Blackout (2012)

Directed by: Arne Toonen | 95 minutes | crime, comedy | Actors: Raymond Thiry, Birgit Schuurman, Katja Schuurman-Römer, Willie Wartaal, Kim van Kooten, Robert de Hoog, Alex van Warmerdam, Kempi, Bas Keijzer, Renée Fokker, Marwan Kenzari, Horace Cohen, Sem Schilt, Joop Kasteel, Ursul de Geer, Robert de Hoog

Arne Toonen is one of those people who likes to cycle against the wind. Someone who turns left where others prefer to turn right. For his debut film ‘Dik Trom’ (2010), he therefore did not adhere to the (unwritten) laws and traditions that apply to a Dutch youth film, but gave it a good sweep, resulting in a fresh, cheerful film version about a episode in the life of the more than a century old chubby fellow once conceived by C. Joh. Lapwing. Playful but stylish. Toonen goes one step further for his second film. He exchanged the youthful target group for a more mature audience and he ventured into a genre that has, remarkably enough, always been somewhat underexposed in Dutch cinema; the crime comedy. The novel ‘Merg en Been’ by Gerben Hellinga was used as a source of inspiration and a selection of (befriended) well-known Dutch people were summoned for a roll. And now the public can throw themselves into ‘Black Out’ (2012).

Jos Vreeswijk (Raymond Thiry) was once a notorious gangster, but that time is far behind him. He is now a good citizen about to tie the knot with Caroline (Kim van Kooten). He has severed all ties with his crime history. At least that’s what he thinks. Because on the day of his wedding, he wakes up with a corpse in bed next to him. He does not know how that soulless body got there. He doesn’t know who it is either. And he has no idea where that gun suddenly came from. Completely distraught, he decides to enlist the help of two old acquaintances (Bas Keizer and Renée Fokker). It soon becomes apparent that all kinds of shadowy figures are targeting poor Jos, people he still knows from his past as a criminal. When it is alleged that Jos has stolen twenty kilos of cocaine, the problems pile up. Even Caroline’s father, top lawyer Rudolf (Ursul de Geer) still has a bone to pick with him. When he gets the femme fatales Petra and Charity (Birgit and Katja Schuurman) after him, Jos has to run for his life. And the police (in the person of Alex van Warmendam) doesn’t seem to be on his side either.

Bumbling gangsters who encounter a colorful procession of colorful idiots on their mad ride – where have we seen that before? It may be clear that Arne Toonen got the proverbial mustard from his professional brother Guy Ritchie, who already set the tone for the late last century with films such as ‘Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels’ (1998) and ‘Snatch’ (2000). modern crime comedy. We know Quentin Tarantino’s quirky lyrics and references to crime classics. ‘Black Out’ is not really original, although we hadn’t seen a Dutch version of the modern crime comedy yet. Toonen – who wrote the screenplay in collaboration with Melle Runderkamp – is not as sharp as Tarantino can be. Some one-liners tend towards vulgarity, others are direct hits, leaving the balance in the middle. In general, however, it can be said that Toonen has been quite successful in its purpose. The characters, the events and the story: it’s all nice and bold. Only sporadically does the film go off the rails, but most of the sharp twists turn out well. The spectacle rumbles on until it comes to an abrupt halt during an – inevitable – crazy and bloody firefight.

Between all the screaming eccentrics, Raymond Thiry is like the quiet Jos a beacon of peace. Alex van Warmerdam as agent André is also a nice addition to the cast, which, in addition to the aforementioned celebrities, also includes Robert de Hoog, Horace Cohen, rappers Kempi and Willie Wartaal and Edmond Classen. Each and every one of them play outrageous characters who, with a great sense of style, shoot through the screen in a flash. Cheerful, maddened and often hilarious. He may ostentatiously borrow from Ritchie and Tarantino, but Toonen’s ‘copy’ is entertaining enough to attract a large crowd of visitors to the halls.