Belgrade, Yugoslavia, 1979; a mysterious "Phantom" occupies the attention and hearts of Belgrade. Every night, he exhibits spectacular driving maneuvers using a stolen white Porsche car through the city streets.
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Reviews
You won't be disappointed!
Very very predictable, including the post credit scene !!!
Sadly Over-hyped
This is one of the best movies I’ve seen in a very long time. You have to go and see this on the big screen.
This story, as I guess, is unknown to a non Balkans inhabitant, as I am, Swiss born... In fact I stumbled upon the attractive title, and after reading the comments, decided to give it a chance... How glad ! It was a very pleasant and nice surprise... A story without any violence, no explosion, no cgi, and dated from 2008 ! Incredible, for what is supposed to be an Action/Crime/Drama movie :-) But it works perfectly... The right touch ! Even though there is a Porsche car involved... almost the central focusing point of the movie, the stunts are very few... In fact there are almost inexistent in The Belgrade Phantom, but nevertheless the subtle tension all along the movie, pictured like a kind of documentary holds the long run. If you only need strong adrenaline all along a movie to appreciate one and stunts that are possible only in movies, fights, blood and bones, better avoid this excellent one ! I expected it to be an imaginative story and it turns out it was based on a real event and on a real "Phantom" named Vlada Vasiljevic. The acting, if not absolutely memorable, is strong enough from all the actors and the interviews were carefully chosen to keep up the rather slow pace of the movie, and even more believable to make an excellent movie. Imho, the concern of the director was more to focus on the mystery side, than on the stunts, and for me, it worked perfectly. The thief/driver doesn't have a single line in the hole movie... but again it works ! In fact, this is another incredible thing... Being able to make a suspense/mystery movie where the tension doesn't rely on the fear and sudden (hit/blow... anything) effect, but on the "whole stuff itself"... I have some difficulty to precise my thoughts in English... but I hope you'll get the point ! Forgot also to mention this movie reminds me another "road movie" I like very much : Vanishing Point (1971) much more on the adrenaline side... I found The Belgrade Phantom very human, and only in the good way of the meaning "human". The rebel here, is very gentle, very kind ! Why not ? Everything is a question of spirit ! Last thing, obviously felt sorry (of course it was predictable) that the guy died at the end... That was the effective End...*** a film is never really good unless the camera is an eyes in the head of a poet Orson Welles ***
I eagerly anticipated this movie for a long time. Beogradski Fantom, or the Belgrade Phantom was a legend from the late 70s. A young rebel and a wacko Vlada Vasiljevic, also known as Vlada Opel or Vasa Kljuc was thundering throughout Belgrade's streets for 10 or so days during 1979 in a stolen white Porsche. This is one of Belgrade's famous urban legends and something my parents and older friends told me so much about. That's why I was so impatient to see this movie, and maybe the reason why my disappointment was so huge.The major problem isn't only a low budget or bad acting, which were imminent, but lack of information. It's obvious that the crew had best intentions and all the energy, it's just that they couldn't fill up a bit more than an hour with material. The story is cut through and through with interviews of people involved in the Phantom matter (the cops who chased him, his friends, his fans...) and for more than a half of the movie same few facts go on and on in circles. Not to mention illiterate taxi drivers and cops who repeat one sentence the entire time... it's so annoying. Apart from boring monologues, there is a certain amount of action scenes. Nice, but nothing more. This is where the low budget becomes visible.Finally, the acting was a kiss of death. A very poor play by actors, often unconvincing and dull. Like a bad commercial. The Phantom himself remains silent during the whole time, not one single word, with a grumpy face weather he's chasing with the police or laying in his bed. Booooring! The best part of the movie by far are the sequences of Belgrade from the 70s which roll in the opening titles. Probably made by the secret service or something, they depict many details of the era.10 for effort and idea, 2-3 for the final product. Overall 5.
I expected much more from this movie...Yet I was disappointed in many ways...Urban legend of "Beogradski phantom" (Belgrade phantom) is used, and since I was teenager in late 70's I am recalling exactly that times. First, IMHO, there are lot of miscast in this movie. Characters are played without enough passion. Leading role (Phantom himself) is played emotionless - without face expression, without stress or anger or joy. What will feel the driver when is chased by dozen of police cars? Will he remain silent, expressionless and dumb? I doubt so! Also, chief of police is played not good enough - like he is some fruit-seller on the market. All chase-scenes were shot in the dark, pretending we see Belgrade in 1979! But still we can see street signs, exchange-office sign from modern times! Also, Phantom wears bad copy, clearly visible, of "ADIDAS" sport-shoes, with 4 stripes ! That was such mistake! Real ADIDAS is with 3 stripes, and in late 70's there were easy to buy original Adidas shoes in every shoe-shop! That was big mistake. Well, I really like beginning of the movie, with scenes taken from real documentaries, but lately, everything went sloppy. I gave 2/10 just because I like scenes taken from documentaries.
I really enjoyed this film. I wasn't judging this movie as I would a Hollywood project. It surpasses nearly all of them anyway because it's got soul. People who were there give recounts of their own experiences and perspectives, between the recreations which were very well done. The film has a real 70's feel to it, so masterfully portrayed it's tougher to tell the difference in eras between the actual clips and the recreations, than it is to tell the difference between the recreations and the interviews. If the interviews were not shot in modern crispness, you wouldn't be able to tell this movie wasn't actually from the era of the phantom.The story of the phantom and his effect on the people, especially during a time of tyranny in a police state is inspiring, and even some of the police who were the younger officers at the time admit to secretly admiring him.I'm sure most people will like it, only those who try not to won't.