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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
70 of 73 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Masterful, melancholic adaptation of the Swedish detective series,
By
This review is from: Wallander - Series 1 & 2 Box Set [DVD] (DVD)
These three 90-minute epiosdes may have been intended for TV but they are far, far better than many films produced for the big screen. The downbeat moods of Scandinavian detective fiction don't suit everyone -- full of doubt, disillusion and the sharp edge of despair -- but if you are an enthusiast of the genre then Wallander is a real treat.It's a risk adapting such a well-established and much loved series of books, but Branagh (one of the series producers as well as the star) is obviously a fan of Henning Mankell's work. The adaptations are a gorgeous representation of the mood and character of the books, yet you don't need to have read any of them to enjoy the series. Each 90-minute episode is a stand-alone tale of a Wallander investigation set in current day Sweden. They were filmed on location and the photography is breath-taking. Even the most mundane moments -- Wallander slumped on a sofa, for instance -- are caught in desaturated sepia tones, accentuating the drama of an seemingly insignificant moment. When the same techniques are used to show off the eternal daylight of the Scandinavian summer then the results are breath-taking. Almost every shot is a framed, still life artwork. You could watch it with the sound off, just to enjoy the visuals. But that would be to miss some of the best screen acting of Branagh's career. His portrayal of Wallander, the 'poet detective' with a heart full of sadness and confusion, is marvellous. He can shift from uncertain to near tears in a single sustained shot -- the emotional transitions are sometimes so powerful that it's painful to watch. Yet when Wallander has a purpose he shrugs off that misery and moves with a determination which is unstoppable. It's a wonderful character performance. David Warner as Wallander's father was an inspired choice too, although I was disappointed to see him in just one epiosde. The special features are also worth watching as they explain much of the production team's dedication towards getting this series as right as they could. On top of that there's a solid supporting cast, some excellent, wry scripting, tight plotting, three mysteries which you can try to solve and a very human dilemma in each episode, occasionally lightened by a sense of resolution, family and reconciliation. Intelligent drama, beautifully presented. No hesitation buying this to watch repeatedly, although it may be just to miserable (and possibly too thoughtful) for some. 9/10 ps: the follow up season, also available on DVD, develops the themes of this one in greater depth and to substantial effect. The rumour is that this series cost the BBC £6million to make: I think it was worth the money...
27 of 29 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Capturing a man falling off the edge,
By
This review is from: Wallander - Series 1 & 2 Box Set [DVD] (DVD)
I too have to strongly disagree with the first reviewer. Branagh is neither over acting or hamming it up - he is simply giving a convincing portrayal of someone who is unable to cope with what the world is throwing at him. It is unusual for a cop show to have such an emotional depth and that seems quite shocking in a way. I'm hooked!
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Wallander Series 1 and 2 - Brannagh at his dark and moody best,
By
This review is from: Wallander - Series 1 & 2 Box Set [DVD] (DVD)
Presented here on four discs are all six episodes of the UK TV series Wallander, starring Kenneth Brannagh as the Swedish detective with more character flaws and personal problems than most.Wallander was always going to be a tough sell to a British audience. The books are dark, moody and pretty depressing. I was glad to see that this first series was well enough received to lead to a second, and I sincerely hope a third is on its way. The series follows the life of Kurt Wallander, as he struggles to cope with weird murders in his provincial hometown, Ystad. On top of his work troubles, he has an incredibly difficult private life - divorced, difficult relationship with troubled daughter and equally difficult relationship with his artist father, who suffers from Alzheimer's and never approved of Kurt's decision to join the police. Not exactly happy families! Wallander is played exceptionally well by Branagh. Having read the books he is exactly as I picture the detective in my head. But this is only part of the joy of the production. There are some great supporting actors, notably David Warner as Wallander Snr and Richard McCabe as Nyberg. The director really has a feel for the pace of the books, and an eye for the scenery. There is a feeling that every shot is carefully composed and framed, and the natural beauty of Sweden is used to good effect. The end result is engrossing, intricately plotted, moody drama of the highest order. It's not the sort of thing you'd want to watch on a summer's day though, it is suited for the cold dark winter nights. If I had a slight quibble it would be that these aren't as good as the books, but then, you have to lose a lot to condense a 300 pg book into a 90 minute film, and the adapters have done very well at this, capturing most of the essence. This set contains the six episodes from the first and second series - Sidetracked, Firewall, One Step Behind, The Faceless Killers, The Man Who Smiled and The Fifth Woman. There are also a host of extras concerning the making of the series, and how the distinctive `look' was achieved, which are quite interesting. The picture is 16:9 widescreen with a nice 5.1 soundtrack. The only subtitles are in English. A set well worth getting for any lover of thoughtful drama and grisly murders.
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