Portland | |
---|---|
Directed by | Niels Arden Oplev |
Written by | Niels Arden Oplev |
Produced by |
Peter Aalbæk Jensen Ib Tardini |
Starring | Anders W. Berthelsen, Ulrich Thomsen, and Iben Hjejle |
Cinematography | Henrik Jongdahl |
Edited by | Henrik Fleischer |
Music by | Sons of Cain / Morten Olsen [1] |
Production company | |
Release date |
|
Running time | 103 minutes [1] |
Country | Denmark |
Language | Danish |
Portland is a 1996 Danish drama film written and directed by Niels Arden Oplev, in his feature film debut. [3] It stars Anders W. Berthelsen, Ulrich Thomsen, and Iben Hjejle. The film, whose title is a reference to the Danish cement company Aalborg Portland, [1] was selected for competition at the 46th Berlin International Film Festival. [4]
The film is set in northern Denmark [3] and depicts the "violent drug-fueled adventures of two brothers, Janus (Anders Wodskou Berthelsen) and Jakob (Michael Muller) at the bottom of Denmark's social ladder." [1]
American critic Stephen Holden called the film "blood-chilling" with the
"feel of a nihilistic prank. But although flashy, it has fundamental weaknesses. Partly because the actor playing him has no dramatic range, the transformation of Jakob from softhearted reform-school punk into sadistic iron man isn't the slightest bit convincing. Mr. Berthelsen's lank-haired, pill-popping Janus, however, is all too real. As this connoisseur of pain punches and lurches his way through the film, you see exactly how antisocial impulses can be warped into a code of outlaw values." [1]
David Stratton of Variety described it as "violent, nihilistic and often repellent, and yet its bold visuals and unexpected elements of humor and romance make it riveting viewing." [2] According to Stratton,
"as a director, Oplev shows he has talent: his mixture of moods works well, he gets strong performances from most cast members, and he pushes the narrative along at an urgent pace....But as a writer, he’s less successful; it’s surely not enough these days for Janus to blame his lifestyle on a lack of mother's love (which he does) or to have characters utter corny lines like 'It’s us against the world.' There’s also far too much unmotivated violence (Janus assaulting a shopping mall security guard is a totally unnecessary sequence) and a few cheap and obvious jokes at the expense of authority figures." [2]