Sprängaren

This movie is based on a great book, one of the best thrillers I've ever read. As many times before the movie can't live up to the expectations, but still it's entertaining. In the book it was much easier to understand how the main character experienced some of the real rough situations in the story. Some apparently considered too rough to be filmed. This one you have to read first, then go see the movie.

This movie is based on the very popular book (with the same name) by Swedish author Liza Marklund. Taking it's place in Stockholm in the winter of 2003/2004, this movie takes place in an alternative future. Stockholm got to be the host of the 2004 summer olympics, instead of Athens.

The provocative reporter and journalist Annika Bengtzon works on the newspaper KvällsPressen. Suddenly, the Victoria Arena (built especially for the summer olympics) gets bombed. The movie follows the work of Annika as a reporter.

This movie falls into the for Swedish people well-known "Colin-Nutley-Helena-Bergström"-movie. Ever since "Blackjack" (1990) Colin Nutley has been making films with Helena Bergström, and some other actors, such as Ewa Fröling and Reine Brynolfsson (both starring in "Sprängaren"). After ten years, it is rather boring to see Helena Bergström crying all the time.

The only remarkable thing with this movie, apart from the actors, is the photography. Colin Nutley creates a certain feeling when he uses real TV newsreaders and such.

Worth the money, but not "that" good - 2.5 out of 5.

I watched this Swedish movie Sprangaren with subtitles based on an IMDb recommendation on another film (Irene Huss - Nottrand). The comments here had discouraged me but I went ahead with this. This is not a nail-biting thriller and may not be as good as the "girl with ..." series. But it is definitely watchable. The lead actress has done a good job as have most of her colleagues. There is a little thrill, a little investigation, a little analysis, a little emotion (especially with the colleagues) and a good bit of curiosity. And I did not find the movie slow. It is just that most of the events were inside the newspaper office and not out on the streets like American movies. There isn't much of screaming, either. But after watching a movie like this, I can appreciate why screaming and street action may not be required for every thriller. Overall, it's a good job done.

Sprängaren is my second familiarisation with a film based on Liza Marklund's work and Annika Bengtzon's character (after Den Röda Vargen) and - being a follower of Scandinavian crime films - I cannot say I am impressed (again). True, I have not read any Marklund's books either, but the plot is too fabulous and long, contains under-action not providing additional value to the film (e.g. disagreements within the newspaper and at home), and the evildoer could be guessed too soon. Well, there are some good performances (Helena Bergström as Annika Bengtzon and Örjan Ramberg as Anders Schyman), but overall course of events has holes and all the motives of the evildoer remained without thorough explanation.

Even if you prefer crime dramas with strong female leading characters, I would definitely recommend Forbrydelsen, Bron/Broen or even Dicte or Anna Pihl, all exceeding in smoothness and maintaining tension.

It sucks! Not the film, that's quite good. What sucks is that there hardly exist a single Norwegian who dares to make good films - like the Swedes do. WHEN ARE THEY GOING TO LEARN???! When?` Sprängaren is a good movie, well worth an eight, but it could have been a little more fast-paced, like to book, and then it would have deserved maybe even a niner...