alexdeleonfilm Shootout at the Norskie Corral is the grand Finale of Snowplow Opera "in Order of Disappearance". Old Bruno Ganz is still full of P. and V. and Stellan Skarsgard is literally awesome."In Order of Disappearance" (Kraftidioten, or "Power freaks" in German) directed by Hans Peter Moland is the surprise of the week at Berlin 2014. Stellan Skarsgård is a snowplow driver who will stop at nothing to reap revenge on his son's drug lord killers in this wildly rib-tickling Norwegian crime thriller. In a followup to his sympathetic listener in Nymphomaniac senior Swede thespian Skarsgård is suddenly a powerful star presence at age 61. Elderly Swiss actor Bruno Ganz, now 71, also amuses as an unlikely gun-toting Serbian Mafia godfather. The film title is a take-off on the familiar cast credit introduction: "in order of appearance". In this film the cast members are not named at the beginning, but as each one is knocked off in creatively brutal gangland fashion the name appears ~ in order of disappearance! ~ on a black screen as a death notice, with a small cross -- in one case, a Star of David as one of the victims happens to be Jewish (Horowitz). The body count is enough to fill the entire screen at the end -- nearly everybody who appears gets killed and disappears.Not only is this a rip-roaring actioner but also a heady satire of right wing politics, left wing politics, especially the socialist welfare state, and the very conventions of the Godfather genre. For example, the main villain is a tall handsome clean cut leading man type who is a practicing vegan and has all his henchman drinking bio fruit juices. "Graf", as he us called, is a totally callous killer but weeps tenderly when his his own son is kidnapped. This picture has it all, fast action, thrills and spills in a breathtaking setting of arctic snowscapes, raw and subtle humor, terrific deadpan acting, high concept everything and was applauded wildly for something like ten minutes at the end. In my book this should be the Golden Bear hands down with Stellan Skarsgård a shoo in for best festival actor with two outstanding performances back to back -- this and Nymphomaniac. However Berlin is not noted for awarding crowd pleasers, no matter how well made. Morose depressers with unknown actors destined for quick oblivion have a much better chance for prizes here -- however, as a certain Dirty Harry might say, "In Order of Disappearance" made my day and justified suffering through two other soporifics on Berlin festival day number 6.

MartinHafer "In Order of Disappearance" is NOT a film for everyone. In some ways, I'd categorize it as 'Murder Porn'...a movie with many, many vivid and brutal killings...like a Tarantino or Guy Ritchie movie. And, like one of these incredibly carnage-filled movies, it's also exceptionally well made. But being well made does not mean it's for everyone....it is a really nasty story of revenge.When the film begins, two guys are abducted and one is murdered. The other escapes and eventually makes it to see Nils Dickman--the father of the dead man. It seems that the guy who got away was involved with drug dealers but Dickman's son was completely innocent. Well, Nils isn't about to let go and has decided he must have justice--even though he's just one man against a gang of vicious drug dealers. It's funny, as Nils was just awarded a Man of the Year award...and now he's about to become a vicious killing machine. Nils only has one lead and soon abducts this lead. He savagely beats and then murders the gang member after he learns the next one in the chain of command and does the same once again. After Nils kills his third gang member, the gangs take notice...and think it's a rival Serbian gang behind all this. Soon, it's all out war...and bodies are piling up faster than the audience can keep track of them. This film is exquisitely directed and realistic to boot. But it's also blood-filled and violent...and I am talking about very realistic and hideous killings. I was actually surprised, as I just assumed Americans and Brits were the only ones making these sort of films! Well made...but please, please, please...DON'T let your kids, mother or Father O'Reilly catch you watching this film!

David Ferguson Greetings again from the darkness. "The Count" versus "Papa" should not be mistaken for a new cartoon featuring Sesame Street battling The Smurfs. This Norwegian film from director Hans Petter Moland and writer Kim Fupz Aakeson is oddly entertaining, often funny and plenty violent.Stellan Skarsgard stars as Nils Dickman, a quiet, keep-to-himself snow plow operator who is being recognized as his town's Citizen of the Year. We see Nils clearing what appears to be the same roads over and over with a snow blower that looks like some type of NASA moon vehicle … the mundane life having a rhythm that seems to deliver a kind of peace. Nils' untroubled world is rocked when his son is murdered under suspicious circumstances. It kicks off his mission for revenge … and in the process, this snow plow operator accidentally initiates a mob war between the Norwegians and the Serbs. This might have you wondering where the humor comes in. It could be compared to a Charles Bronson movie – if Bronson was an otherwise meek fellow who was laser-focused on revenge for his son's murder (actually, that sounds like the synopsis of quite a few Bronson movies).The film is divided into chapters named after the dead bodies … and it's a rapidly changing scoreboard. I counted 14 chapters and 24 victims, but I'll admit it's quite possible I missed one or two. The always interesting Bruno Ganz plays Papa, the cold-blooded leader of the Serbian mob who rarely needs to speak. Pal Sverre Hagen plays "The Count" … the first vegan movie gangster I can recall, and certainly a memorable character who at times seems like a poser, while at other times proves he is ruthless.The three main characters all have sons who play a major role in both the story and their motivation, and there is a certain symmetry in the ending as two ride off into the proverbial sunset (though the sun evidently rarely shines in this town). And even if you didn't enjoy the subtle humor (both situational and dialogue-driven), you are likely to find a least a chuckle in one of the main character's final words for his ex-wife.Coen Brothers influence permeates the frosty air – maybe I didn't mention that it's snowy and beyond cold in every scene. The snow is a character here and the real characters fall into one extreme or the other … subdued on the surface or eccentric and desperate for attention. These conflicts bring humor to situations that would otherwise offer nothing but gloom. It's an unconventional and stylish film and one that will probably find a loyal and appreciative audience.

billcr12 Serbian criminals, Swedish criminals, Norwegian bad guys, Albanian bad guys; it is all here in this hilarious Tarantino inspired Swedish crime drama. A young man is killed but his death is ruled an overdose, and thus begins a wild revenge thriller. The boys father takes it upon himself to track down and kill his son's murderers. The guy drives a giant snow plow, clearing massive amounts of snow while at the same time turning into Charles Bronson's character in Death Wish; which is referenced in this clever script. Any writer who can work the cereal Fruit Loops into dialogue between the main villain and his baby mama and ex girlfriend gains my highest respect. The film combines the best aspects of Fargo and Reservoir Dogs with a great cast and enough tongue-in-cheek humor to make this one of the ten best movies of the year.