing. I am happy you enjoyed the movie.