Wolf (2013) Reviews

• A vicious blast of Dutch cinema

  trublu2152014-10-10

  Wolf follows a young kickboxer named Maj as he drifts into the criminal underworld ran by the Turkish mob. Wolf is a film jammed pack with genres. Sports Drama. Crime Drama. Family Drama. Take your pick, this film has it all. While that seems ambitious for one film, Wolf pulls it off with talent both on screen and behind the scenes. Shown in black and white, Wolf starts with Maj and his best friend stealing mopeds from a shop. A scene that starts right off the bat and let's you know what kind of film you're in for. Now, while the film's plot is clichè, Wolf makes up for its familiar path with a grand array of thoughtful performances and provocative subtext. Marwan Kenzari is perfect in the role of Maj. He's a brooding and vicious man played with a cold and brisk demeanor. Kenzari's skills are able to keep us going from start to finish as we see Raj's ups and downs with the utmost honesty. Despite these qualities, Wolf often drowns itself with repetitive scenes, including ones in which Maj and his terminally ill brother share brotherly bonding time. While these scenes are well acted and paced, by the end of the film, you're left with the feeling that it gave nothing to the story except drag it out. With a bloated runtime of barely over two hours, you begin to feel the effects of it in the middle of the film but quickly tries to get back on track with the more interesting plot of the mob and Maj's descent into his own personal hell. Wolf is very much so a character study of a violent man with a heart of gold. While he is no Carlito Brigante or Michael Corleone, Maj is a more disturbed individual with a dark past and family life that is more than estranged and borders on dysfunctional. The film features some brutal and abrupt scenes of violence that are very realistic and beautifully choreographed, despite some of them feeling as though director Jim Taihuttu went out of his way to shock us. Instead of shocking, some feel a bit drawn out and intended to add more character to Maj but instead makes the audience feel less sympathetic with his situation. There are great qualities to Wolf but some moments of greatness do not entirely forgive some of the weaker moments. One of which featuring Maj's old girlfriend jumping from one gangster to the next, which proves to be a bit more costly than Maj originally intends it to be. Again, another subplot that could have been cut down just a bit. Overall, Wolf is entertaining and features moments of sheer brilliance but the familiar and sometimes bloated story keeps it from achieving pure greatness.

• Don't let this one pass you by...

  esmae2013-09-18

  Just got back from the cinema and felt a strong urge to review this movie. It's successful predecessor 'RABAT', also produced by HABBEKRATS, combined with the rather interesting trailer are what made me curious about this movie. I can't say I stepped into it without expectations, quite the opposite, as the trailer leaves you no option really:) But WOLF lived up to every expectations I had and more. Everything from how precisely Dutch street life is depicted, choice of actors, to story-line, realness & rawness, are what make this movie an absolute must see. It manages to captivate the observer from start to end without a doubt. For many it will create insights into a world that has remained unknown to them & for some it will be a movie close to their heart, close to their own lives & experiences. Either way, you will surely not be disappointed. I believe it's save to state that HABBEKRATS has proved to be more than a one-hit wonder and they are here to stay. As for me, I proudly & warmly welcome any Dutch production of this caliber!

• This movie sends all the wrong messages

  Einarr012014-03-13

  I rarely bother writing reviews here these days, but I couldn't resist sharing a couple of opinions on this one. I do get why it's so highly rated here on IMDb, yet I thought that for a change a director would like to presents us with something different, like a social comment for instance, than the following: A young man from a Moroccan family living in the suburbs of a Dutch city feels the effects of the anomic society he's inhabiting. On top of that he is far and away from the morals and ethics of his parents, which is presumable, given the fact that he lives in a environment which runs on mixture of mechanic (the parents) and organic solidarity (the dutch). Being alone (which by the way is signified by the allegory with the wolf - an animal who can lead a lonely life, but has strong guts, just like the main protagonist), estranged from the society of his parents, and alienated from the Dutch society in which he grew, he never manages to find his way, which results in outburst of violence, crime and, eventually, death. Instead of criticising that by his oeuvre (even if he tried, he failed for the sake of the movie selling well) the director's use the same old story told once again here which results in praising the actual acts of violence, crime, vengeance, hypocrisy and most of all profanity. You see it's a natural for the individual to feel angst when confronted by something he doesn't know and understand, something that is foreign to him and therefore seen as a threat. Virtually, what we have here is the main protagonist who feels all this towards the time and place he lives in together with his environments and the people around his - friends and family included. It's crucial for us to understand that he fists his way throughout his life because he failed to find his way into it, therefore, he's unable to cope with it otherwise. I believe, it's quite poignant the fact that he cannot maintain a simple relationship, which is obviously something he cannot manage, just because he doesn't know how to act in a relationship. The girl he likes is a bimbo from the hood - he'll kill for her, yet it's too much for him to call her for 6 months, because he never managed to internalise what it is to care and to be cared for. Many will find inspiration in this movie, just because hoards of people nowadays are in the same situation. They feel alone, lost, estranged and misunderstood - as I said above all these are the result of an anomic society under the influence of their own oeuvre. Many will praise the main protagonist for his ability to fist his way throughout the banalities of life. Why I hated this movie is because it never grew to actually acknowledge all the problems that it raises. These are amongst many others: the human situation, discrimination, failure in multicultural policies, failure in dealing with the problems with the minorities an mostly marginalising these minorities. Not to mention the fact that instead putting these issues onto the table and furthermore dealing with the violence and crime that are so deceptively shown here, it actually makes us feel for them and most importantly for the need of a persona to establish them. Last but not least it failed to perform an even slight attempt of evolution and reincarnation of the character - it's suitable to mention here that the movie lacked ANY likable characters to begin with apart from the dying, well-to-do brother, who's figure was obviously an allegory of the helplessness of the entire situation to change and the message that it's all doomed. All in all I cannot show respect for a movie that praises what is wrong in a society instead giving it a voice up for a chance. Maybe by filming it all, the director wanted to show us all the stereotypes through which he patched his movie and raise all the questions coming out of them, yet it all turned against it, not matter the good cinematography and believable characters.

• Under a one society every action is so distinct.

  Reno-Rangan2014-06-02

  Like many saying this must be the best ever Dutch movie. At least from the list I have seen so far. The movie surprised me from the every corner with the great cast and powerful performances. Made me to think like I am on a right movie at a right time. Yeah, the subject was quite a strong as the title indicates, though it was not that brutal yet enjoyable. A movie that depicts the social lives of the different ethical groups who endeavor power to rule and to lead sustainable lives. It was a crime-cum-sport-drama, but took all the time to build a better platform for the last quarter of the movie. In the initial hour the story was well developed with fine characters and leaves nothing behind you to carry a bag of doubts. The boxing concept would have not been a necessary, though politely blended into the mainstream story just like the Korean movie 'Punch'. The main character Majid was good. This is the character that encounters everything in the story like emotions and conflicts in his unpleasant life. When his family and romantic life was not arranged properly, he got a slot to rewrite his social life and he has to act tough regarding the approach he chose. The tale of his gang was quite predictable, especially the twist that coming from that way was as expected. Then what makes this movie so special? Well, all together like a multi-face of a character that reshapes according to the situation was displayed precisely. Not only the actors, but praisable job was done by the writer and the director. This underworld and multi-cultural story is definitely not for everyone for many reasons. This could be a perfect entertainer if you take lightly everything you going to see. Overall one of a better movie of the year from this geographical region.

• A good and cool movie. Just enjoy it.

  ralph_valkenburgh2014-10-07

  First off I would like to say that don't hate a movie for cliché's, Love it for it's originality within the cliché's (if it has some of course), cause this movie has it. Wolf, a film I thought would be a flop, at least at first when a friend of mine recommended it to me (I hate Dutch acting. So washed up "Look at me, I am *actors name*, therefore you love me, and what do you mean with the character I portray in this movie is the same as in all my movies, people love my acting" style.). But man was I wrong. And when I say wrong, I mean WRONG. I enjoyed the entirety of the movie, maybe because I grew up in similar circumstances, with similar people during the 90's and 00's, or maybe because the acting, and Character development, and Dialogue was done/written superbly, and spot on. The kind of story it holds however, has been overused, and understandably, it is therefore a cliché. Nevertheless the overall feel to it was different, as you got a chance to see Dutch street life as it has never been shown before. A real look into it, rather than a joke, or a failed attempt. Wolf is worth the watch on any occasion, though I recommend you watch it with no more than 3 people including yourself. I rate this movie an 6.8, for enjoyment, and time well spend.