In Order of Disappearance (Kraftidioten)
SIFF's capsule summary: "There hasn't been a darkly comic and enjoyable thriller with this much blood spilled in a frigid landscape since the Coen Brothers' Fargo. Stellan Skarsgard plays a snowplow driver who will stop at nothing to bring his son's killers to justice.
Dirty Harry meets Fargo in this dark Norwegian crime comedy. Swedish émigré Nils drives a snowplow, endlessly clearing the roads in a remote, northern winter paradise. Life is good, and he's just been presented with the town's "Citizen of the Year" award when he receives news that his son has died from an apparent heroin overdose. Disbelieving the official report, Nils soon uncovers evidence of the young man's murder-a victim in a turf war between the local crime boss, known as "The Count", and his Serbian rivals. Armed with heavy machinery and a good dose of beginner's luck, Nils embarks upon a quest for revenge that soon escalates into a full-blown underworld gang war, with the body count spiraling ever higher and higher. As Nils, Stellan Skarsgård gives a wonderfully nuanced comic performance while director Hans Petter Moland delivers a ruthlessly hilarious film with an uncompromising mixture of violent thrills and volatile laughs." (Norway, 2014, 116 minutes)
SIFF link: In Order of Disappearance
Since the SIFF summary describes the film pretty well (which isn't always the case), I'm not going to bother with my own description.
The writing and directing are excellent. The dramatic acting ranges from good to excellent; the comedic acting is excellent for everyone with significant screen time.
Overall, I rate the film excellent. Update: It is one of my favorites of the year.
Languages: Norwegian, Swedish, Serbian, with English subtitles.
Rating: This film's US rating of "R" is appropriate for the film's bloody (but comedic) violence, and foul language.
Screening: 9:15 pm.
Snacks: none this late.
Dirty Harry meets Fargo in this dark Norwegian crime comedy. Swedish émigré Nils drives a snowplow, endlessly clearing the roads in a remote, northern winter paradise. Life is good, and he's just been presented with the town's "Citizen of the Year" award when he receives news that his son has died from an apparent heroin overdose. Disbelieving the official report, Nils soon uncovers evidence of the young man's murder-a victim in a turf war between the local crime boss, known as "The Count", and his Serbian rivals. Armed with heavy machinery and a good dose of beginner's luck, Nils embarks upon a quest for revenge that soon escalates into a full-blown underworld gang war, with the body count spiraling ever higher and higher. As Nils, Stellan Skarsgård gives a wonderfully nuanced comic performance while director Hans Petter Moland delivers a ruthlessly hilarious film with an uncompromising mixture of violent thrills and volatile laughs." (Norway, 2014, 116 minutes)
SIFF link: In Order of Disappearance
Since the SIFF summary describes the film pretty well (which isn't always the case), I'm not going to bother with my own description.
The writing and directing are excellent. The dramatic acting ranges from good to excellent; the comedic acting is excellent for everyone with significant screen time.
Overall, I rate the film excellent. Update: It is one of my favorites of the year.
Languages: Norwegian, Swedish, Serbian, with English subtitles.
Rating: This film's US rating of "R" is appropriate for the film's bloody (but comedic) violence, and foul language.
Screening: 9:15 pm.
Snacks: none this late.