Schneider vs. Bax (2015)

December 14, 2024 10:13 PM

On his birthday, a hitman reluctantly takes on the easy task of killing a writer, out in a cabin in the marshes. (Dutch comedy/thriller, 96m.)

Found this essay that was written before this movie applies somewhat. The phrase "middle of the road absurdism" is backhanded but fair.

Variety: A relatively straightforward genre exercise compared with last year’s Cannes-competing Borgman, Schneider vs. Bax (which has already opened in its native Netherlands, where it did arthouse business rather than action-movie numbers) likely wouldn’t have interested festivals or foreign distribs if not for the career-rekindling acclaim his previous feature attracted. Van Warmerdam would be the first to admit this follow-up was designed to be as different from Borgman as possible. Still, there’s so escaping the macabre and borderline-surreal sensibility that underlies them both, which should earn this pic playdates around the world in venues that would have ignored him a year earlier.

IMDB 6.6, RT 70 critics 50 audience.

Free on Kanopy and Amazon Prime.

posted by fleacircus (1 comment total)

This is what I'd call a "sensible chuckle" movie — but I do enjoy a sensible chuckle. This was selected at random to watch from our very long and old Kanopy watchlist. I'd seen Borgman but didn't realize it was the same guy going in. This is much less absurd than Borgman but I can see the kind of absurdism and aversion to easy meaning that the article linked above refers to.
posted by fleacircus at 10:23 PM on December 14, 2024 [1 favorite]