Kongekabale

I found this film very useful for someone like me, who is not in politics, but is interested. It shows how spin distorts reality, but it also tells one that it is always possible to see through the smokescreen. It confirms the saying that goes: you can lie to everybody some of the time, to somebody all the time, but you cannot lie to everybody all the time. This goes not only for the realm of Danemark, but for every other country too. US Republican spin doctors are trying to get away with it (lie to everybody all the time). At some point it is going to stop working. What Kongekabale says is, that this not being a fairy tale, it will not be easy to see though and behind the lies.

This is one of the movies that you see hundreds of from the big movie-mekka, Hollywood... But in the last couple of years, danish movies have improved radically, and producers abroad has gotten an eye open towards danish actors, producers, directors and so on and so forward... But most of our big hits have been comedies and action-movies, and almost always with an actor by the name of Kim Bodnia in the leading role... But now it's time to introduce the first danish thriller since Nattevagten (Nightwatch, as the American replicant of it is called), Kongekabale...

The movie is based on a book by the same name, and the book is loosely based on a true story - with rewritten names and so on and so forward... The book got great reviews, and so did the movie... And it's just...

I went to the cinema to watch the movie, as I read the book a couple of months ago and wanted to see if the movie could live up to the suspense of the book... And it does...

With Søren Pilmark as the mean politician, who seems to be involved in all the mysterious happenings, and Anders W. Berthelsen as the nosey reporter, who smells something is wrong, we've got two of Denmarks best actors to ensure us of a good evening spend in front of the screen... Søren Pilmark, who is well-known for his comic-talent, shows a dark side of himself and delivers a GREAT performance... Anders W. Berthelsen, who got his real breakthrough this spring with a leading role in the danish drama-series Krøniken, shows a more progressive side of himself, and it suits him just as fine as the shy guy he is known for...

With all this said, I can't say nothing else that:

Go see the movie - it can easily live up to similar Hollywood-movies...

I didn't expect a lot from this film... I just knew it was a Danish thriller about some political situation, and that it had gotten mostly positive reviews. Being somewhat unimpressed by Danish cinema, I didn't really give it much of a chance to grab me... yet it managed to do so. For at least the last two-thirds of this film, I was hanging by every single line spoken and every detail on screen. It's unusually well-made, not only for a Danish film. I'm impressed that this is Nikolaj Arcel's first movie as a director; he does a marvelous job. The film contains a very accurate and realistic portrayal of politics in a democratic country. As such, it's actually quite unnerving... the thought that something like what is shown in this film can actually take place. The very last line of the film holds more truth than the combined efforts of plenty of less intelligent writers. The plot is interesting. The pace is very good, you're never really bored. The visuals and cinematography are perfect, not too simple, but not flashy, either. The acting is top-notch in all cases. The dialog is well-written and equally well-delivered. The finale is one of the best pieces of storytelling on film I've seen for a while. Now, despite all these positive things I've written so far, this film does have some rather big flaws. First off, it's plot-driven, yet the story and concept would have done much better with a character-driven film. All characters are used as plot devices; they exist to drive the plot further, to tell the story, rather than to evoke emotions and be active parts of it. The character development is slim... actually, it's rather close to completely non-existent. We don't know or care about these people... and why should we? They are all paper-thin and clichéd. Everyone is completely driven by one thing, and one thing alone. The villain is the worst. Not one redeeming quality to him whatsoever. Not even the least bit credible. Something that hurts the high quality of this film is that we are practically introduced to the bad guys... there's no suspense on that front. So part of the film is just watching the main character discover what we already know. What's left for suspense is the viewers following the evidence being collected. Not saying that it isn't entertaining to watch... but it could most certainly have been better. As it is, the film is a well-done and accurate portrayal of modern-day politics with a very good plot, and in which the execution leaves some to be desired. I recommend it to fans of thrillers, particularly political ones. It lacks in nuance and slightly in suspense, but it is well-done and it has an important message. 8/10

In a generally steady and advanced country, it is difficult to create an intensive political film and remain realistic as most thriller fans are eager to follow sophisticated conspiracies, events of several levels, and the opponents not afraid of using "ultimate" measures. But the makers of Kongekabale have succeeded in this, beginning with the trigger event... On the other hand, we get the real picture early (perhaps too early) and then it remains us to observe how the things develop and what measures are taken by both sides. Luckily, the tensions are maintained, all main persons have their ups and downs, paving the way for expected, but realistic end (and the scene when a lie is publicly revealed is solved in an interesting, different manner). The cast is strong as well - many of the actors are often used in crime series and thrillers playing both the good and the bad - and the inclusion of Nicolas Bro as Henrik Moll provided several giggling moments into the often depressive atmosphere and background.

And of course, all this shows that Denmark is a democratic country with rather low crime, in many other countries rivals or nosy people get killed or get lost...

I always knew, that this movie was one to watch, and one which would be of interest of me, so when I got the chance to see it, I didn't let the opportunity miss. But never did I know, of how great I would find this movie. Mainly, you see movies, which you find good, bad or indifferent, but rarely you see movies that are truly captivating as "Kongekabale" was for me. I guess it depends on what kind of movie you like. I like movies, where I can't predict it all, with complicated plots, that you sit and try and figure out, while watching. And all this I got with "Kongekabale".

It's about a reporter getting a leak about the husband to the woman who might get in power after the next election. But that's just a layer, the top of the iceberg. It suddenly evolves to a huge amount of layers of lies, cheats and people that literary would kill for power. And the spiderweb just evolves and evolves.

The movie is based (although in exaggerated form) on real events, and even though the plot is exaggerated, it surely sends a message about current politics all over the world, and how people behave with power.

The actors play well, and the directing and script is top notch. The movie is perfectly balanced, and also some remarks makes you laugh on occasion, without it sounding odd or out of place. And the ending itself is so amazing, that I couldn't believe it.

A masterpiece. Watch it!