Sprängaren

I watched this Swedish movie Sprangaren with subtitles based on an IMDb recommendation on another film (Irene Huss - Nottrand). The comments here had discouraged me but I went ahead with this. This is not a nail-biting thriller and may not be as good as the "girl with ..." series. But it is definitely watchable. The lead actress has done a good job as have most of her colleagues. There is a little thrill, a little investigation, a little analysis, a little emotion (especially with the colleagues) and a good bit of curiosity. And I did not find the movie slow. It is just that most of the events were inside the newspaper office and not out on the streets like American movies. There isn't much of screaming, either. But after watching a movie like this, I can appreciate why screaming and street action may not be required for every thriller. Overall, it's a good job done.

Well, what can I say. This movie is a slow, typical swedish crime story on the silver screen. As such, it's nothing spectacular. But since I'm a journalist, I can appreciate the many scenes taking place at the newspaper. They are good, if only a little too tame. If people only knew how cynical journalists really are, they'd be chocked. Sometimes reality's more extreme than fiction...

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.

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.

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)