by Shane Conto, Staff Writer
Has John Wick changed modern action films around the world? It definitely popularized the “One-Man-Army” for a whole new generation. There have certainly been other films with such protagonists, but for some reason, Wick has taken the world by storm. You can take that basic narrative and insert it into so many difficult contexts. You can even throw it into a period piece with just the right elements. But there is a new film whose trailer has caused many to call for the Finnish Wick. But this Finnish soldier does not go around killing hitmen and underworld bosses. He just so happens to have the greatest movie antagonists to turn into mincemeat… Nazis. Welcome to the world of Sisu.
What sets this 90-minute thrill ride apart from so many American action flicks? This Finnish film takes a quieter and methodical rise before it starts exploding everywhere. It is broken into chapters, and the initial one is a former soldier, Aatami Korpi (Jorma Tommila) searching for gold. The film is beautifully shot, and this more contemplative stretch captures the quieter moments of a solitary man, with subtleties that flesh him out. There might not be a huge budget, and you can see that in the first act, but this film certainly captures the beauty of this solitary world that our protagonist exists in. This is a great dynamic that meets well with the stark reality of this war-torn world.
But we are ready for the action, right? There might not be the stunt work of a John Wick film, but there is an extremely visceral nature to the direction of Jalmari Helander. The action is BRUTAL. Limbs and guts go flying on a relatively regular basis. The action is thrilling, with impressive tension that builds up to each moment. There are knife fights, shootouts, and action in the skies. From the jump, things are never truly grounded. While the action is over-the-top but incredibly exciting, the third act does take it a tad too far with things getting a bit too extreme for believability. But to be honest, it doesn’t take too much away, as we still get great moments throughout. The antagonist comes to quite the exciting end, giving the film so great catharsis. There is even an awesome moment where some abused women get to step up and show these Nazis who’s boss.
With a relatively streamlined plot, what else does Sisu deliver outside of the action? With such an enigmatic lead, you need an actor to embody that intensity and power. Tommila certainly achieves that. He never really has to say a thing, but you always know how he feels. The small choices that Tommila makes brings so much life and vigor to this intense figure. You believe that this man can destroy anyone who gets in his way. There is also a level of empathy that he creates through the dynamics he has with his horse and dog. He wants to stop at nothing to finish his mission. But this hero needs a villain, and Aksel Hennie certainly delivers one. They could have easily had a bunch of faceless Nazis as the antagonists, but there are a few who stand out. Hennie’s leader is one of them, as he is resourceful and calculating. He has a sense of honor to him (in small doses), but in the end is a charismatic villain for the audience to root against.
Is Sisu the next great action flick that the trailers promise? Oh, yes, it is. I would love to see more from the impressive combination of Tommila and Helander. The direction and the performance make this film impressive, even when it goes just a tad too far. Efficient and thrilling, this is the kind of action film we hope to experience when we go to a theater.
Score: 9/10
Sisu will be in theaters on April 28
You can read more from Shane Conto, and follow him on Twitter, Instagram, and Letterboxd