martin-fennell
Leaving aside Asian Movies, The character of Smilla is probably the best heroine I've seen since Genieve Bujold in Coma. Julia Ormond is terrific. but much as I hate to admit it, if I think about it, now after watching the movie, Gabriel Byrne's performance is rather flat. There are brief, but welcome appearances from Peter Capaldi and David Hayman. The story itself becomes rather formulaic once she gets on board that ship, but up to then I found this to be an intiguing thriller. I also liked the character of the ship captain's son. I probably should really only give this a 7, but let's say, barely an 8, and most of that is really for Smilla
TBJCSKCNRRQTreviews
I haven't read the novel, though I'm afraid I can imagine it being superior to this. Honestly, I've been putting off watching this for years. It's cool that a Dane wrote it, and that another one directed it. And it was actually partially filmed here, as well as, unusually, up in Greenland, and a little bit of Inuktitut is spoken. It just doesn't feel like much of anything was beefed up for the purpose of putting it up on the silver screen, and the fact of the matter is, it has to be bigger than it does on the page. As far as what is translated from the book goes, the mystery does work well. It is fairly engaging, and keeps you guessing to an extent. With that said, you know who's behind it the moment you see him, since *the score instantly becomes ominous when the camera shows him*. This has its entertaining moments, and occasional humor. The performances are great, though these talented actors have all done better work elsewhere. Ormond fails to make the character particularly likable, and her accent does not convince. Editing and cinematography are nice enough. There is infrequent strong language, some violence and a sex scene in this. I recommend this to big fans of those involved in its production. 6/10
ma-cortes
This mystery picture begins on a crashing-meteor opening and concerns about Smilla(Julia Ormond), a lonely scientist resident in Copenhagen. The grumpy Smilla is an half-America and half-Inuit with many problems of adaptation and her father(Robert Loggia) is a rich financier. When she returns home discovers the body of six-years-old friend named Isaiah(Miano) nearly her apartment building. Smilla believes the kid was killed and starts investigating , it leads to the Greenland mining company that is owner the magnate Tork(Richard Harris). Meanwhile she falls in love with her suspicious neighbor(Gabriel Byrne).The picture based on Peter Hoeg's best seller novel packs suspense,thrills,intrigue, tension and interesting character study. The story is well developed though its final fail to sustain the outcome and is a little bit crappy. Suspenseful and mysterious musical score by Hans Zimmer and Harry Gregson-Williams. Exceptional secondary casting mostly formed by British actors such as Jim Broadbent,Vanessa Redgrave,Bob Peck, Tom Wilkinson, among them. Evocative and cold cinematography is consistently created by Jorgen Persson, Billie August's usual cameraman.Location photography is particularly breathtaking with impressive images like a large icebreaker ship, snowy outdoors and giant floes thawing, among others. This partially successful first attempt at the thriller and tense mystery is efficiently directed by August. Billie is the Danish's best director, an expert on intelligent dramas as ¨Pelle the conqueror¨which took the best foreign-language film Oscar , ¨Twist and shout¨,¨The best intentions¨, ¨House of spirits¨, and ¨Les Miserables¨. Rating : Well worth seeing, better than average.
Britta Leuchner
To some reviewers here: It is the typical human nature, watching and copying watched things. Like those who attack not well developed characters in movies, but - simply sad - only because they heard that characters have to be well developed in movies. Or how it fits to the book or to the trailer ... !?! Nothing has to be done in a movie. Or in any other kind of art. Look around! If you don't like the characters in this story, you may should read the book before you criticize the story of a movie which is based on a story of a book! I think some of its reviewers did not.The actors were strong, and they gave enough space for your ideas in their facial expressions to build a story behind them in your mind. It is about fantasy. Smilla is one of my favorite roles of this actress, because not every little cough gets stupidly explained for those who let the movie run while they take another beer out of the fridge. My most used rule for reviewing a movie is: let the actors act, the story tell, the camera watch and the music be music. And that's what the movie makes. No actor explains the story to you, but they act great. The story is there and depends on what you make with it in mind. And the camera is awesome. I think the guys on camera and all who have influenced camera, they all have read the book! great shot!
AD
