De zaak Alzheimer (The Memory of a Killer) (2005)
85%RT Audience Score: 80%
Awards & Nominations: 7 wins & 3 nominations
The Alzheimer Affair is a film that is as clever as it is thrilling, with a premise that is both unique and intriguing. The film’s characterizations are full and believable, making the audience care about the characters and their fates. The film’s use of Antwerp locations and visual style add to the soulfulness of the performances, making it a welcome addition to the genre. The moral dilemmas raised by the assassin and Mr. Decleir’s fierce performance are what make the film memorable, and the film’s tight plot and expert unraveling will keep you on the edge of your seat. Overall, The Alzheimer Affair is a dark, violent, and intelligent thriller that is sure to leave a lasting impression.
The Alzheimer Affair” is a thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat, even if you don’t speak Flemish. The movie boasts a unique premise that’s as good as any American thriller of the past several years. The film’s complex anti-hero and the soulfulness of the performances make it a welcome European addition to the genre. Plus, who wouldn’t want to see grandpa as a hitman losing his mind during a killer assignment? It’s a dark, violent, and intriguing thriller that’s expertly unraveled, resulting in a movie that you’ll remember.
Production Company(ies)
Das Films, David Sonenberg Production Polygram Filmed Entertainment,
Distributor
Sony Pictures Classics
Release Type
Filming Location(s)
Antwerp, Flanders, Belgium
MPAA / Certificate
Rated R for violence, sexuality and nudity
Year of Release
2005
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Color:Color
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Sound mix:Dolby Digital
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Aspect ratio:2.35 : 1
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Runtime:2h 3m
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Language(s):Dutch, French, Flemish
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Country of origin:United States
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Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Oct 7, 2003 Original
Release Date (Streaming): Feb 21, 2006
Genre(s)
Action
Keyword(s)
starring Jan Decleir, Koen de Bouw, Werner De Smedt, Gene Bervoets, Jo de Meyere, Tom Van Dyck, Laurien Van den Broeck, directed by Erik Van Looy, written by Carl Joos, action, Dutch language, Alzheimer’s disease, hitman, murder, police officers, revenge, failing memory, Hilde De Laere, Erwin Provoost, produced by, Sony Pictures Classics, box office gross, R rating, nudity, violence, sexuality, reviewed by Richard Nilsen, Carrie Rickey, Richard Roeper, Eleanor Ringel Cater, Marjorie Baumgarten, Marta Barber, Yasser Medina, Dennis Schwartz, Lewis Beale, Jules Brenner, critic reviews, audience reviews
Worldwide gross: $712,387
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $1,085,666
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,583
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 118,393
US/Canada gross: $333,707
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $508,564
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,321
US/Canada opening weekend: $41,254
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $62,870
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,122
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): 2500000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $3,809,958
Production budget ranking: 1,952
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $2,051,663
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): -$4,775,955
ROI to date (est.): -81%
ROI ranking: 1,893
Koen de Bouw – Eric Vincke
Werner De Smedt – Freddy Verstuyft
Gene Bervoets – Seynaeve
Jo de Meyere – Baron Gustave De Haeck
Tom Van Dyck – Jean de Haeck
Director(s)
Erik Van Looy
Writer(s)
Carl Joos
Producer(s)
Hilde De Laere, Erwin Provoost
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
7 wins & 3 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (68) | Top Critics (27) | Fresh (57) | Rotten (11)
It is distinguished by the intelligence of its plotting and the fullness of its characterizations: These are believable people, not merely plot fodder.
December 24, 2005 | Rating: 4/5
Richard Nilsen
Arizona Republic
TOP CRITIC
A jaw-dropping premise so smartly executed that if this movie weren’t in Flemish I’d swear that Michael Mann had directed it.
September 29, 2005 | Rating: 3.5/4
Carrie Rickey
Philadelphia Inquirer
TOP CRITIC
Close, but not quite.
September 26, 2005
Richard Roeper
Ebert & Roeper
TOP CRITIC
Though Memory works perfectly well as a policier, it works even better as a character study of a man losing his edge.
September 26, 2005 | Rating: B
Eleanor Ringel Cater
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
TOP CRITIC
The movie is tightly wound and expertly unraveled, resulting in a thriller that you’ll remember.
September 26, 2005 | Rating: 3.5/5
Marjorie Baumgarten
Austin Chronicle
TOP CRITIC
The film won’t put you at the edge of your seat, but will keep your attention.
September 23, 2005 | Rating: 2.5/4
Marta Barber
Miami Herald
TOP CRITIC
It is a dark, violent and intriguing thriller that employs the parameters of the police film in a very effective way. [Full review in Spanish]
September 17, 2020 | Rating: 7/10
Yasser Medina
Cinemaficionados
The moral dilemmas raised by the assassin and Mr. Decleir’s fierce performance are what make the stylish straightforward policier somewhat memorable.
April 12, 2007 | Rating: B-
Dennis Schwartz
Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews
Not only as good as any American thriller of the past several years, but boasts a totally unique premise.
March 1, 2007
Lewis Beale
Film Journal International
exemplary crime stuff, complex anti-hero and all.
December 9, 2005 | Rating: 3.5/5
Jules Brenner
Filmcritic.com
The unusual Antwerp locations, the visual style of the filmmaking, and the soulfulness of the performances make it a welcome European addition to the genre.
November 10, 2005 | Rating: 3/4
Rob Thomas
Capital Times (Madison, WI)
What if grandpa was a hit man, and he was rapidly losing his mind during a killer assignment?
October 17, 2005 | Rating: 3/4
Larry Ratliff
San Antonio Express-News…
Plot
An aging hitman with Alzheimer’s disease refuses to kill a 12-year-old girl, putting a price on his head and forcing him to battle the police and his own failing memory in order to get revenge against his former boss.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Jan Decleir, who plays the aging hitman with Alzheimer’s in The Alzheimer Affair, delivers a “fierce performance” according to one critic.
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