MrEman
Film Noir Hollywood Classic Mystery Man
  • Classic Noir
  • Neo Noir
  • Noir Stuff
  • Noir Style
  • Out of the Shadows

Highly anticipated ‘Snowman’ turns out to be mostly slush

Mr E Man Neo Noir Reviews Charlotte Gainsbourg, Chloë Sevigny, film noir, Jo Nesbø, Michael Fassbender, neo noir, Rebecca Ferguson, The Snowman, Tomas Alfredson

Looking at the billboard posters for “The Snowman” (2017, Tomas Alfredson), I had the feeling that if I paid close attention while watching the movie, I might see a red flag or perhaps spot a clue that the police miss in a complex and carefully constructed story of a serial killer on the loose.

And since it’s set in Norway (haunting snowscapes, frozen lakes and austere mountains abound), I figured this tipoff to patient viewers would likely be a visual one – the Scandinavians being a tight-lipped crowd for the most part.

But about 45 minutes into this film, in which Michael Fassbender plays Detective Harry Hole, I realized that hanging in there was not going to pay off – that this was a complex and sloppily constructed story that was probably going to leave me feeling disappointed and frustrated.

Despite Alfredson’s success in 2011 with the multilayered “Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy,” he seems out of his depth and overwhelmed with “The Snowman.” The narrative is confusing, the flashbacks don’t connect well with the present, the characterizations are haphazard. A case in point: Early on, we see Harry lying on a park bench shivering. There’s no explanation and the rest of the time he seems calm, measured, decisive and compassionate. Eventually, we learn he is an alcoholic. Oh, OK.

Similarly, his colleague Katrine Bratt (Rebecca Ferguson), despite showing ingenuity and fierce determination, in the end, must resort to time-worn feminine wiles to land her suspect. Good thing she’s gorgeous!

Charlotte Gainsbourg’s character doesn’t have a last name but at least she’s elegantly dressed. Whatever.

Most vacant of all: Chloë Sevigny’s two characters (she plays twins) – one of whom is a dour-faced chicken slaughterer. ’Nuff said.

Considering, too, that the film was based on Jo Nesbø’s best-selling series of novels, there was reason to hope for a well made, intelligent, engrossing movie. Maybe there were too many screenwriters? (Peter Straughan and Hossein Amini lead the list.)

Or maybe this would have been better off as a TV series, where the serpentine storylines could play out and the characters could have more time to develop. Unfortunately, “The Snowman” we ended up with is mostly slush.

“The Snowman” opened Oct. 19 in Los Angeles and is now on general release.

COLCOA keeps ’em coming: 3 more great period dramas ‘Jane’ documentary is a joy to watch

Related Posts

Neo Noir Reviews, Noir Style

‘Film Stars’ offers fine performances, but doesn’t do full justice to the multidimensional Gloria Grahame

Neo Noir Reviews

‘L.A. Confidential,’ a neo-noir classic, turns 20

Classic Noir Reviews, Neo Noir Reviews, Out of the Shadows

Noir royalty ‘Le Cercle Rouge’ boasts Melville’s chaste classic style, five legendary actors and austere Bressonian rigor … Film Noir Series features three neo-noir titles

Search

Recent Posts

  • Noir City Hollywood turns 20! Fest begins Friday
  • The anti-Valentine: Happy birthday to the divine Miss N!
  • ‘Film Stars’ offers fine performances, but doesn’t do full justice to the multidimensional Gloria Grahame
  • Long-awaited Curtiz book hits Hollywood; Egyptian Theatre hosts signing and screening
  • As AFI turns 50, this year’s fest looks set to be one of the best
  • Romero honored at special screening of ‘Creepshow’

Tags

Alfred Hitchcock American Cinematheque Barbara Stanwyck Bette Davis Billy Wilder Dan Duryea Double Indemnity Eddie Muller Edward G. Robinson Egyptian Theatre femme fatale film noir Film Noir Blonde Film Noir Foundation film noir horoscopes François Truffaut Fritz Lang Gloria Grahame Howard Hawks Humphrey Bogart Ida Lupino James M. Cain James Stewart Joan Crawford John Huston Joseph Cotten LACMA Lana Turner Lauren Bacall Marilyn Monroe Michael Curtiz Mildred Pierce neo noir Nicholas Ray Orson Welles Otto Preminger Raymond Chandler Robert Mitchum Robert Siodmak Roman Polanski Stanley Kubrick TCM TCM Classic Film Festival The Big Sleep zodiac fun

Categories

  • Classic Noir Reviews (314)
  • Neo Noir Reviews (213)
  • Noir Horoscopes (24)
  • Noir Stuff (91)
  • Noir Style (450)
  • Out of the Shadows (67)
  • Uncategorized (25)

Archives

  • April 2018
  • February 2018
  • December 2017
  • November 2017
  • October 2017
  • May 2017
  • April 2017
  • March 2017
  • February 2017
  • January 2017
  • December 2016
  • November 2016
  • October 2016
  • September 2016
  • August 2016
  • July 2016
  • June 2016
  • May 2016
  • April 2016
  • March 2016
  • February 2016
  • January 2016
  • December 2015
  • November 2015
  • October 2015
  • September 2015
  • August 2015
  • July 2015
  • June 2015
  • May 2015
  • April 2015
  • March 2015
  • February 2015
  • January 2015
  • December 2014
  • November 2014
  • October 2014
  • September 2014
  • August 2014
  • July 2014
  • June 2014
  • May 2014
  • April 2014
  • March 2014
  • February 2014
  • January 2014
  • December 2013
  • November 2013
  • October 2013
  • September 2013
  • August 2013
  • July 2013
  • June 2013
  • May 2013
  • April 2013
  • March 2013
  • February 2013
  • January 2013
  • December 2012
  • November 2012
  • October 2012
  • September 2012
  • August 2012
  • July 2012
  • June 2012
  • May 2012
  • April 2012
  • March 2012
  • February 2012
  • January 2012
  • December 2011
  • November 2011
  • October 2011
  • September 2011
  • August 2011
  • July 2011
  • June 2011
  • May 2011
  • April 2011
  • March 2011
  • February 2011
  • January 2011
  • December 2010
MrEman
Recent Posts
  • Noir City Hollywood turns 20! Fest begins FridayNoir City Hollywood turns 20! Fest begins Friday
    April 13, 2018
  • The anti-Valentine: Happy birthday to the divine Miss N!The anti-Valentine: Happy birthday to the divine Miss N!
    February 13, 2018
  • ‘Film Stars’ offers fine performances, but doesn’t do full justice to the multidimensional Gloria Grahame‘Film Stars’ offers fine performances, but doesn’t do full justice to the multidimensional Gloria Grahame
    December 15, 2017
  • Classic Noir
  • Neo Noir
  • Noir Stuff
  • Noir Style
  • Out of the Shadows
  • Classic Noir
  • Neo Noir
  • Noir Stuff
  • Noir Style
  • Out of the Shadows
© MrEman 2019