Middleman

The uncompromising master of Norwegian deadpan at a clearance sale in small-town America. A film that is both rigid in its stylization and soft due to its underlying sentiment...an unfortunate case of a director stuck between realistic stylization and an effort at brutal black irony. From some of the compositions and lighting, the director of Kitchen Stories and Eggs is still recognizable, but it’s like a distant scream. This muddled story of a seeming simpleton who is forced to stare into the abyss until the abyss eventually begins to stare back at him is, unfortunately, one of the worst things that Hamer has done in his career. (01/02/2023)

Well, this movie might not be everyone's cup of tea, but I happen to have a soft spot for such weird stuff so I found myself enjoying it despite its slow pace. I can't imagine it being faster without sacrificing the meticulously crafted melancholic and depressive atmosphere. After all, every slowly dying town should be so lucky to have a city council as perfect and competent as the one portrayed here, with the sheriff shining as brightly as a first-rate star. Overall, I had a decent time with it, but the lackluster ending cost it a solid four-star rating. The story deserved a finale that didn't just fizzle out. / Lesson learned: If you want to rest in the right grave, don't exchange anything. (30/12/2023)