We had such high hopes. Michael Fassbender in a frozen wasteland, hunting a serial killer who leaves snowmen (sometimes supplemented with human remains) as his calling card. What could go wrong?
Everything, apparently. The film feels like a ripoff of other, better, material, especially The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. Fassbender, the tortured detective on the brink, allows the film to be watchable, if only just; his name, after all, is Harry Hole, and he's sinking. Supposedly he's a genius, but that never really emerges from his sluggish, bleary demeanor. The rest of the cast is largely wasted, with big players like J.K. Simmons, James D'arcy, Val Kilmer, and Toby Jones barely even on screen. The script is confused and unfocused, making the mystery as flat and frigid as the icy landscape. There's little of interest, with the notable exception of Chloe Sevigny as (SPOILER ALERT) twins in an unexpectedly funny (if macabre) scene.
The film has its moments of tension and beauty, the former being menacing shots of snowmen and the occasional bloodstain, the latter being a couple shots of a gorgeous bridge the characters drive over. That's it. The basic mystery is subverted and ruined by the screenwriters and director (Tomas Alfredson, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, Let the Right One In), who try to misdirect us in almost every scene, allowing red herrings to pile up so much that we're not sure what to care about. I'm still not sure if the plot is too convoluted or too simple for its own good, which is a problem. The editing doesn't help, as we are often forced to look away from important images and genuine emotions that might help us make sense of the film. Sure, the minimal, impressionistic visual approach is a bit interesting, but aesthetic form has to match substance, and here it does not.
What else can I say? It's just disappointing. How could so many good artists make such a mediocre mess? Save your time and money. Actually, go watch the trailer; it's more entertaining and makes more sense.
IMDb: The Snowman
No comments:
Post a Comment