(Spoilers from "I kina spiser de hunde") "Gamle mænd i nye biler" is the long-awaited sequel to "I kina spiser de hunde". It has its moments, and the dialogue is quite funny on more than one occasion, yet it fails where "I kina spiser de hunde" succeeds. Firstly, it lacks a potent storyline. In the first movie, Arvids both naive but at times admirable behaviour renders one with a tale, that conclusively, was a mixture of both morality and humour. This isn't really a topic much discussed in "Gamle mænd i nye biler". Rather, the characters seemingly don't have any relations to the outside world, other than their own cliques.
We have a woman-hating swede, who'll slay any dame in the vacinity of his presence, in case the opportunity presents itself. Then we have Iben Hjejle, who plays a woman who'se become mentally unstable after her boyfriend leaves her (Dan, whom we are briefly introduced to by chance later in the movie). These two characters seem to engage in some sort of twisted relationship, leaving the audience unsure whether the next scene will present the two in either loving or murderous surroundings. Of course, we also have Kim Bodnia, who plays the ever-unpleasent ruffian Harald. I had no sympathy for this character in neither movie, but thought that it was a tailormade role for Kim Bodnia. The comic relief is undoubtfully the hilarious pairing of Tomas Villum and Nikolaj Lie Kaas, who play two chefs who are always caught in the middle of things, while all they really want to do is cook; "vi er jo bare kokke, for fanden"... These guys where equally funny in both movies, as they seemed so malplaced in the given environment and situations. Finally, as they sequel does take place in the past, we are once again presented with Vuk (dies in "I kina spiser de hunde"), an immigrant whose sole wish is to fit in. He's still the victim of Harald's constant torments, be they verbal or physical, and he remains as naive and ignorant as in the first movie. The only reason that he works for Harald, is because of his cousin, who's leading role in a gang of Croation criminals, is a neverending threat to Harald.
I won't introduce you to the actual story of the movie, but I will say that it does work overall. As mentioned, it does have lacks, as it isn't as original as its prequel, and is hopelessly unrealistic from time to time, but this is obviously one of the plusses in the movie. It glorifies whom it wants, kills who it wants, and works the way it wants. With these two movies, Lasse Spang Olsen has made an almost "cult-like" work of film, an for that he should be given many thanks. That, on the other hand, could be discussed when reviewing his other movies, but I'll save that thought for some other day...
Rating: *** of *****
We have a woman-hating swede, who'll slay any dame in the vacinity of his presence, in case the opportunity presents itself. Then we have Iben Hjejle, who plays a woman who'se become mentally unstable after her boyfriend leaves her (Dan, whom we are briefly introduced to by chance later in the movie). These two characters seem to engage in some sort of twisted relationship, leaving the audience unsure whether the next scene will present the two in either loving or murderous surroundings. Of course, we also have Kim Bodnia, who plays the ever-unpleasent ruffian Harald. I had no sympathy for this character in neither movie, but thought that it was a tailormade role for Kim Bodnia. The comic relief is undoubtfully the hilarious pairing of Tomas Villum and Nikolaj Lie Kaas, who play two chefs who are always caught in the middle of things, while all they really want to do is cook; "vi er jo bare kokke, for fanden"... These guys where equally funny in both movies, as they seemed so malplaced in the given environment and situations. Finally, as they sequel does take place in the past, we are once again presented with Vuk (dies in "I kina spiser de hunde"), an immigrant whose sole wish is to fit in. He's still the victim of Harald's constant torments, be they verbal or physical, and he remains as naive and ignorant as in the first movie. The only reason that he works for Harald, is because of his cousin, who's leading role in a gang of Croation criminals, is a neverending threat to Harald.
I won't introduce you to the actual story of the movie, but I will say that it does work overall. As mentioned, it does have lacks, as it isn't as original as its prequel, and is hopelessly unrealistic from time to time, but this is obviously one of the plusses in the movie. It glorifies whom it wants, kills who it wants, and works the way it wants. With these two movies, Lasse Spang Olsen has made an almost "cult-like" work of film, an for that he should be given many thanks. That, on the other hand, could be discussed when reviewing his other movies, but I'll save that thought for some other day...
Rating: *** of *****