Les Enquêtes du Département V: Dossier 64

If you haven't seen the previous episodes, I strongly suggest you do. It explains the bound between the two protagonists. Once again Department Q delivers an emotional and strongly written police adventure. By now it's hard to imagine a movie in these series without the constant switch between past and present. It's an interesting way to uncover the timeline and the motives of each character. It just works really well. Is it the best one in these series? Probably not. But it's still worth your time, even if you haven't seen the previous three films. I hope there will be more of these.

Finally a new reunion with Carl Mørch and Assad with a new crime mystery, the fourth in the series and so far the last one that is planned. It's a shame if there aren't any more, because again this is awesome crime; exciting, unpredictable and raw. Unlike the previous films, the action here is more comprehensive with more elements than what is first assumed. The film manages to balance this well. Still, I think this is a small minus. The previous films were all about a particular event, which they investigated. Here, there are both conspiracy theories and more comprehensive, than the more linear predecessors. Nevertheless, this holds plenty. Contrary to all that goes on television of crime series and movies, Journal 64 is liberatingly different and much more exciting and therefore interesting for anyone who loves good crime.

The series reached its ceiling with the second and third episode. Here it lacks a final punch and some character depth, that was very welcome in the previous installments. Also, the circumstances of the murders are a bit weird and never really explained. Anyway, it's the usual two hours of nice entertainment.

As usual it's well acted, directed and atmospheric, but for being the darkest (there is truth loosely in the story) it is also the weakest. The problem is a couple of very daft scenes that really do detract, however it's still better than most movies based on novels. Carl and Assad are one of the best partnerships on screen and you do feel for how they have evolved. Pity this seems to be the final in the series.

I was so impressed with the first movie and it has always been an impatient wait until the next instalment. I just love how the Danish can come up with such quirky characters. Sometimes the character put you off because they are so different but as time goes by you grow to love them and it is amazing how the subtle acting can convey so many emotions if you look out for them. I would be very sad if this was the last we see of these quirky characters. I just hope there will not be an English language version remake!!!