"Zielfahnder: Flucht in die Karpaten" is a German television film from about a year ago (2016) and at 110 minutes it is longer than they usually are. And this is one area where the makers tried to be different here, but it did nothing good because it was honestly just 20 more minutes of garbage. Having seen many films by director Dominik Graf, I still believe that he is probably Germany's most overrated director now and has been for a while. But it is also because he collaborated so many times with writer Rolf Basedow and this film here is another example where they really hit rock-bottom. The worst about it all is probably the dialogue writing and it is really one example every five minutes where the characters talk in a way they would not in real life. Just one example: the Alcatraz reference. I may have thought a while ago that the actors may be at fault too with their line delivery, but I don't think so anymore. These dialogues are on a level where even the most gifted performers could not make it work. It's actually shocking to see they cast talented actors, most of all Zehrfeld and that is what they offer them. Then again, you can blame the actors too for accepting roles like that. In the better moments, the dialogues are Rosamunde Pilcher level, the weaker moments it is RTL afternoon level and really only the very dumb can appreciate the film's attempt at reaching an educational level that can only impress the mentally challenged.
As for the plot, it may sound interesting in theory as we have a pair of investigators heading to Romania to catch a guy that fled from prison. But the plot in detail is just really weak as well. It's not working as a whole at all and the individual sequences like the operation early on that looks like a take on Zero Dark Thirty gone horribly wrong or the wedding crashers scene or the "spectacular" ending chase scene. There is nothing to this movie that feels relevant, thrilling or authentic at all and sadly this is a frequent problem for Graf. The even bigger issue is that it tries to be all I just mentioned but comes painfully short due to lack of talent from everybody involved. Well not everybody, the two lead actors were at least tolerable, but guys like Birnbaum who usually are decent looked horrible in here. Sure the material and the bizarre editing and amateurish camera work did the rest in sinking several performances as well as the movie as a whole. Here we have the crime "drama" equivalent of a Schweighöfer comedy, it is all for the sake of it (including the random sex scene of course), all unauthentic beyond belief and the goal here was never to come up with a gritty crime film that will get you to the edge of your seat, but it's all about entertaining the dumb masses. A gigantic failure that could not have ended fast enough for all I care. The film may hide it pretty well, but it is a definite contender for worst German film of 2016. Highly not recommended and lets hope they stay away from the idea of a sequel which is indicated in the title.
As for the plot, it may sound interesting in theory as we have a pair of investigators heading to Romania to catch a guy that fled from prison. But the plot in detail is just really weak as well. It's not working as a whole at all and the individual sequences like the operation early on that looks like a take on Zero Dark Thirty gone horribly wrong or the wedding crashers scene or the "spectacular" ending chase scene. There is nothing to this movie that feels relevant, thrilling or authentic at all and sadly this is a frequent problem for Graf. The even bigger issue is that it tries to be all I just mentioned but comes painfully short due to lack of talent from everybody involved. Well not everybody, the two lead actors were at least tolerable, but guys like Birnbaum who usually are decent looked horrible in here. Sure the material and the bizarre editing and amateurish camera work did the rest in sinking several performances as well as the movie as a whole. Here we have the crime "drama" equivalent of a Schweighöfer comedy, it is all for the sake of it (including the random sex scene of course), all unauthentic beyond belief and the goal here was never to come up with a gritty crime film that will get you to the edge of your seat, but it's all about entertaining the dumb masses. A gigantic failure that could not have ended fast enough for all I care. The film may hide it pretty well, but it is a definite contender for worst German film of 2016. Highly not recommended and lets hope they stay away from the idea of a sequel which is indicated in the title.
