Hamilton: I Nationens Intresse [2012]

Exotic, engaging, and above-all refreshing, Hamilton: I Nationens Intresse is a great movie. Here’s a tip for all you movie fans, if there’s full-frontal nudity in the first scene, it’s usually a sign that the movie is good. And I’m not talking just about porn. I think that we are so used to Hollywood-style thrillers about secret agents that it’s difficult to switch to something different. Of course, James Bond is somewhat of an exception, but still, an exception that just confirms the general rule. James Bond move over, Hamilton is here!

Based on a novel by Jan Guillou, this is the second time that Swedish secret agent Carl Hamilton appears in movies. The first one came out in 1998 starring Peter Stormare. Don’t be fooled by the relatively unknown actors and the fact that this is a Swedish movie about their MI-6. Mostly because Hamilton: I Nationens Intresse is a big-budget, grand sets action extravaganza. And possibly one of the best movies about secret agents in the last decade…

Carl Hamilton, a secret agent working for the Swedish government, infiltrated the Russian mafia. He’s trying to stop them from selling Swedish weapons to terrorists. During the meet, a third party shows up, kills everybody, and takes the weapons. Everybody, except Hamilton, escapes and safely returns to Sweden. Haunted by the failed mission, he’s not sure if he can continue to work in the interest of the nation. However, once an agent, always an agent and soon he sets off in pursuit of the weapons.

I think that a comparison between Hamilton and Bond is inevitable. So, here it is: while Bond is definitely more charming and entertaining, Hamilton is more engaging and realistic. Sure, there are a couple of “suspend beliefs”. However, they are carefully masked by either action or the story. The camera was just phenomenal, not too shy to take quite bloody and gory scenes or wide immersing shots. As far as the story goes, it’s anything but fiction. And I believe it’s one of the more accurate portrayals of all the parties involved. I’m always surprised to see movies that openly disclose how the world really works. In the end, he’s not perfect, but he’s ours, he’s me, he’s you, he’s Hamilton!

Finally, if you’re looking for similar movies apart from the Bond franchise I recommend Mission Impossible and Bourne too. Apart from those, you can always check out Kingsman, Tenet, and Atomic Blonde. And just one more thing. There’s a sequel to this movie titled Agent Hamilton: But Not If It Concerns Your Daughter. Critics called it an insult to the thinking man, something I found so funny. This put a halt to the third and final part of the trilogy.

Director: Kathrine Windfeld

Writer:  Jan Guillou , Stefan Thunberg

Cast: Mikael Persbrandt, Pernilla August, Jason Flemyng, Gustaf Hammarsten, Ray Fearon, Kevin McNally

Fun Facts: Mikael Persbrandt prepared for the role by training with the American Navy Seals in San Diego. He learned such movies as silent takedowns and weapon disarming. He also trained with SSG, the Swedish Elite Force.

Rating:

IMDb Link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1893256/