Kenneth Branagh is a sort of tortured soul. Much like Jack Frost in "A Touch of Frost." His life is at its lowest ebb, as he has lost his wife, his daughter is a mess, and his father is suffering from Alzheimer's. This is when the job takes over, giving this man something he can control, and even that is difficult to do because, after all, criminals aren't easy to capture. This is a really harsh case, as people are being axed and then scalped. There is also the element of sex trafficking. The victims significant others are hardly forthcoming because they are also victims themselves. The episode starts with a ghastly scene as a fifteen-year-old girl immolates herself in a farm field as Wallander tries to talk to her. He blames himself because he identified himself as a police officer. Things get very personal as he tries to balance his calm demeanor versus the horrors and evasiveness of those involved in his interrogations. This is a nicely structured episode and, of course, Branagh is an outstanding actor.
6 Reviews
Wonderfully written, powerful and captivating
Robert_duder6 January 2013
Warning: Spoilers
I don't normally review Television series but Wallander is really more of self contained films since each episode is basically feature length. I had several people tell me I had to check this out. I am a huge fan of the Girl with The Dragon Tattoo films (Swedish and American) and also a recent Swedish film called Headhunters. Wallander is meticulously made and well crafted. When I first started watching it...about fifteen minutes in I thought, oh man I don't know if I'm in the right mood for them and contemplated shutting it off. Well within a few more minutes it had won me over and locked me into the story from beginning to end. Sidetracked was just eerie and gritty and so well put together. The pacing is a little slow at times and certainly it spends a lot of time establishing Kurt Wallander as a character. There is nothing wrong with this per se except that it interrupts the flow of the mystery a little bit while he interacts with his family and establishes who he is as a person. If this were one single movie, then that would seem completely out of place but they are setting it up for a series so I understand it.
The multi-talented and versatile Kenneth Branagh is our lead character. I am not familiar with Wallander as a character but to me Branagh does a terrific job. He's very subtle and dark and has a brooding side to him that makes him interesting. At first the character seems a little empty but then as you learn more about him you understand his personality. There is no denying Branagh's chemistry on screen. Though she gets top billing beside Branagh Sarah Smart has a very small role in this instalment. I thought the chemistry between her and Branagh was interesting and I wanted to see more of them so I hope she becomes more of a main player. A stand out supporting role from David Warner as Wallander's father. He really is excellent in his role and I hope to see more from him in the future episodes. Jeany Spark is good as his daughter though doesn't get a lot of screen time much like Smart. Michael Culver is appropriately creepy as the mysterious Sandin and key to the entire investigation. And the Fredman family are all very good in their roles played respectively by Per Lundström, Rebecca Ferguson, Sophie Stanton and Jamie Nilsson.
As with any good Swedish based film the cinematography is excellent. There is always something beautiful but bleak about the landscape and the world they live in. Director Philip Martin has a good handle on the characters and the story and the setting. I hate to compare every Swedish set film to the Millennium trilogy but this one shares a lot of the same style and feel without being quite as dark and twisted. Wallander is also very formulaic bringing nothing particularly new to the "detective mystery" genre. Murder, investigate, interrogate, murder, repeat, breakthrough...solve. Add in some details about Wallander's character and you have a very watchable beginning to a captivating mystery series. I know I will tune in to the next piece of the Wallander tale. 8/10
The multi-talented and versatile Kenneth Branagh is our lead character. I am not familiar with Wallander as a character but to me Branagh does a terrific job. He's very subtle and dark and has a brooding side to him that makes him interesting. At first the character seems a little empty but then as you learn more about him you understand his personality. There is no denying Branagh's chemistry on screen. Though she gets top billing beside Branagh Sarah Smart has a very small role in this instalment. I thought the chemistry between her and Branagh was interesting and I wanted to see more of them so I hope she becomes more of a main player. A stand out supporting role from David Warner as Wallander's father. He really is excellent in his role and I hope to see more from him in the future episodes. Jeany Spark is good as his daughter though doesn't get a lot of screen time much like Smart. Michael Culver is appropriately creepy as the mysterious Sandin and key to the entire investigation. And the Fredman family are all very good in their roles played respectively by Per Lundström, Rebecca Ferguson, Sophie Stanton and Jamie Nilsson.
As with any good Swedish based film the cinematography is excellent. There is always something beautiful but bleak about the landscape and the world they live in. Director Philip Martin has a good handle on the characters and the story and the setting. I hate to compare every Swedish set film to the Millennium trilogy but this one shares a lot of the same style and feel without being quite as dark and twisted. Wallander is also very formulaic bringing nothing particularly new to the "detective mystery" genre. Murder, investigate, interrogate, murder, repeat, breakthrough...solve. Add in some details about Wallander's character and you have a very watchable beginning to a captivating mystery series. I know I will tune in to the next piece of the Wallander tale. 8/10
An excellent beginning for Branagh's interpretation of Wallander.
Sleepin_Dragon18 October 2017
Kurt Wallander witnesses the harrowing scene of a girl setting herself alight in front of him. Not long after his investigation into the events of her death he's called to the murder of a Government minister, and soon after a wealthy businessman.
The question with this first episode was always going to be 'how does it compare to the Swedish version?' the answer to that I'd say is particularly well, so often you watch a beautifully produced slick drama which contains zero substance, here though Branagh is able to inject something special into his performance. There is a harshness to each of the killings, and also a sense of consequences to the crimes.
Beautifully acted by everyone, Branagh naturally stands out as the enigmatic lead, but David Warner was sensational as his troubled father.
I'm sure many were surprised at just how good this was, I thought it was excellent. 9/10
The question with this first episode was always going to be 'how does it compare to the Swedish version?' the answer to that I'd say is particularly well, so often you watch a beautifully produced slick drama which contains zero substance, here though Branagh is able to inject something special into his performance. There is a harshness to each of the killings, and also a sense of consequences to the crimes.
Beautifully acted by everyone, Branagh naturally stands out as the enigmatic lead, but David Warner was sensational as his troubled father.
I'm sure many were surprised at just how good this was, I thought it was excellent. 9/10
Excellent English version. Prefer the Swedish.
Borg22215 June 2014
Yeah as I read thru all the reviews it seems like most prefer the KH Swedish versions. Nice slow pacing lots of understated acting. Kenneth B is great....it is kinda a great treat to have 3 different versions of Wallander ...I even like the earlier Rolf ones....bought a code free player to watch em. Kenneth B is of course very intense...really great being Kurt. All supporting cast were excellent also. Even the country side shots even though somewhat bleak....in all versions ...are just so Rich...makes me want to go visit ....
I do suggest you at some point read the books, I have read them all, and take a look at the earlier ones, perhaps ignoring the guy who thinks Yellow Bird has something to learn from UK ...reading that ?.part of me still wonders if it is satirical?
I do suggest you at some point read the books, I have read them all, and take a look at the earlier ones, perhaps ignoring the guy who thinks Yellow Bird has something to learn from UK ...reading that ?.part of me still wonders if it is satirical?
Pretty good for TV
inaudio-951-65635018 March 2014
Pretty good for a TV detective show. But get the book and read that for a devastatingly great, deep story that will make your dreams change! There is SO much more to the story!
Wallender is a far more engaging character than Mr Branagh portrays, with deep emotions and a complex background.
Get the book and find out what is missing! Henning Mankell, at a library near you!
I'm taking a class on Scandinavian mysteries called Murder on Ice, and reading some amazing mysteries, and invariably the movie versions are missing lots of nuances and detail. Plus the BBC has no idea how to depict a deep character, and Mr Branagh does not show more than just a couple of emotions... Disappointing.
Wallender is a far more engaging character than Mr Branagh portrays, with deep emotions and a complex background.
Get the book and find out what is missing! Henning Mankell, at a library near you!
I'm taking a class on Scandinavian mysteries called Murder on Ice, and reading some amazing mysteries, and invariably the movie versions are missing lots of nuances and detail. Plus the BBC has no idea how to depict a deep character, and Mr Branagh does not show more than just a couple of emotions... Disappointing.
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