It is distinguished by the intelligence of its plotting and the fullness of its characterizations: These are believable people, not merely plot fodder.

Full Review | Original Score: 4/5 | Dec 24, 2005

A jaw-dropping premise so smartly executed that if this movie weren't in Flemish I'd swear that Michael Mann had directed it.

Full Review | Original Score: 3.5/4 | Sep 29, 2005

Close, but not quite.

Full Review | Sep 26, 2005

The movie is tightly wound and expertly unraveled, resulting in a thriller that you'll remember.

| Original Score: 3.5/5 | Sep 26, 2005

Though Memory works perfectly well as a policier, it works even better as a character study of a man losing his edge.

Full Review | Original Score: B | Sep 26, 2005

This Belgian film has the sheen of polished Hollywood product, amplified by continental elegance and depth.

| Original Score: A- | Sep 22, 2005

Decleir's tough-guy vulnerability, which brings to mind such classic screen heavies as Lee J. Cobb and Richard Widmark, gives an otherwise standard police procedural extraordinary grace and power.

| Sep 22, 2005

Decleir is so commanding in the role that it's easy to dismiss the film's generic trappings.

| Original Score: 3/4 | Sep 9, 2005

As slick, fast and terrifyingly violent as a top-grade American crime thriller, but a lot smarter than most.

Full Review | Original Score: 3.5/4 | Sep 8, 2005

Contains the elements of a typical police procedural, transcended and brought to a sad perfection by the performance of a veteran Belgian actor named Jan Decleir.

| Original Score: 3.5/4 | Sep 8, 2005

We shouldn't commiserate with an assassin, but part of the movie's skill is in making us share Angelo's dread at what's happening to him.

| Original Score: 3/4 | Sep 2, 2005

An entertaining new crime procedural from Belgium.

| Original Score: 3/4 | Sep 2, 2005

A gratifyingly slick and fast-moving Flemish thriller, directed by Erik Van Looy, with superb acting.

Full Review | Aug 29, 2005

There is a lot going on in this densely packed thriller, but helmer Van Looy maintains a taut pace while creating a sense of suspense -- and empathy -- for its dark protagonist.

| Original Score: 3/5 | Aug 26, 2005

Overall I found the film a puzzling mixture of convincing local atmospherics and pretentious imported grandeur.

| Aug 26, 2005

Writer-director Erik Van Looy keeps the action moving briskly.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/4 | Aug 26, 2005

[An] absorbing, operatic Belgian detective thriller.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/4 | Aug 26, 2005

This is one terrific thriller with several wicked tricks up its sleeve, each more satisfying than the last.

| Original Score: 4/5 | Aug 25, 2005

In the rather less twisty [than Memento], if nicely kinked Belgian thriller The Memory of a Killer, the title character faces his own dangerous adversary, except that here the enemy hot on his heels is dementia.

| Original Score: 3.5/5 | Aug 25, 2005

This thriller is more textured than the usual exercise in its genre.

Full Review | Aug 25, 2005