IN ORDER OF DISAPPEARANCE (KRAFTIDIOTEN)
(director: Hans Petter Moland; screenwriter: Kim Fupz Aakeson; cinematographer: Philip Ogaard; editor: Jens Christian Fodstad; music: ; cast: Stellan Skarsgard (Nils Dickman), Bruno Ganz (Papa), Pal Sverre Hagen (Greven – Ole Forsby), Birgitte Hjort Sorensen (Mant), Jakob Oftebro (Junior – Aaron Horowitz), Kristofer Hivju (Strike – Stig Erik Smith), Anders Baasmo Christiansen (Geir), Peter Andersson (Wingman – Egil Dickman), Jon Oigarde (Karsten Petterson), Gard B. Eidsvold (Svela – Halldor Emanuel Torp), Tobias Santelmann(Finn Heimdahl ); Runtime: 116; MPAA Rating: R; producers: Finn Gjerdrum/Stein B. Kvae; Magnolia/Magnet Releasing; 2014-Norway-in Norwegian with English subtitles)
“Skarsgard looks good on a snow-plow, though the story itself lacks credibility.”
Reviewed by Dennis Schwartz
An introverted snow-plow driver Nils Dickman (Stellan Skarsgard), just awarded Citizen of the Year honors in his local community, learns his only son is dead and his wife unfairly blames him for not knowing his son. Nils decides to avenge the murder of his grown son when the police falsely believe the overdose victim is a heroin addict and refuse to investigate. Director Hans Petter Moland (“The Beautiful Country”/”A Conspiracy of Faith”) uses the snowy mountain landscape of Norway to his benefit, as the thriller feeds off the gloomy weather and the grim characters. It’s written by Kim Fupz Aakeson, who shoots for a high body count and droll comedy. Nils tracks down the crime family that killed his son when he learns from his son’s sleazy addict friend (Tobias Santelmann) that the gang was after him because he stole a bag of cocaine while transporting drugs for the gang, which is something his son didn’t know. In quick order, Nils eliminates three of the bottom rung of the gang that carried out the hit order. The head of the gang, the Count (Pal Sverre Hagen), thinks its the rival Serb gang, led by Papa (Bruno Ganz), carried out the hits and retaliates by having his goons knock off Papa’s only son. This causes a full-scale turf war, that in the end focuses in on Nils. This is Fargo but in insular Norway. Skarsgard looks good on a snow-plow, though the story itself lacks credibility.
REVIEWED ON 11/12/2016 GRADE: B