Le Quatrième Homme

I am an old fan of Scandinavian, incl. Swedish crime films and series, have seen presumably all becks-wallanders-falcks, etc., with focus on a single case, sometimes with references to the past, but not necessarily...

So, Den fjärde mannen is in the solid line of the longer series mentioned above, and certainly with several distinct performances (particularly Rolf Lassgård as Lars Martin Johansson and Claes Malmberg as Evert Bäckström), but... As recent years have seen my turning over the films with "modern" approach - additional suspense, fast and sudden shifts, mind-twisting turns - then the story and course of events here seemed a bit arid and protracted, plus I started to figure out the murder-related events too soon. The events take place in three different years, but the transitions are not evenly smooth and some scenes do not provide additional value to the series.

Nevertheless, if you know what to expect and, as regards crime-solving, prefer mind-work to field-work, then you will have meaty and "safe" 3 hours in front of screen. Otherwise, I would recommend Bron/Broen, or similar.

The director, Kristian Petri, apparently wishes he was Thomas Alfredsson ("Tinker, Taylor, Soldier, Spy", a masterpiece) and therefore the pace, the acting, the soundtrack and the camera copies all that from said film.

Having read the book (or books) by Leif GW Persson you notice that the characters are nothing like they are written.

Rolf Lassgård is trying too hard and simultaneously moves in the wrong direction towards a pompous Lars Martin Johansson.

Jarnebrink is a vivid character in the books but portrayed with bad directing ("No, you have to be like someone in Tinker, Taylor, Soldier Spy! Not so vivid").

And yet worse is Jacob Erickssons portrayal of Nilsson - it's just so over the top and embarrassing!

The rest of the cast is performing really well though (despite mst often not being like the characters in the books- for which I blame the director), but my mind is stuck on those three that sucks and ruins the rest.