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Sisu (2023)

 


Sisu is about a retired soldier during World War II who finds gold during a Nazi occupation and his fight to get himself and others home safely.

Written and directed by Jalmari Helander, the film is heavily inspired by Grindhouse and similar style films. There are many times you would think: surely that would kill a person, but it doesn't. So there is a bit of suspension of disbelief and after a while, you're just waiting to see how he survives this next scene rather than thinking there are stakes. It's fun, but you wouldn't want to watch it again.

Jorma Tommila is the main character and has this rugged look to him that makes you believe that he's seen some stuff. He doesn't really change in terms of character growth, but then again you're not really looking for that sort of arc in this film. He hasn't been in anything you've heard of but over there he's been in a bunch.

Aksel Hennie plays the lead Nazi and main bad guy. He's Norwegian but that doesn't mean you haven't seen him in anything. He was in The Martian and The Cloverfield Paradox. He does a great job, all things considered, even with the accent. He's ruthless in his pursuit, and the writers give him a reason to want to get the gold Sisu found.

The film is watchable and if you turn your brain off it works well. Result: B-


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