The Stronghold2021

Sticking close to “the facts” ensures that The Stronghold turns into a bit of a grind. The over-the-top moments are restrained by that reality, and some pursuits, arrests and brawls seem so low-stakes as to undercut the whole enterprise.

Before the review, I need to complain a little: I hate most of the titles they choose for the version published in Brazil. Most of them use the original title with some silly subtitle. In Brazil, BAC Nord, The Stronghold in the United States, became BAC Nord: Under Pressure. Ridiculous. BAC Nord is a depressing film. We quickly sympathize with the good guys: Greg, Yass, and Antoine. They are from the Anti-Crime Brigade (BAC), a police department ruled by the sameness of being a shadow of organized crime. Their day-to-day comes down to brushing ice, as we say in Brazil. But things change with the possibility of being able to settle accounts with the criminal organization that rules a residential complex. The catch is that all this needs to happen under the hood. We follow the good guys on this journey. The mission is simple and, overall, little happens. Half the movie is character development. Things get complicated starting from the middle of the movie. The situation is tense enough to keep us hooked on the film. The story also seems reasonably convincing to the point where we don't question the progression of events. The plot twist, although expected, happens naturally and causes a strong impact. I liked the approach the screenwriters used to unfold the facts of the final conflict. The only negative point I raise is that nothing serious happens. Even the final conflict doesn't result in anything really bad. I don't recommend this movie if you're looking for frantic, wild action. This is a slow movie about frustration, friendship, corruption, and injustice.

It started out so strong, but then fizzled out. The ending felt rushed (even if it is based on a true story), lacking character development, and the movie felt like it just stopped, rather than ended.