Sprängaren

Well, it's been a long time since I've seen a movie as boring as this one. It's a thriller but there are no thrills. There's no pace either, the film moves as slowly as a snail, and it is more a drama about a newspaper than a thriller about a murderer. I've read Liza Marklund's novel, upon which this movie is based, and I quite liked it, but it is obvious that it doesn't work as a movie. At least not when Colin Nutley's at the helm. I've never wanted to sleep at the cinema before, but this time I actually longed to close my eyes and take a nap (I didn't, though). I recommend this film if you're an insomniac in need of a cure... I mean, it's not even bad enough to be funny. (3/10)

I watched this film on TV eleven years after it was made, with absolutely no background knowledge of the book or the stars. I live on the other side of the world.

I found it very interesting - the office politics, and the portrayal of a couple of professionals with young children, trying to balance all the demands of modern life. These things were more interesting to me, than the plot about the death of the public figure and the matter of who was responsible for her death and the following attacks. The performances were very good, and I thought Helena Bergstrom's performance was excellent. I've read in other 'reviews' on IMDb that the author of the book is a similar person -( journalist with a leading newspaper,) to the role that she played - Annika. No doubt this is why the realistic portrayal of the daily challenges at the office was so interesting to me. I was not bothered that the author may have written about herself, not knowing about that at the time of watching the film. Therefore, I was free to appreciate the film for what it is - with no background baggage. And all the hype mentioned which took place at the time of release, - well - I missed it! I don't understand how people found it boring - maybe they don't enjoy dialog and observing human nature.

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.

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...

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.