Codename Coq Rouge (1989) User Reviews

Neither good nor bad

[AKS-6 · 4/10 · 27 April 2000]

I think the summary line says it all: this Swedish action thriller from 1989 is very average. The story is quite interesting, but it seems too complex to be explored in a 90 minute film. Of course, the acting is brilliant, especially by Stellan Skarsgård, which isn't exactly surprising (his son Gustaf is also in the film), but that doesn't help the film which I gave a 4 (out of 10) here at IMDb.

Simplified adaptation

[shanayneigh · 4/10 · 20 July 2022]

A very, very loose adaptation of the novel. It keeps some of the characters and key events, but other than that the movie is quite different and it's no doubt which version comes out on top. The story in the novel is far too complicated to be covered in a mere 80 minute film (not counting credits). It races along at breakneck speed, yet it's kind of dull.

There is no depth to the characters or the story as there is no room for any of them to breathe. Some of the changes from the novel are quite bizarre. All of a sudden Hamilton has a a nephew he's tasked with babysitting. And the character of Näslund, who in the novel is kind of a shifty used car salesman Hamilton despises (and vice versa) is here the lowkey voice of reason.

It would be interesting to see what Hollywood could do with this story with a proper budget and technical skills. But that's never going to happen. How many Hollywood movies can you name where the villain is Jewish or Israeli?

34 years old, and i shows

[stoestga · 3/10 · 31 October 2023]

The plot in itself is a bit interesting, and even relevant today. That said - I do not think Swedish movies was good enough tor the movie theaters i 1989 for not a long time. And today the movie is way too poor. Even Skarsgård seem to be to artificial. And it seems that even in 1989 movies be taken in the dark much of the time.

The action was unreal and there was no nerve. Everything went on in almost slow motion. The film seemed to be on low budget, even though there was some takes abroad.

The rest of the cast was close to look as amateurs with no acting experience at all.

Later Hamilton movies with other actors is far better. I think it is a good advice to forget this movie. It will not be a movie someone likes tl see twice or even morte.

Quite happy...

[Finne · 8/10 · 1 April 2003]

I was really pleasantly surprised to see this bit in video-store and as it gave the chance to see Stellan Skarsgård I gladly grabbed it with me. I had no expectations, which was good, so I didn't need to get disappointed. I laughed so heartily to the Säpo-guys, the contrast between them and Hamilton was striking and all those comments concerning Säpo I remembered from the original books made me smile. OK, this was so much more modest than "Hamilton", but entertaining in it's own way, and convinced me that Stellan Skarsgård really is a man to see in movies. That one little nuditity-bit made every woman in front of the telly sigh in astonishment! We really didn't expect it... LOL Anyway, he's a great actor also with clothes on. :) A bit slow, a bit modest, but enough humour and some action - I've used 90 minutes for worse.