Ethan Hawke is an actor who has flirted with success and stardom but never really managed to become an ‘A’ lister. He’s been a highly visible actor since the 1990s, with roles in the likes of Reality Bites, Gattaca, Before Sunrise and Alive. He looked destined for the big time but it never really happened. However, he continues to take roles in interesting films. The likes of Predestination, Good Kill, Sinister and First Reformed, to name but a few. The Captor is also another intriguing entry into an impressive filmography.
Stockholm, 1973. Self-described outlaw and cowboy Lars Nystrom (Hawke) walks into a bank and fires a gun in the air. When the police arrive, he demands the release of his friend Gunnar (Mark Strong) from prison. He takes two of the bank workers as hostages but releases the others. As the stand-off with the police deepens, he begins to form a relationship with one of them, Bianca Lind (Noomi Rapace).
Bizarre as it will seem, The Captor is actually based on real events. Whilst director Robert Budreau plays up to the absurdity, the actors manage to keep it grounded in enough reality to feel authentic. Rapace is the stand-out. Her character keeps Lars on the straight and narrow. It’s stylishly shot with a soundtrack which heavily leans on Dylan. The Captor is an interesting period piece which takes a lot of risks and mostly succeeds.
The Captor is out in cinemas and on digital download from 21 June.
Very cool. And funny