Domino (2019)

Directed by: Brian De Palma | 89 minutes | action, crime, thriller | Actors: Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Søren Malling, Paprika Steen, Helena Kaittani, Eriq Ebouaney, Guy Pearce, Carice van Houten, Thomas W. Gabrielsson, Esben Dalgaard Andersen, Jacob Lohmann, Ilias Addab, Mohammed Azaay, Emrin Dalgic, Jay Pothof, Nicolas Broc

Legendary director Brian De Palma (1940) may have passed his peak for years, you can’t blame the filmmaker for resting on his laurels. De Palma may be making films less often than in his prime – he has made six since 2000 – he still has plenty to do. ‘Domino’ is his first film in years (predecessor ‘Passion’ dates from 2012) and although this thriller has elements of a typical De Palma, the quality is unfortunately far below par. As a result of production issues, De Palma reportedly had bad experiences on set and the financiers ruined the film.

Even more than the director’s name, ‘Domino’ will draw an audience through the cast: Nikolaj Coster-Waldau and the later added Carice van Houten and Guy Pearce each have a large fan base that comes to every film by these stars. Nikolaj Coster-Waldau (Jamie from “Game of Thrones”) plays Christian, a Copenhagen police officer who, along with his partner, investigates when a report of domestic violence comes in. Just before that, we saw how Christian struggled to free himself from his bed partner just before he left, forgetting his service pistol. It is a scene where De Palma could have literally put his signature to it. A little later we also see these unsubtle fragments; crates of tomatoes repeatedly come into view, making it inevitable that someone will end up in them. Or we see the logo of a soft drink on a billboard, which later plays an important role in the story.

Carice van Houten is Alice, Christian’s colleague, who has to investigate the murder of a police officer and who also has other interests than just business. The case soon brings the two together and they follow the alleged terrorist’s trail via Amsterdam and Brussels to Spain, with a thrilling finale in a bullfighting arena. Guy Pearce plays Joe, a CIA agent who has other interests in this international terrorist vehicle. In short: ‘Domino’ tells a straightforward police story, which you would expect from a starting B-film director.

The lack of tension and interest in what is happening to these people quickly breaks down ‘Domino’. The makers also don’t seem to take the viewer seriously, so much is explained that you would almost conclude – except for the viewing pointer of 16 – that this is a thriller for dummies. It is not to be hoped that this is your first thriller, because based on ‘Domino’ you will not quickly become enthusiastic about the genre. ‘Domino’ is downright boring and at times way too melodramatic – where you don’t feel the emotions anywhere. A crying Carice, a collapsing Paprika Stone… it doesn’t affect the viewer.

The contribution of composer Pino Donaggio – who has collaborated with De Palma many times before is quite nice. Although the music is at times too bombastic and controlling, the atmosphere is therefore old school De Palma. Small visual tricks, such as the split screen, and the POV image of a suicide bomber at the fictitious Amsterdam Netherlands Film Festival killing herself and some red-carpet audiences make ‘Domino’ that little bit more interesting. Unfortunately, these positive points do not carry enough weight for the overall picture.