O Cidadão do Ano

"In Order of Disappearance" is NOT a film for everyone. In some ways, I'd categorize it as 'Murder Porn'...a movie with many, many vivid and brutal killings...like a Tarantino or Guy Ritchie movie. And, like one of these incredibly carnage-filled movies, it's also exceptionally well made. But being well made does not mean it's for everyone....it is a really nasty story of revenge.

When the film begins, two guys are abducted and one is murdered. The other escapes and eventually makes it to see Nils Dickman--the father of the dead man. It seems that the guy who got away was involved with drug dealers but Dickman's son was completely innocent. Well, Nils isn't about to let go and has decided he must have justice--even though he's just one man against a gang of vicious drug dealers. It's funny, as Nils was just awarded a Man of the Year award...and now he's about to become a vicious killing machine.

Nils only has one lead and soon abducts this lead. He savagely beats and then murders the gang member after he learns the next one in the chain of command and does the same once again. After Nils kills his third gang member, the gangs take notice...and think it's a rival Serbian gang behind all this. Soon, it's all out war...and bodies are piling up faster than the audience can keep track of them.

This film is exquisitely directed and realistic to boot. But it's also blood-filled and violent...and I am talking about very realistic and hideous killings. I was actually surprised, as I just assumed Americans and Brits were the only ones making these sort of films! Well made...but please, please, please...DON'T let your kids, mother or Father O'Reilly catch you watching this film!

Sigh. Why couldn't I have been the writer or director of this film? Hell, I would even settle to be best boy, gaffer, caterer, shoe shine specialist or whatever. It's finally refreshing to see a movie that has all the T's crossed and the I's dotted. It stars Stellan Skarsgard and Bruno Ganz, for Heaven's sake. How bad could it be?

I didn't come into the film expecting much other than it was yet another entry in Norwegian cold landscape crime noir category. The scenery alone was worth the price of admission since it's quite the chore to film snowy landscapes. Here, the snow-capped mountains looked a postcard come to life. The direction was taut and there were no wasted scenes. I couldn't help but noticing there was a bit of a Tarantino-esque touch to a few parts of the movie, but I'm not complaining. This film has a lot of layers to it and it is easy to follow. The producers should be proud of themselves.

First Headhunters, now this.. The films that keep coming out of Scandinavia, and in particular Norway, are hard to beat. Headhunters was most definitely one of my favourites of last years and this is also very high on the list.

For me it's the (fairly) unknown actors, the absolutely shameless and inventive humor and I guess that beautiful landscape. And of course the great, very well known, Stellan Skarsgard for whom this seems like it's especially made for. He is perfect and such a great character that you will be rooting for him long after the film is finished. He makes the film, but it probably would have worked with another actor as well, as the story is so original and highly entertaining.

Absolutely loved it and can't wait to see it again. Hollywood: HANDS OFF 8/10

Finally watched it last night. Instead, I got a film that quickly grew on me as the body count mounted (hence the Englsh title). An earlier reviewer said it was like Fargo, but I would add a touch of an absurd Kill Bill body count. At the end of the film I was laughing out loud. A great dark comedy.

Well first of all let me say that I certainly did enjoy this movie. What I don't understand is the fact that some people consider it as a funny crime comedy. Maybe it's because I don't understand the language that I missed some subtle humor or so, I don't know, but the fact is that I for sure didn't laugh once with this movie. The story might not be very original but the actors all did a great job so I can't complain about that. Stellan Skarsgård showed us again that he is a good actor. The story is just another normal citizen searching for revenge after the death of his kid. All in all I thought it was well played and filmed with nice nature shots as well.