the fresh films reviews

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Män som hatar kvinnor (2009)

Director:
Niels Arden Oplev
COUNTRY
Sweden/Denmark/Germany
GENRE
Drama/Thriller/Mystery
NORWEGIAN TITLE
Menn som hater kvinner
RUNNING TIME
152 minutes
Producer:
Søren Stærmose
Screenwriter (based on the novel by Stieg Larsson):
Nikolaj Arcel
Rasmus Heisterberg


Cast includes:

CHARACTER ACTOR/ACTRESS RATING
Lisbeth Salander Noomi Rapace ½
Mikael Blomkvist Michael Nyqvist ½
Henrik Vagner Sven-Bertil Taube
Nils Bjurman Peter Andersson
Martin Vanger Peter Haber
Cecilia Vanger Marika Lagercrantz
Erika Berger Lena Endre
Dirch Frode Ingvar Hirdwall
Harald Vanger Gösta Bredefeldt
Morell Björn Granath
Harriet Vanger Ewa Fröling

 

Review

Stieg Larsson's story is extremely hard-hitting and Niels Arden Oplev har transferred this potency well to the big screen; Män som hatar kvinnor relishes its brutality the same way The Silence of the Lambs did. And the result is that we're attracted and disgusted by the images and the thematics. The mystery is solid and well-knitted too - in its television-style format - making the film effective despite a lengthy running-time. They say a thriller is only as good as its villain, and one of the drawbacks with Män som hatar kvinnor is that the murderer is no Hannibal Lecter. His family is more interesting, actually, but to embroider this would be to reveal too much. What should be revealed, however, is the solid craftsmanship behind this production, as well as the interesting historical aspects involved. The film is not masterly creative, but it does what it does better then most of its peers.

 

Copyright © 16.6.2009 Fredrik Gunerius Fevang

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