Movies
Joachim Trier's first feature film is a fun, virile coming-of-age story. Not quite what I was expecting after only having seen Thelma, but it sure was a welcome surprise. While the film isn't too original, the characters are a pretty interesting bunch that kept me engaged from start to finish. Phillip and Erik are two aspiring writers. They've finished their first manuscripts and are ready to take over the world. Erik's book is turned down, Philip's book on the other hand is picked for publication and enjoys quite a bit of success. Too much for Phillip to handle, soon after he gets stuck in a depression. While the plot sounds pretty dramatic, there's more than enough room for lighter moments, with the voice-over adding a healthy dose of playfulness. The performances are solid, the pacing is on point and the film isn't too long. A fine debut, it only lacks a bit of extra spunk to really stand out.Read all
A decent film that never quite gets its main character right. It's not that she's unpleasant (or, as the title suggests, the worst person in the world), nor that her troubles aren't relatable. It's just that joining her on her emotional rollercoaster didn't have much of an impact, which is not a great sign for a romantic drama. Julie is getting close to her 30s, but she hasn't been able to settle down yet. She's in a relationship with a famous comic artist looking to start a family, and her career isn't really going places she'd hoped it would go. She decides to uproot her life and hooks up with Eivind, but it takes more than changing boyfriends to find happiness. The performances are decent and there are a handful of scenes that manage to stand out (cinematically). For most of the film though, I just didn't really care what the main character felt, thought, or decided. She's a rather dull person to hang around with, which isn't exactly ideal for a 2-hour-long drama.Read all
Influences of fantasy, horror and mystery cinema, presented as a cold-blooded Scandinavian arthouse drama. It's pretty decent, but it's also very expected and derivative. The film lacks tension and fails to cash in on its genre elements, what remains is a rather slow and dreary story about a girl with some peculiar gifts. Not that great.