The Rise of Scandinavia Cinema

There has been a steady rise over recent years in the popularity of the Scandinavian film industry. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo franchise is widely perceived as being the series that kick-started this interest, in addition to a flurry of exceptional hit TV shows including The Killing and The Bridge to name but a few.

With Hollywood gazing admiringly at Scandi output, what better time to look at the cream of the crop, so here’s our guide to the very best output from our blonde haired friends:

The Hunt

- Gripping, compelling and devastatingly dramatic The Hunt is one of the most searingly intelligent feature releases in recent years. Mads Mikkelson plays lead character Lucas who is just starting to pull his life back together following a divorce. But when a little girl at the nursery where he works tells a random lie that is impossible to ignore, Marcus’ world begins to fall apart. As shock turns to mistrust and then malice, it doesn’t take long before the local community is in a collective state of hysteria, igniting a witch-hunt that threatens to destroy an innocent man’s life.

The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo

– It all started when Stig Larson introduced his hugely popular trilogy of novels a few years ago. One of the most popular series crime books ever written, there was huge expectation and anticipation when the movie adaptation was announced. 2012 saw the first instalment hit cinema screens and fans weren’t left disappointed. Not only a huge critical success, the film became a worldwide phenomenon with Hollywood eventually snapping up the rights to this movie franchise. A visually stunning thriller, this trilogy grabs fans attentions from the moment the opening credits roll with its complex series of twists and turns. The cast help to propel this franchise, most notably lead character Noomi Rapace who took on the role of iconic character Lisbeth Salander.

Headhunters

– Another novel (this time Jo Nesbo), and another hit – Headhunters follows a corporate headhunter and part-time art thief who bites off more than he can chew when his latest mark turns out to be a very different kind of head hunter... One of the highest grossing foreign films of 2012, Headhunters continued Scandinavia’s continuing success at the box office.

Let The Right One In

– Ahead of its time, Let The Right One In is a simply stunning horror movie concerned with examining the vampire myth – Twilight this is not! Following the theme of film adaptations, Let The Right One In started life as a novel by author John Ajvide Lindgvist, and is anything but a slasher fest instead intelligently focusing on friendship, love and loneliness.

King Of Devil’s Island

– Hollywood heavyweight Stellan Skarsgard returns to his Scandinavian roots in this indie flick. King of Devil’s Island is based on a true story telling the unsettling story of young delinquents banished to a remote prison of Bastoy.

Valhalla Rising

– starring The Hunt’s Mads Mikkelson as One Eye, a mute warrior of supernatural strength, who has been held prison by the chieftain Barde. Aided by a boy, Are, he kills his captor and together they escape, beginning a journey into the heart of darkness.

Nightwatch

– Focusing on a young law student, Martin Waldau, who takes a job at the local morgue, this edgy thriller is a gripping tale of mistaken identity. When the victims of a serial killer of prostitutes are deposited at the morgue, scary things begin to happen and before long the police suspect Martin is the killer!

Show Me Love

– Set in small town Sweden, Show Me Love explores the lives of two teenage girls. Elin is beautiful, popular, and bored with life. Agnes is friendless, sad, and secretly in love with Elin. This coming of age movie explores the growing pains of turning from child to young adult

Deliver Us From Evil

- This Danish classic focuses on a father who returns to his old hometown with his young family. Events force him to face the small town's xenophobia.

Jackpot

– This edgy thriller starts with a terrified and bloody man, Oscar Svendsen, who wakes up gripping a shotgun in a strip joint, surrounded by eight dead men and with the police aiming squarely at him. To Oscar it's clear that he is innocent, but how does he prove he is the victim here?!

Jo Nesbo's Headhunters Blu-Ray Review

★★★★1/2

A friend said to me recently "the bubble is going to burst" maybe but for now myself and millions of cinephiles worldwide will continue to enjoy the current wave of Scandinavian cinema (&television)that's sweeping us off our feet. The latest invader is Jo Nesbo's Headhunters (Hodejegerne), the first from an author who has refused to climb onboard the trend of book adaptation but has now thankfully gave into temptation with the end result that's nothing but fantastic.

Roger Brown (Askel Hennie) seems to have it all, a beautiful wife (Synnove Macody Lund), luxurious home, a successful business  career. He may not be tall in stature but Roger seems to keep his wife happy despite the fact he can't keep up with the mortage payments. Been that successful corporate headhunter Roger crosses paths with many similar successful people , mostly potential candidates for the the companies he's working for . Through his wife's art exhibition he meets Clas Greve (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau) who becomes the latest candidate for Roger's 'headhunting' who also help him live his alternative extravagant lifestyle by stealing high profile artwork they possess. Through Clas Roger learns he owns one of the most sought after paintings, a painting would answer all his financial problems and end this crazy alternative second 'job' Roger has.

Just as Roger pockets the painting he doesn't realise he has just embarked on his most dangerous heist to date, not even after what else he finds at Clas home. What follows after is a dark and relentless game of cat and mouse as the hunter becomes the hunted.

So what is it that's made Scandinavian cinema so popular these days?It's probably because it reminds us of the times of Hollywood before it was destroyed by 3D gimmickry and over reliance of CGI, a time when we focused on the story giving us a chance to appreciate the characters. At first when we meet Roger we don't really care much about him, he's smug, cocky, over confident, full of himself most of all insecure but as the film progress we become more sympathetic or even just empathetic as hardship prevails. As for Clas he seems the total opposite of Roger, very confident, tough as nails, alpha male providing those needs Roger fails to provide his wife, a threat.

Headhunters is a film stacked to the rafters with creativity, a little unconventional at times but in a way that the film's narrative structure holds fantastically well together. The film hits you at a fast pace you don't want to pause, step away from the screen as its a gripping exciting film start to the finish. What this film really excels at is it's ability to throw the book of common sense out the window to become a film that rarely takes itself seriously. There is moments what we're watching is totally farcical but in a way it never feels out of place with the whole tone of the film.There's one example I don't want to say much about it, but when I watched Headhunters at the cinema I volunteer for it had the majority of the screen roaring with laughter apart from those who adore animals, seeing is believing, that's all I'll say!

When it comes to calling films, writers, actors "the new...." I do tend to get a little annoyed as it brings unwarranted pressure on that person or if its a film gives the viewer a false sense of expectation. In Jo Nesbo's case he is been labelled 'the new Steig Larsson' I agree to the extent that Nesbo is keeping the Scandinavian film flag flying high but that is really where it ends. Larsson was a writer who excelled in writing dark, gritty psychological even political  thrillers as for Nesbo his stories a dark and do have visceral bloody moments but he brings comedy to the table so I would go as far as associating him more with Coen Brothers than Larsson.

Headhunters is probably the best dark satirical thrillers you'll see this year, it's neither controversial nor is it overran with violence and blood, it feels more at home with the farcical elements that made Fargo such a cult hit. As usual Hollywood has found a new cash cow, I would recommend seeing this before before it's destroyed by an un-welcomed  remake. If you really hate subtitles there is a dubbed version of the film on the disc which gives the film a extra layer of humour as the dubbed voices make this even funnier.

Paul Devine

Rating:15
DVD/BD Release Date:13 August 2012
Directed by: Morten Tyldum
Cast: Aksel Hennie, Synnøve Macody Lund , Nikolaj Coster-Waldau

To 

HEISTS: THE MOVIE GENRE

A crew of people, a prominent target and a strategic plan- all aspects needed to qualify as a heist. Putting these aspects on screen has created some of the most memorable films in the heist genre. Headhunters is released on Blu-ray and DVD on August 13th, and as we look forward to watching its new take in the heist formula - and its different, dark and often comical nature- we’ve been inspired to look at other unforgettable movie robberies.

Quick Change (1990)
Bill Murray shows how dangerous a clown can be in one of the top heist movies ever. He stars as Grimm, a grumpy New Yorker who plots a heist on a bank with the help of two accomplices. Although the heist goes smoothly, stealing the money is only part of the job. When the three robbers attempt to make their escape from New York City, things start to spiral in a very bad direction for them.
Point Break (1991)
One of the most important things in making a heist successful is having a captivating leader. Patrick Swayze stars as Bodhi, who seems just an ordinary surfer, when really he’s the leader of the Ex-Presidents gang-- a crew of felons who rob banks wearing Nixon, Reagan and Carter masks.  Keanu Reeves stars as a rookie FBI Agent who goes undercover to catch the robbers, but as he gets drawn in by Bodhi’s charismatic personality, he has to make the decision of a life time.

Heat (1995)
With one of the greatest shootout scenes in film, Heat sets the bar for robbery, shootout and escape scenes in the heist genre. Robert De Niro stars as a successful thief, who is considering leaving the business for good after one last heist, while Al Pacino stars as a compulsive cop who desperately wants to lock De Niro up before he does. De Niro and Pacino both know a heist is being conspired, as each man keeps a close watch on the other.
Entrapment (1999)
Sean Connery stars as an international art thief, while Catherine Zeta-Jones stars as an insurance investigator sent to question him about stealing a Rembrandt painting from an office. She persuades him with a plan to steal a Chinese mask from a heavily secured palace. After they successfully steal the mask, Connery accuses her of plotting to turn him in-- until she informs him of yet another heist for the duo to plot.
Heist (2001)
Gene Hackman stars as Joe Moore, a renowned jewel thief whose life and career become endangered when he's caught on security cameras. He finds out that his fence, Bergman, breaks his word on the money he's owed and his wife may be cheating on him with the fence's nephew. As Moore and his crew are left broke, betrayed and blackmailed, they are forced to do Bergman's last big heist for the payday of a lifetime.
 Oceans 11 (2001)
Using some of the best looking stars, a bit of humour and a well-thought out plan, perfectly exemplifies the modern heist genre.   George Clooney stars as Danny Ocean; an ex-con who gets out of jail and instantly puts together an ultimate crew of ten men. As each of the members specializes in something different, they strategically plan a heist on a casino that's run by an oblivious CEO dating Ocean’s ex-wife.
The Italian Job (2003)
In Venice, Italy, Mark Wahlberg stars as a team leader of expert thieves as they pull off a daring heist and steal 35 million dollars worth of gold from underneath the noses of the Italian Police and the Mafia. One of the thieves betrays his team and takes the gold for himself. A year later, in Los Angeles, the crew create a smart and scheming heist to get back the gold and get their revenge on the traitor.
Inside Man (2006)
Dressed in painter outfits, Dalton Russell’s crew enters a bank and within seconds, they put the bank under a strategically planned heist as they disable the surveillance cameras and take everyone hostage. The NYPD detectives arrive on the scene to contact Russell and ensure the safety of the hostages.  However, things don’t go as planned as Russell’s perfect bank robbery leaves the hostages and authorities dumbfounded.
The Bank Job (2008)
Inspired by the infamous 1971 London bank robbery, the plot twists keep an intriguing edge throughout the film.  As a struggling car dealer with a wife and kids to take care of, Terry Leather is constantly worrying about money. When Martine, a model from his old neighbourhood, tells him of a flawless heist plan, he takes the risky chance of a life time and robs the bank. What Terry doesn’t realise is that Martine has an ulterior motive-- one that is much bigger than anything he or his crew could imagine.
The Town (2010)
This film brings some of most thrilling robbery scenes in film history. While sometimes dressing up in the infamous nun costumes- Ben Affleck and Jeremy Renner star as two childhood friends who pull off armed heists for a dangerous mobster. When Affleck’s character starts to build a relationship with one of his robbery victims, things begin to get complicated for the crew as they set out to execute the ultimate robbery.
Inception (2010)
Built like a classic heist film- the crew, the plot and the execution- but having it all happen inside the subconscious mind adds an entirely different twist to the genre. Leonardo DiCaprio stars as Dom Cobb, an expert in raiding the minds of his targets while they sleep to steal their secrets. When he is assigned to plant a thought instead of steal one, the difficult heist skyrockets to a whole new level. Headhunters (2011)
Roger Brown seemingly has it all; until the discovery that his life is based on a lie. He is a well-known headhunter with a pretty wife, gigantic mansion and everything else he could ever want.  However, his biggest secret revolves around maintaining this lavish lifestyle-- as an art thief. And when his finances hit rock bottom, he attempts to pull off his biggest art heist yet; which transpires chilling secrets, backstabbing and murder.
Find out how Roger gets on in Headhunters, on Blu-ray and DVD August 13th.

Review: Headhunters (Hodejegerne)

GFF 2012: Jo Nesbo’s HEADHUNTERS Get’s UK Trailer

Brand New Trailer for Jo Nesbo's HEADHUNTERS