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8 out of 9 people found the following review useful: Decent Dutch genre movie., 23 May 2001 Author: libertyvalance (libertyvalance.gewijde@skynet.be) from Antwerp, Belgium
I must say I quite enjoyed this film from Jean van de Velde. His script is far from original, to be sure, but it has a lot going for it. Victor Löw is entertaining as the driven friend from hell whose reappearance in a young policeman's life changes the destination of all concerned. Cas Jansen has the innocent looks his character requires and, although a bit tame in the beginning, he gets better as the film progresses to its inevitable violent conclusion. There are several more than adequate action scenes for the fans to enjoy: my favourite is the one where two hitmen chase the young cop through an animal sanctuary where he is forced to use the cover of some horses to get away clean. Production values are above standard although you better don't hold your breath if you want to wait for some original camerawork. The attraction of Lek, I believe, lies in the director's willingness to give the audience what it wants. There are some nasty, violent set pieces that will delight the hard core cop thriller freaks. As far as brainless entertainment goes, this is as good as anything made in Hong Kong these days.
5 out of 5 people found the following review useful: Excitement plus in this slick police thriller, 31 May 2004 Author: raymond-15 from Australia
Eddy ( Cas Jansen) a young policeman is happily partnered with Ria (Ricky Koole). They seek advice from Family Planning in the hope that they may produce a baby in the very near future. Advice is given with surprising frankness. Eddy's job demands so much night work that interferes with his personal life and the dangerous nature of his work adds further difficulties to their relationship.Young Eddy of short stature is referred to by his buddies as "Tom Thumb on Viagra". This amusing remark is one of the few moments of relief in this intense drama. The opening torture scene exemplifies the types of characters Eddy is forced to face in his police work.Eddy is a likeable character and projects a genuine feeling of love and affection towards Ria. Unfortunately, a chance meeting with Jack an acquaintance of his infant years draws him into a web of underworld characters dealing in contraband drugs. They say that crime does not pay, but it seems that Jack has all the things in life that Eddy can only dream about.The film requires a good deal of concentration because many of the bearded thugs look similar. The drama is well-paced and Jack's empty and prolonged fits of laughter are both threatening and spine-chilling.Eddy gets to drive a fast Lamborghini Diablo fulfilling one of his boyhood dreams and a baby is delivered in a strange and unexpected way. Great stuff.
2 out of 2 people found the following review useful: See it if you have the chance., 7 September 2003 Author: (Jellybel) from The Netherlands
This is a good movie. The built-up tension is very exciting. The acting is good, especially by Victor Low. But as a Dutch person, it's also more exciting because you can really recognize the way people behave and the situations that arise. Because it all looks and sounds so familiar, you just identify with it more. It's strange because you see so many of these dangerous and scary situations being performed in English but not in Dutch. So when you see it in a familiar environment and in Dutch, it's just more creepy. But also a good movie in itself.
2 out of 2 people found the following review useful: "Race" to survive, 14 July 2001 Author: Mladen Radic (mladen.radic@pu.tel.hr) from Croatia
`Leak' starts with one of the best opening scenes I have seen in last few years. At first, it seems it's just another way to spend some movie tape and to add some length. But then we realize what's goin' on. And then becomes shocking. So is the whole movie: starts like some easy pop song but ends in a hardcore rhythm.The story is about corruption in police. Two main characters, one policeman and one criminal are different, of course, but they have one thing in common: they had been good friends one time ago. So, they meet again, and the race begins. The race to survive. Who'll be the lucky one? There is a thin line that's just waiting to be crossed…If you like American movies too much, you may be disappointed. Well, yes, there is lot of action goin' round but there are no super heroes in this movie, no dirty harrys, no almighty gunmen, no immortal avengers who enjoy their revenge more than everything. This film is not made for fun. This is a European movie, strong and realistic.I saw this movie in an old fortress, it was 1.30 a. m. when the movie started and after one hour I wanted to go home because everything started to look too familiar. Fortunately, I didn't leave.
2 out of 2 people found the following review useful: Exciting, fast paced, alluring, 20 May 2000 Author: rdoves from Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Having seen a lot of Dutch movies, Lek was a total surprise. Though I'm not a police movie affectionado I found this film very exciting. Acting was fabulous and the use of locations very refreshing. Thumbs up for the actors and everybody else involved in this production. Dutch movie goes international!!
4 out of 6 people found the following review useful: 'Lek' is (one of) the best movie of 2000, 6 March 2002 Author: Marco van Hoof (k_luifje7@hotmail.com) from Tilburg, The Netherlands
Jean van der Velde never had a problem with soapactors acting in his films, although the Dutch critics (and in the early nineties when soaps where introduced in The Netherlands, almost everybody involved in so called serious acting) didn't approve this. But Jean van der Velde put Antonie Kamerling (Peter Kelder in the first Dutch soap 'Goede tijden , slechte tijden') in his 'De Kleine Blonde Dood' (1993) and the critics adored Kamerling. In 'All Stars' (1997) Kamerling stars again in a Van der Velde movie. The public loved this picture so much that the film got a televisionseries for three seasons.And in 'Lek' (2000) we find Cas Jansen (Julian Verduyn in 'Goede tijden Slechte tijden') in the lead role, with Thomas Acda (also All Stars).Again the critics were stunned by the performance given by an ex-soapie. Some critics even said more people should have seen it in the cinema. But the public didn't really feel like seeing it in the cinema (this happened to a lot of good or at least fair Dutch movies).That's a real shame, because 'Lek' is (one of) the best movie of 2000.The story about a cop who wants to make a promotion, runs a criminal informant and gets in more trouble than he could ever imagine, is entertaining, topical (because of the Dutch IRT-affair, also with criminal informants) and believable. This is because the script is not just about shooting, shouting and killing people in a horrible way, but also about humans.All the main characters develop themselves: Eddy (Cas Jansen) starts as a young greenhorn and in the end he's as tough as can be. Jack (Victor Low) used to be a criminal, but when he becomes father he wants to get out. And it turns out that Franco, Eddy's partner at the police department (played by Thomas Acda) uses his jokes to make some sort of protection shield for himself. The only main character not really developing is Ria (played by pretty girl-next-door Ricky Koole), Eddy's girlfriend. She is no more than a loving, sweet, good-looking woman providing the location for the final quite spectacular scene of the film. So except for Ria, everybody develops.Besides the story and the more-dimensional side of the characters there is another thing making 'Lek' a stunning film: The dialogues. For instance, at the moment Jack becomes Eddy's informant Jack says: 'When I sneeze, you'll catch a cold.' (In the original Dutch version: Als ik moet niezen, wordt jij verkouden Edje). Also the dialogue between Eddy and Franco, when Franco thinks Eddy is being a corrupt policeman, is a must see. Franco: You screw your wife, you laugh with your mates and you kneel for God. Eddy, doesn't understand: Huh. Franco: Not the other way 'round: never kneel for your wife, laugh with God and screw your mates. (in Dutch it sound better: Franco: Met je vrouw naai je, met je maten lach je en voor God kniel je. Eddy: Hé? Franco: Niet andersom: nooit knielen voor je vrouw, lachen met God en je maten naaien.) And there are more good one-liners in this film.One of the best things about the movie is that it is original in many ways. The killing of a traitor (?) to Haveman in the very first scene in the film, is not an ordinary one, but a very inventive killing, which you don't forget as fast as in other films where someone is being eliminated.Another scene you won't forget is the one were Jack is with his baby-girl and his Lambourgini, cursing to the mother of the child because she is shouting at the kid. Then Jack makes her go away and he explains to Eddy that 'the bitch' should have respect for the little one. In a strange way, Jack's emotions really touch the viewer at this moment. This happens in more scenes and gives Jack (always carrying the baby around with him, even when he's shooting!) an emotional, believable character and it gives the movie definitely a surplus value.The only thing not that good about the movie is the almost last scene in Ria's animal shelter where eddy is being hunted. This kind of scenes (where the hero of the story shows the public he's an animal lover by rescuing a few and he can dodge bullets and fires like the best) are not new and this particular one isn't renewing.But that is the only blemish on this very fine film.
4 out of 6 people found the following review useful: best Dutch movie in my opinion!, 29 March 2001 Author: sevenof9 from Netherlands
I'm not a fan of Dutch movies. This one is different. The actors actually act well and I wasn't bored one single minute. Finally not a dumb or "empty" (no good story line whatsoever) film. Bravo!
2 out of 3 people found the following review useful: Great Dutch movie, 11 July 2002 Author: cees212 from Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Finally a great Dutch movie. Here in the Netherlands we usually make boring movies about nothing or people talking about nothing. This movie has good actors and good action without being stupid. Go rent it. I don't know if you can rent it in every country. I hope so.
2 out of 3 people found the following review useful: Good Dutch movie, 29 April 2000 Author: liou from Amsterdam, Nederland
To be honest, I haven't seen a lot of Dutch films in my live.Here in Holland, it appears like Dutch films aren't very appreciated. They tend to be long, symbolic and boring. None of these characteristics apply to this new movie though! It's a police thriller about a freshman police guy (Cas Jansen) who gets involved in a 'leak' affair and has no idea how to get out of this. No real original story here, but it is enjoyable. I found the supporting actors more interesting. Cas' criminal friend 'Sjakie' is played remarkably well and Cas' partner, Thomas Acda, gives the film a touch of humor. All in all, I enjoyed this movie a lot although it doesn't compare to Hollywood-counterparts, but can you ask this from a Dutch
0 out of 1 people found the following review useful: Nice plot, nice acting, nice filming, nice movie, 18 May 2001 Author: judas9 from Utrecht, Netherlands
Lek is a fun movie to watch. Nice plot, nice acting, nice filming. No more no less. So if you're doing Dutch lessons just to see this movie, reconsider. If your Dutch go see it, it's one of the better Dutch movies.
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