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14 out of 16 people found the following review useful:
We're getting there...., 23 October 2003
8/10
Author: bas rutten from Eindhoven, the Netherlands

It's well known that Dutch movies have a notoriously (and completely deserved) bad name, but over the last couple of years they're starting to get better, as "Van God Los" clearly exemplifies.

First of all, there's finally some good acting in a Dutch movie, which is rather surprising since most of the main characters are soap actors that normally can't act their way out of cartboard box, but in this movie they all exceed themselves and deliver very convincing parts, complete with believable accents.

The atmosphere has also been done very well..I originally come from the region where the movie takes place, and the director really hit the spot with the ambiance by including things like Carnival parades and lots of greenhouses. Overall, the region comes across as just as dull as it is in reality, which in this case is a definite plus.

The story, although rather predictable (you know that the movie isn't going to end well), is again very plausible and well thought out. The characters show believable emotions and undergo believable developments, and somehow you care for them even though most of them would be aptly described as "scum".

All in all, "Van God Los" is a very realistic, strong and emotional movie that tells a slightly predictable but nonetheless fascinating and tragic story about friendship and crime. Dutch movies are definitely going the right way...

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9 out of 10 people found the following review useful:
Van God Los makes a huge impression, 13 May 2003
9/10
Author: ThunderStrike from Venlo

I've seen quite a lot of movies, also quite some Dutch ones. Most of them suck quite heavily or are far too commercial, therefore i didn't expect much from Van God Los. But i was wrong.

The movie is very catchy, as it is being told from the perspective of Stan, a young Gymnasium student, who dislikes school and is mostly found being out on the streets. His parents don't care for him much, so he is quite left alone. Then he meets Maikel and they become very close friends. They start with some small illegal businesses, but end up being hired killers.

The story being told from a main character perspective, with commenting on Stan's thoughts, is quite unusual for Dutch movies and almost gives it a Hollywood feeling, with links to movies like the Godfather series. This makes the movie very impressive and really gets you into the main character and his feelings.

When the movie ended, i almost felt the urge of applauding for it, but since the entire cinema was silent, so was i. It was clear to see that this movie made a great impression on all viewers, it was a long time ago i heard so little noise when all people left their seats. This movie is in my opinion already a (Dutch) classic! A must see!

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8 out of 9 people found the following review useful:
Amazing film!, 29 May 2003
9/10
Author: Emmi Visser (hanlinem@hetnet.nl) from Leeuwarden, The Netherlands

This is one of the best Dutch films I've ever seen! The leading actors and actress are really amazing, I'd never expected them to be so good! The story is about two friends, aged 17 and the other one is a bit older, who start to kill people for some sort of local maffia boss. It's very realistic and shocking to see how these men get totally out of control. It's even more shocking to realize this story is based on a true story! 'Van God Los' proves the Dutch film industry can still make beautiful films!

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10 out of 14 people found the following review useful:
Good acting in a Dutch movie!, 20 October 2003
8/10
Author: HappyHenk from Enschede, Netherlands

Despite the fact that I'm Dutch myself, I don't enjoy Dutch movies very often. Maybe it's because I grew up with (mostly) American movies or it's just because the Dutch movies aren't so good. Especially the acting is often far below the level of American or other foreign movies. It's just not convincing.

This movie however displays a high level of acting. Especially the part played by Tygo Gernandt (Maikel Verheije) is very good. You can literally see the adrenaline in his eyes from time to time.

The story is about a boy (Stan) who's having a boring life and is looking for some action. By coincidence he meets Maikel. Everybody knows he's a criminal but Stan sees an adventure ahead of him. And so they become 'partners in crime'. Maikel has another partner (Sef) with who Stan doesn't go along quite well.

During a robbery they 'accidentally' kill someone and when the local mafia gets to know it. They offer them a job to kill several people for them. As they get more jobs they loose their grip on reality.

The story of the movie is good but what makes the movie better than other Dutch movies is the acting. So there's still hope for the future of the Dutch movies. (8/10)

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7 out of 9 people found the following review useful:
Convincing acting, 29 July 2004
6/10
Author: TheOtherFool from The Netherlands

Van God Los, a crime story loosely based on the 'gang of Venlo', has some interesting elements. First off, the acting is rather good, and Gernandt truly shines as 'bad guy'. When having to play a more social character who wishes to become father, the problems arise just there. Keep on type-casting him for the bad guy, he can do that just fine.

Secondly, the movie keeps focussed on it's main story and doesn't wander off. This way it's high paced and it's what the movie needed.

The other actors convince as well and the story is sad, compelling and tough to watch at the same time. Too bad though the movie isn't wrapped up too nicely, the end scene when Stan wants to die was silly at best.

But overall, a decent flick. We've seen worse around these parts of the world. 6/10.

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6 out of 8 people found the following review useful:
The Dutch "Goodfellas"., 21 July 2005
9/10
Author: Boba_Fett1138 from Groningen, The Netherlands

This movie surpassed all my expectations. Its very raw in its violence and story. The characters are well developed and the actors that portray them are most excellent.

I couldn't help thinking about "Goodfellas" while watching this movie. Both movies have certain parallels. The main character doesn't begin his life as a criminal and murderer but slowly becomes so and transforms throughout the movie. Also the criminal activities in both movies are quite the same. Still this doesn't mean that "Van God Los" is a cheap Dutch rip-off of "Goodfellas", no not at all! "Van God Los" is a powerful movie on its own that is driven by its well developed characters. The movie has some pretty violent scene's, they were really not holding back here and I found it even quite shocking and disturbing at times but in a good way.

The story is very solid and well written and it's loosely based on true events. Yes people, these events and gangs are so rare in The Netherlands that they make movies about them. All of the events in the movie feel all very realistic which is I think also thanks to the fine actors. But it's not all violence in this movie, the movie is driven by some powerful emotions and the movie has several layers. It's a both powerful emotional movie as well as a violent one. In a way the movie shows that everyone has it in him or her to become a criminal. Basically there is no reason why this couldn't happen to any of you out there.

The movie is very well directed by Pieter Kuijpers, who is a great character director. The fine cinematography by Bert Pot impressed me and the music by 'Het Paleis van Boem' set the mood for the movie perfectly.

To be honest, I was kind of worried when the movie and its narration began. All of the main characters in the movie are speaking with a certain Dutch accent they speak in the southern province Limburg. I'm from the absolute most northern province of The Netherlands and Limburg is the most southern province of The Netherlands. Needless to say that the accents are completely different and in my ears even irritating, than I'm used to. But those worries were all for nothing, you get used to the accents very quick and after a while you don't even really notice them anymore. Of course for all the people outside The Netherlands who don't speak one word of Dutch, this isn't a complaint because they will simply of course not be bothered by it at all.

This movie most certainly surprised me in a positive way and I think that this movie deserves an international audience.

9/10

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3 out of 4 people found the following review useful:
Privileged kid ends up as a cold-blooded criminal., 26 April 2007
8/10
Author: antal-wahlers from Germany

Intense movie with a plot that seems inevitable. "Van God Los" (which literally means "detached from God/to secede from God" and not "Godforsaken") is loosely based on the infamous "Bende van Venlo" (Venlo Gang) whose mostly youthful members allegedly committed over 250 crimes in 1993 and 1994.

The cold-bloodiness of the murders is acted out very well. It's hard to understand how a 15-year-old privileged dentist's son from the rural Netherlands can commit such crimes. The movie gives a very uncomfortable answer: That there is nothing to understand, that these things just happen because our society is the way it is.

In my opinion, the original title speaks volumes about the tone the movie sets and the answers it tries to give. Whereas "Godforsaken" implies that God "left" us alone, perhaps in disappointment, "to secede from God" means deliberately leaving him behind. Unfortunately, I have no information on the writer's intention here. It befits the film to have to think for yourself about what it means to you. The film will definitely get you thinking for a long while after the credits are over.

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1 out of 1 people found the following review useful:
Its better than average (dutch), 29 April 2003
Author: nickysantoro_1 from The Hague holland

After reading the true crime novell " bende van Venlo" translated the venlo gang. I went to the cinema expecting a sort of gangster flick with a sick twist. Afterwards I can fairly tell that this isnt't the case. The Venlo gang story was just picked as a thin story bottom. What we see here is an social dramatic, but yes sometimes shocking violent movie. The characters should have been given a little more depth, especially because the first quarter is quit slow, my guess is that time could have been uses more usefull. I am being dutch, not a great dutch film lover, although I have to say that exeptions are made (turks fruit, soldaat van oranje, zusje) and especially the recent Lek made a giant leap in the right direction. Problem in in holland is mainly financial, big movie producers are not here. Back to the movie, the Maikel caracter is very well acted by Tygo Gernand and its a shame that non dutch viewers won't be able to spot the hilarious dialect. The Stan caracter although the main caracter is actually wiped of the screen by the above. Angela Schijf playing the girlfriend, is just perfectly casted, and know how her role fits in the movie. The story is about 2 youngsters, who start up a violent lifestyle, and as usual the story ends sadly. The message that I got from it is, non-caring parents beware. Stan growing up without his real dad, with a substitute who doesnt seem to notice him, the girlfriend with a copple of weak parents who should have given the little tramp an ass woopin a long time ago and Maikel who didn't even meet his dad at all. All in all its a very interesting movie which certainly has some great directing moments to it.

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2 out of 3 people found the following review useful:
Fairly weak Dutch thriller that degenerates into soap territory, 31 January 2008
5/10
Author: lambchopnixon from amsterdam via uk

The movie begins well, being from the protagonist's perspective with voice-over, which is a nice touch. His acting is a little limited though, with again and again the same wondering/worshiping reaction to the daring actions of his criminal acquaintance, despite the film having moved on and he necessarily having become more worldly. His idol has one tone to his acting, a wide-eyed energy that is sort of charismatic. It wears on you though the longer the movie goes on. The plot is simple, with little detail. The flashbacks to the protagonists' childhood are pretty amateurish and without subtlety. His closely-held motto that no-one should get too close as because that's when you get hurt, gets to be a bore, as it's repeated without embellishment. Though the first half hour keeps you looking despite the faults, the last hour or so has seen the film go downhill, turning into a plot of soap-style obviousness.

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2 out of 3 people found the following review useful:
A dutch movie, but not typical dutch., 25 April 2003
6/10
Author: maddylover from Enkhuizen, Holland

Actors play reasonable, but story sucks. Many errors in the movie (numberplate of car switches in seconds, cameraman can be seen number of times in windows, etc., etc., etc.). The only good thing that can be said about it that it isn't a 'typical dutch' movie: no nude (the first dutch movie i have seen without any nude!), lot of violence and, again, reasonable acting! 3 out of 10.

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