Stockholm-based Njuta Films has boarded Hannes Þór Halldórsson’s “Cop Secret,” snagging theatrical rights to Scandinavia after a bidding war at the American Film Market.
The film, produced by Iceland’s Pegasus Pictures, was recently nominated for the European Film Award as best comedy alongside Fernando León De Aranoa’s “The Good Boss” and Catherine Corsini’s “.”
This marks yet another score for the film’s sales agent Alief as it bows another title 0n its sales slate, “Petrol,” at the Marrakech Film Festival.
A comedic actioner about a troubled “supercop” Bússi (Auðunn Blöndal) – who starts to question his sexuality after being assigned a new partner, Hörður (Egill Einarsson) – “Cop Secret” has received plenty of attention following its Locarno premiere in 2021, also due to Reykjavík-born helmer’s unusual background: Hannes Þór Halldórsson used to be a professional football goalkeeper and member of Iceland’s national team.
“When I was making ‘Cop Secret,...
The film, produced by Iceland’s Pegasus Pictures, was recently nominated for the European Film Award as best comedy alongside Fernando León De Aranoa’s “The Good Boss” and Catherine Corsini’s “.”
This marks yet another score for the film’s sales agent Alief as it bows another title 0n its sales slate, “Petrol,” at the Marrakech Film Festival.
A comedic actioner about a troubled “supercop” Bússi (Auðunn Blöndal) – who starts to question his sexuality after being assigned a new partner, Hörður (Egill Einarsson) – “Cop Secret” has received plenty of attention following its Locarno premiere in 2021, also due to Reykjavík-born helmer’s unusual background: Hannes Þór Halldórsson used to be a professional football goalkeeper and member of Iceland’s national team.
“When I was making ‘Cop Secret,...
- 11/14/2022
- by Marta Balaga
- Variety Film + TV
Marco Bellocchio is to receive the award for European innovative storytelling.
Fernando León de Aranoa’s The Good Boss and Mascha Halberstad’s Oink are among the eight additional titles that have been nominated for the upcoming European Film Awards, while the European Film Academy has also named Marco Bellocchio as the recipient of the award for European innovative storytelling.
The Good Boss premiered in San Sebastian in 2021, and stars Javier Bardem. The Spanish title was nominated for a record 20 Goya awards, winning six. It tells the story of the petty boss of an industrial scales factory, played by Bardem.
Fernando León de Aranoa’s The Good Boss and Mascha Halberstad’s Oink are among the eight additional titles that have been nominated for the upcoming European Film Awards, while the European Film Academy has also named Marco Bellocchio as the recipient of the award for European innovative storytelling.
The Good Boss premiered in San Sebastian in 2021, and stars Javier Bardem. The Spanish title was nominated for a record 20 Goya awards, winning six. It tells the story of the petty boss of an industrial scales factory, played by Bardem.
- 10/19/2022
- by Mona Tabbara
- ScreenDaily
First published July 29th, 2022, on Substack and Patreon.
Don’t spend hours scrolling the menus at Netflix, Prime Video, and other movie services. I point you to the best new films and hidden gems to stream.
Movies included here may be available on services other than those mentioned, and in other regions, too. JustWatch and Reelgood are great for finding which films are on what streamers; you can customize each site so that it shows you only those services you have access to.
When you rent or purchase a film through the Prime Video and Apple links here, I get a small affiliate fee that helps support my work. Please use them if you can! (Affiliate fees do not increase your cost.)
both sides of the pond
Gruff pirate-y sailors! Sea monsters! Shipwrecks! There’s a lot that feels familiar in the new Netflix animated adventure The Sea Beast, the...
Don’t spend hours scrolling the menus at Netflix, Prime Video, and other movie services. I point you to the best new films and hidden gems to stream.
Movies included here may be available on services other than those mentioned, and in other regions, too. JustWatch and Reelgood are great for finding which films are on what streamers; you can customize each site so that it shows you only those services you have access to.
When you rent or purchase a film through the Prime Video and Apple links here, I get a small affiliate fee that helps support my work. Please use them if you can! (Affiliate fees do not increase your cost.)
both sides of the pond
Gruff pirate-y sailors! Sea monsters! Shipwrecks! There’s a lot that feels familiar in the new Netflix animated adventure The Sea Beast, the...
- 8/28/2022
- by MaryAnn Johanson
- www.flickfilosopher.com
Exclusive: UK-French film company Alief has secured international sales rights to Australian filmmaker Alena Lodkina’s second feature Petrol, following its buzzy world premiere in Locarno’s Filmmakers Of The Present competition.
The Melbourne-set drama, co-stars Nathalie Morris as an impressionable film student of Russian origin who falls under the thrall of an enigmatic performance artist, played by big screen newcomer Hannah Lynch.
The pair move in together and their lives become more and more entwined, with Morris’s character embarking on a voyage of self-discovery played out between reality and her imagination.
Morris is best known internationally for her starring role in Stan’s Australian teen pregnancy series Bump, which premieres in North America on CW Network this month and was acquired for the U.K. by the BBC.
Petrol was the first Australian feature film to play in competition at Locarno since Clara Law’s Floating Life in...
The Melbourne-set drama, co-stars Nathalie Morris as an impressionable film student of Russian origin who falls under the thrall of an enigmatic performance artist, played by big screen newcomer Hannah Lynch.
The pair move in together and their lives become more and more entwined, with Morris’s character embarking on a voyage of self-discovery played out between reality and her imagination.
Morris is best known internationally for her starring role in Stan’s Australian teen pregnancy series Bump, which premieres in North America on CW Network this month and was acquired for the U.K. by the BBC.
Petrol was the first Australian feature film to play in competition at Locarno since Clara Law’s Floating Life in...
- 8/11/2022
- by Melanie Goodfellow
- Deadline Film + TV
In its first full-on post-pandemic edition, Locarno roared back into action as an industry hub over Aug. 3-9, smashing attendance records with delegates at industry arm Locarno Pro soaring from 2019’s prior record of 1,040 to 1,300.
That reflects the year-round work of festival artistic director Giona Nazzaro and industry head Markus Duffner at Locarno Pro, building on foundations laid by Nadia Dresti over 2010-19. Sky rocketing attendance also says much about the state of the international film industry as it is is rocked by titanic sea change propelled by global, regional and local streaming platforms. Following, 10 takes on Locarno as its turns its final bend towards Aug. 13’s awards announcement.
Latest Deals
A score or more of new deals announced since Sunday in exclusivity to Variety:
*Germany’s Pluto Film has been in negotiations with several theatrical distributors on Locarno Piazza Grande title “Semret,” ahead of its world premiere on Aug.
That reflects the year-round work of festival artistic director Giona Nazzaro and industry head Markus Duffner at Locarno Pro, building on foundations laid by Nadia Dresti over 2010-19. Sky rocketing attendance also says much about the state of the international film industry as it is is rocked by titanic sea change propelled by global, regional and local streaming platforms. Following, 10 takes on Locarno as its turns its final bend towards Aug. 13’s awards announcement.
Latest Deals
A score or more of new deals announced since Sunday in exclusivity to Variety:
*Germany’s Pluto Film has been in negotiations with several theatrical distributors on Locarno Piazza Grande title “Semret,” ahead of its world premiere on Aug.
- 8/10/2022
- by John Hopewell, Marta Balaga and Pablo Sandoval
- Variety Film + TV
First published July 2nd, 2022, on Substack and Patreon.
Don’t spend hours scrolling the menus at Netflix, Prime Video, and other movie services. I point you to the best new films and hidden gems to stream.
Movies included here may be available on services other than those mentioned, and in other regions, too. JustWatch and Reelgood are great for finding which films are on what streamers; you can customize each site so that it shows you only those services you have access to.
When you rent or purchase a film through the Prime Video and Apple links here, I get a small affiliate fee that helps support my work. Please use them if you can! (Affiliate fees do not increase your cost.)
both sides of the pond
Probably most of us have dreamed of winning the lottery — even those of us who don’t play it (*raises hand*) — but retired...
Don’t spend hours scrolling the menus at Netflix, Prime Video, and other movie services. I point you to the best new films and hidden gems to stream.
Movies included here may be available on services other than those mentioned, and in other regions, too. JustWatch and Reelgood are great for finding which films are on what streamers; you can customize each site so that it shows you only those services you have access to.
When you rent or purchase a film through the Prime Video and Apple links here, I get a small affiliate fee that helps support my work. Please use them if you can! (Affiliate fees do not increase your cost.)
both sides of the pond
Probably most of us have dreamed of winning the lottery — even those of us who don’t play it (*raises hand*) — but retired...
- 8/1/2022
- by MaryAnn Johanson
- www.flickfilosopher.com
To celebrate the UK and Irish release of action-packed Icelandic comedy thriller with a twist, Cop Secret – on digital platforms on 23rd May – we are giving away an iTunes voucher!
Auðunn Blöndal stars as your usual maverick, hard-drinking, no-nonsense, brutal cop in a tight white vest… but he has a secret – he has a crush on hunky fellow policeman Hörđur (Egill Einarsson)! This distracts him from his job tracking down a supervillain robbing all the banks in Reykjavik.
Cop Secret is co-written and directed with infectious energy by Hannes Þór Halldórsson, a professional football goalkeeper who plays for Iceland’s national team, best known for turning away a penalty kick from Lionel Messi in the 2018 World Cup. Here, he makes his feature debut.
The film throws every buddy cop movie cliche into a blender, mixing in a generous dose of hilarious gags and superbly choreographed action sequences, as well as...
Auðunn Blöndal stars as your usual maverick, hard-drinking, no-nonsense, brutal cop in a tight white vest… but he has a secret – he has a crush on hunky fellow policeman Hörđur (Egill Einarsson)! This distracts him from his job tracking down a supervillain robbing all the banks in Reykjavik.
Cop Secret is co-written and directed with infectious energy by Hannes Þór Halldórsson, a professional football goalkeeper who plays for Iceland’s national team, best known for turning away a penalty kick from Lionel Messi in the 2018 World Cup. Here, he makes his feature debut.
The film throws every buddy cop movie cliche into a blender, mixing in a generous dose of hilarious gags and superbly choreographed action sequences, as well as...
- 5/23/2022
- by Phil Wheat
- Nerdly
British-French film company Alief has closed North America and French-speaking territories on “Cop Secret,” effectively now selling the Icelandic buddy cop spoof to over half the world’s major markets.
In North America, “Cop Secret” has scored a platform release with Epic Pictures. Extralucid Films has acquired France, Monaco, Luxembourg and French-speaking Belgium and Switzerland.
The writer-director feature debut of Hannes Thor Haldorsson, Iceland’s national soccer team goalkeeper, “Cop Secret” will bow in select theaters in North America on July 8 then on VOD on July 12.
The deals were put through by Patrick Ewald, president & CEO of Epic Pictures Group and Extralucid Films CEO Carine Bach and President Patrice Very. Alief President Brett Walker and partner Miguel Angel Govea negotiated on behalf of the filmmakers.
Walker and Govea are at the Cannes Film Market to continue the international roll-out of “Cop Secret,” which is already impressive.
Territories closed take in...
In North America, “Cop Secret” has scored a platform release with Epic Pictures. Extralucid Films has acquired France, Monaco, Luxembourg and French-speaking Belgium and Switzerland.
The writer-director feature debut of Hannes Thor Haldorsson, Iceland’s national soccer team goalkeeper, “Cop Secret” will bow in select theaters in North America on July 8 then on VOD on July 12.
The deals were put through by Patrick Ewald, president & CEO of Epic Pictures Group and Extralucid Films CEO Carine Bach and President Patrice Very. Alief President Brett Walker and partner Miguel Angel Govea negotiated on behalf of the filmmakers.
Walker and Govea are at the Cannes Film Market to continue the international roll-out of “Cop Secret,” which is already impressive.
Territories closed take in...
- 5/18/2022
- by John Hopewell
- Variety Film + TV
Former footballer Hannes Þór Halldórsson makes his film debut with a goofy comedy about a knucklehead cop afraid to come out as gay
After retirement, some footballers eye up a job in coaching or management; others may go on to become pundits. Not Iceland’s former goalkeeper Hannes Þór Halldórsson, who turns film-maker with this goofy cop comedy. The movie is Reykjavík’s answer to Hot Fuzz: it’s an affectionate sendup of Hollywood action flicks, with a gay twist. It’s reasonably funny but, like a lot of genre spoofs, it begins to look increasingly like a low-rent version of the original movies it’s parodying. Though there are bound to be more laughs for audiences in Iceland where the actors are all big-name celebrities.
What Cop Secret does have going for it is a memorable lead, detective Bússi (comedian and TV personality Auðunn Blöndal). Bússi is Iceland’s most famous cop,...
After retirement, some footballers eye up a job in coaching or management; others may go on to become pundits. Not Iceland’s former goalkeeper Hannes Þór Halldórsson, who turns film-maker with this goofy cop comedy. The movie is Reykjavík’s answer to Hot Fuzz: it’s an affectionate sendup of Hollywood action flicks, with a gay twist. It’s reasonably funny but, like a lot of genre spoofs, it begins to look increasingly like a low-rent version of the original movies it’s parodying. Though there are bound to be more laughs for audiences in Iceland where the actors are all big-name celebrities.
What Cop Secret does have going for it is a memorable lead, detective Bússi (comedian and TV personality Auðunn Blöndal). Bússi is Iceland’s most famous cop,...
- 5/17/2022
- by Cath Clarke
- The Guardian - Film News
Writer-director Tinna Hrafnsdóttir’s critically acclaimed Icelandic psychological-mystery drama “Quake” has sold to Juno Films for North America and the U.K. as well as to Njuta Films for Sweden.
British-French production, distribution and sales company Alief is presenting the film at the upcoming Cannes Marché du Film.
Anita Briem stars as Saga, a single mother fighting to keep her young son while trying to piece together her life after losing her memory. Afraid of being considered unable to take care of her child, Saga attempts to hide her state from others as she searches for answers and recovers long repressed memories.
“‘Quake’ is a taut mystery-thriller that masterfully spirals toward a cathartic, emotionally satisfying resolution,” said Elizabeth Sheldon, Juno Films’ president and CEO. “The stunning cinematography reflects a barren cold landscape that in turn reflects the emotionally frigid familial relationships in a film that keeps you guessing — until the very end — what is true.
British-French production, distribution and sales company Alief is presenting the film at the upcoming Cannes Marché du Film.
Anita Briem stars as Saga, a single mother fighting to keep her young son while trying to piece together her life after losing her memory. Afraid of being considered unable to take care of her child, Saga attempts to hide her state from others as she searches for answers and recovers long repressed memories.
“‘Quake’ is a taut mystery-thriller that masterfully spirals toward a cathartic, emotionally satisfying resolution,” said Elizabeth Sheldon, Juno Films’ president and CEO. “The stunning cinematography reflects a barren cold landscape that in turn reflects the emotionally frigid familial relationships in a film that keeps you guessing — until the very end — what is true.
- 5/12/2022
- by Ed Meza
- Variety Film + TV
In his latest video, Kev reviews Cop Secret – a movie out of Iceland that pays homage to every 80s and 90s action movie you know and love while still remaining completely original in its own right.
Cop Secret recasts the buddy cop action genre in Iceland, where Bussi, a tough ‘Super Cop’, begins to lose his cool when he’s assigned a new partner – the suave, cultured and self-declaredly pan-sexual Hordur Bess – fighting an inner struggle while investigating a string of bank robberies where nothing seems to have been stolen
Cop Secret is co-written and directed with infectious energy by Hannes Þór Halldórsson, a professional football goalkeeper who plays for Iceland’s national team, best known for turning away a penalty kick from Lionel Messi in the 2018 World Cup. Here, he makes his feature debut.
Cop Secret recasts the buddy cop action genre in Iceland, where Bussi, a tough ‘Super Cop’, begins to lose his cool when he’s assigned a new partner – the suave, cultured and self-declaredly pan-sexual Hordur Bess – fighting an inner struggle while investigating a string of bank robberies where nothing seems to have been stolen
Cop Secret is co-written and directed with infectious energy by Hannes Þór Halldórsson, a professional football goalkeeper who plays for Iceland’s national team, best known for turning away a penalty kick from Lionel Messi in the 2018 World Cup. Here, he makes his feature debut.
- 5/3/2022
- by Kevin Haldon
- Nerdly
Cop Secret is a Reykjavik-set tongue-in-cheek homage to ‘80s and ‘90s buddy cop action films.
Vertigo has acquired UK and Irish rights to Cop Secret, which played in competition at Locarno 2021 and also screened at the BFI London Film Festival, Fantastic Fest and Busan. It won best debut feature at Nordic Film Days Lübeck.
Vertigo plans a theatrical release for the film in summer 2022.
Alief handles sales and previously struck deals for Spain (Twelve Oaks), Germany (Mfa Plus), Japan (At Entertainment), Korea (Movement Pictures) and Taiwan (Creative Century).
Cop Secret is a tongue-in-cheek homage to ‘80s and ‘90s buddy cop action films,...
Vertigo has acquired UK and Irish rights to Cop Secret, which played in competition at Locarno 2021 and also screened at the BFI London Film Festival, Fantastic Fest and Busan. It won best debut feature at Nordic Film Days Lübeck.
Vertigo plans a theatrical release for the film in summer 2022.
Alief handles sales and previously struck deals for Spain (Twelve Oaks), Germany (Mfa Plus), Japan (At Entertainment), Korea (Movement Pictures) and Taiwan (Creative Century).
Cop Secret is a tongue-in-cheek homage to ‘80s and ‘90s buddy cop action films,...
- 2/8/2022
- by Wendy Mitchell
- ScreenDaily
2021 was another annus horribilis for cinemagoing in the Nordics, due to on-going and strict Covid restrictions that halved admissions compared to pre-pandemic levels.
Released late September/early October when cinemas for once ran at full capacity, “No Time to Die” literally saved the film year, and even ranked No. 1 among all James Bond movies ever released in Denmark.
Aside from Sweden, strong homegrown offers such as “Checkered Ninja 2” in Denmark, “Class Reunion 3” in Finland, “Cop Secret” in Iceland, “Three Wishes for Cinderella” in Norway enabled the Nordic nations to secure bullish market shares.
Denmark
In 2021, “No Time to Die” smashed all B.O. records for a James Bond movie in Denmark. That, however, didn’t prevent overall ticket sales from plummeting 45% from 2019, due to the pandemic.
The Danish film year opened and ended with closed cinemas, and faced a record 138 days of full cinema lockdown, according to the cinema association Danske biografer.
Released late September/early October when cinemas for once ran at full capacity, “No Time to Die” literally saved the film year, and even ranked No. 1 among all James Bond movies ever released in Denmark.
Aside from Sweden, strong homegrown offers such as “Checkered Ninja 2” in Denmark, “Class Reunion 3” in Finland, “Cop Secret” in Iceland, “Three Wishes for Cinderella” in Norway enabled the Nordic nations to secure bullish market shares.
Denmark
In 2021, “No Time to Die” smashed all B.O. records for a James Bond movie in Denmark. That, however, didn’t prevent overall ticket sales from plummeting 45% from 2019, due to the pandemic.
The Danish film year opened and ended with closed cinemas, and faced a record 138 days of full cinema lockdown, according to the cinema association Danske biografer.
- 2/6/2022
- by Annika Pham
- Variety Film + TV
In first phase sales, Alief has closed multiple major territories across Europe and Asia on “Cop Secret,” one of the key titles marking as move towards the mainstream in the lineup at August’s Locarno Festival, where it had its world premiere.
Made on the near eve of this year’s American Film Market, the sales announcement comes after the comedy action romp bowed in its native Iceland on Oct. 20 breaking a 15-year-old record for the biggest box office opening weekend for a local title.
A buddy cop spoof rendering real the homoerotic undercurrents of the genre, having played the BFI London and Busan Festivals, the feature debut of Icelandic Hannes Thór Halldórsson is now set as the opening night gala,playing in competition, on Nov. 3 at the Nordic Days in Lubbeck, Germany where the film has been acquired, as for German-language territories by Mfa Plus Film Distribution, which is eying a Q2 2022 theatrical release.
Made on the near eve of this year’s American Film Market, the sales announcement comes after the comedy action romp bowed in its native Iceland on Oct. 20 breaking a 15-year-old record for the biggest box office opening weekend for a local title.
A buddy cop spoof rendering real the homoerotic undercurrents of the genre, having played the BFI London and Busan Festivals, the feature debut of Icelandic Hannes Thór Halldórsson is now set as the opening night gala,playing in competition, on Nov. 3 at the Nordic Days in Lubbeck, Germany where the film has been acquired, as for German-language territories by Mfa Plus Film Distribution, which is eying a Q2 2022 theatrical release.
- 10/29/2021
- by John Hopewell
- Variety Film + TV
There are two ways to watch “Cop Secret,” a wild-ride Icelandic satire of Hollywood action films. One is the classic “switch off your brain” strategy, which allows for an easy digestion of the non-stop parody elements in which each line and every situation is lifted wholesale from any number of cop thrillers. The other, with brain on, makes for a less enjoyable outing, since after a short time the obviousness of it all becomes wearying and the way it milks cheap humor out of a gay subplot sends up all sorts of red flags. Directed by Hannes Þór Halldórsson, who also happens to be the goalie for Iceland’s national soccer team, “Cop Secret” is the kind of movie that has you laughing despite your better instincts and is likely to do strong international business when dubbed into multiple languages. Stateside success however will be a tougher nut to crack.
- 8/17/2021
- by Jay Weissberg
- Variety Film + TV
As the 2021 Locarno Film Festival rounds its final bend, sales deals were still coming through.
In one such pact, San Sebastian New Directors title “That Weekend” has been snapped up by leading Italian sales-production shingle The Open Reel. A debut feature from director Mara Pescio, the film tells the story of Julia who returns to the neighborhood she left years ago to recover money she hid in her home. The reunion prompts a life-changing confrontation with her daughter.
The film is an Argentina-Brazil co-production hailing from Maravillacine, Murillo Cine, Santiago Carabante and Persona Non Grata Pictures. Variety previously spoke with Pescio about her making her directorial bow.
In other late Locarno dealing, Compañia de Cine, a Buenos Aires-based boutique sales operation, announced it had taken world rights to “Mostro,” which world premiered Aug. 11 in Locarno Cineasti del Presente.
Also, Mad Solutions signed all sales and distribution rights for Arab-speaking countries...
In one such pact, San Sebastian New Directors title “That Weekend” has been snapped up by leading Italian sales-production shingle The Open Reel. A debut feature from director Mara Pescio, the film tells the story of Julia who returns to the neighborhood she left years ago to recover money she hid in her home. The reunion prompts a life-changing confrontation with her daughter.
The film is an Argentina-Brazil co-production hailing from Maravillacine, Murillo Cine, Santiago Carabante and Persona Non Grata Pictures. Variety previously spoke with Pescio about her making her directorial bow.
In other late Locarno dealing, Compañia de Cine, a Buenos Aires-based boutique sales operation, announced it had taken world rights to “Mostro,” which world premiered Aug. 11 in Locarno Cineasti del Presente.
Also, Mad Solutions signed all sales and distribution rights for Arab-speaking countries...
- 8/12/2021
- by Will Thorne
- Variety Film + TV
New Locarno Film Festival artistic director Giona A. Nazzaro, who is the former head of the Venice Film Festival’s Critics’ Week, is starting to put his stamp on the Swiss fest dedicated to indie cinema with a lineup comprising comedies and genre films alongside more straightforward auteur cinema, driven by a desire to make the selection “more audience friendly,” as he puts it. Nazzaro spoke to Variety about some of the choices that reflect this new course. Excerpts.
Since taking the reins you’ve repeatedly talked about taking the fest in different directions. How is that reflected, now that the lineup is out?
My idea is that a festival can be quite highbrow and entertaining at the same time. That is why in this year’s lineup we have three comedies –– or sort of, it depends on your idea of humor –– we also have some “genre” films, and also some straightforward auteur films.
Since taking the reins you’ve repeatedly talked about taking the fest in different directions. How is that reflected, now that the lineup is out?
My idea is that a festival can be quite highbrow and entertaining at the same time. That is why in this year’s lineup we have three comedies –– or sort of, it depends on your idea of humor –– we also have some “genre” films, and also some straightforward auteur films.
- 8/6/2021
- by Nick Vivarelli
- Variety Film + TV
Iceland’s Pegasus Pictures and sales agent Alief have just dropped a first trailer for “Cop Secret,” a full-on pulse pounding cop actioner that world premieres in main competition at the 74th Locarno Film Festival.
Alief President Brett Walker will introduce the propulsive, high testosterone movie to buyers at Locarno Pro, the Swiss festival’s robust industry program which kicks off Friday.
The movie tips its hat to ‘80s and ‘90s buddy cop action classics in its action set-ups, characters and shots – as when the camera swoops over blue Icelandic water to a rather bathetic non-“Miami Vice” skyline at the get-go.
“Cop Secret” is not, however, popcorn escapism. It turns on Bussi, a tough “supercop” played by Audunn Blöndal (“The Garden”), who shoots people and destroys stuff, “Bad Boys”-style.
But when Bussi assigned a new partner – the suave, cultured and self-declaredly pan-sexual Hordur Bess, played by “Black’s Game...
Alief President Brett Walker will introduce the propulsive, high testosterone movie to buyers at Locarno Pro, the Swiss festival’s robust industry program which kicks off Friday.
The movie tips its hat to ‘80s and ‘90s buddy cop action classics in its action set-ups, characters and shots – as when the camera swoops over blue Icelandic water to a rather bathetic non-“Miami Vice” skyline at the get-go.
“Cop Secret” is not, however, popcorn escapism. It turns on Bussi, a tough “supercop” played by Audunn Blöndal (“The Garden”), who shoots people and destroys stuff, “Bad Boys”-style.
But when Bussi assigned a new partner – the suave, cultured and self-declaredly pan-sexual Hordur Bess, played by “Black’s Game...
- 8/4/2021
- by John Hopewell
- Variety Film + TV
The Locarno Film Festival, long known as a safe haven for indie cinema, is taking a turn into genre territory while remaining true to
its origins.
“People know what the mission is for Locarno,” says the fest’s new artistic director Giona A. Nazzaro, referring to the prestige of the event — the 74th edition runs Aug. 4-14 — that is known worldwide as a festival of discovery.
But Nazzaro, an Italian film critic and former chief of the Venice Critics’ Week, now intends “to broaden the moral imagination of this mission,” as he puts it, by digging deeper into genre cinema, and “also into the [festival’s] relationship with the U.S. studios and what people would consider as [pure] entertainment.”
Significantly, this year’s Locarno opener is Netflix Original “Beckett,” a thriller toplining John David Washington as an American tourist who becomes the target of a political assassination while vacationing in Greece, and...
its origins.
“People know what the mission is for Locarno,” says the fest’s new artistic director Giona A. Nazzaro, referring to the prestige of the event — the 74th edition runs Aug. 4-14 — that is known worldwide as a festival of discovery.
But Nazzaro, an Italian film critic and former chief of the Venice Critics’ Week, now intends “to broaden the moral imagination of this mission,” as he puts it, by digging deeper into genre cinema, and “also into the [festival’s] relationship with the U.S. studios and what people would consider as [pure] entertainment.”
Significantly, this year’s Locarno opener is Netflix Original “Beckett,” a thriller toplining John David Washington as an American tourist who becomes the target of a political assassination while vacationing in Greece, and...
- 8/3/2021
- by Nick Vivarelli
- Variety Film + TV
Alief, the London-based sales agent and production outfit, has swooped on bad ass action comedy “Cop Secret” in the build up to the movie’s world premiere at August’s Locarno Film Festival.
Brett Walker, Alief president, will introduce the propulsive, high testosterone movie to buyers at Locarno Pro, the Swiss festival’s robust industry program, where it is sure to get tongues wagging.
While big fests are embracing genre, few selections to date offer such full-on entertainment as “Cop Secret,” which plays, moreover, in main competition. That action comes often tongue-in-cheek as Icelandic director Hannes Þór Halldórsson recasts an ‘80s and ‘90s buddy cop action movie model in Icelandic capital Reykjavík – in an opening sequence, the camera wings “Miami Vice” style over surprisingly blue waters toward the Icelandic capital’s (limited number of) high rises as an orchestra thunders in tense excitement on the soundtrack.
“Cop Secret” follows Bussi,...
Brett Walker, Alief president, will introduce the propulsive, high testosterone movie to buyers at Locarno Pro, the Swiss festival’s robust industry program, where it is sure to get tongues wagging.
While big fests are embracing genre, few selections to date offer such full-on entertainment as “Cop Secret,” which plays, moreover, in main competition. That action comes often tongue-in-cheek as Icelandic director Hannes Þór Halldórsson recasts an ‘80s and ‘90s buddy cop action movie model in Icelandic capital Reykjavík – in an opening sequence, the camera wings “Miami Vice” style over surprisingly blue waters toward the Icelandic capital’s (limited number of) high rises as an orchestra thunders in tense excitement on the soundtrack.
“Cop Secret” follows Bussi,...
- 7/30/2021
- by John Hopewell
- Variety Film + TV
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