Le gardien

As Michael Haneke did with his FUNNY GAMES, Ole Bornedal directed his own remake, and as Haneke, in the US. There is of course a bit of Hollywood trademark - music, filming, actors -, to attract audiences, the bulk of them, but the DNA remains the same. It could have been better from the original, but also far far worse. Also some lines here, graphic lines, may let you think about the Italian giallos from the sixties and seventies. But that's my own opinion.

It´s a pretty long time ago since I have seen Ole Bornedal´s original from 1994, so I can´t remember several details, but I think he has done good work with his remake: the atmosphere is creepy and nightmarish, the cast featuring Ewan McGregor, Patricia Arquette, Josh Brolin and especially Nick Nolte does a solid job. My favorite performances however come from two supporting actors: the one is Brad Dourif playing a weird autopsy doctor, the other is the uncredited John C. Reilly, who is still one of the most underrated great actors in my opinion! All in all director Ole Bornedal has made a well done remake, which is probably no revolutionary film , but in comparison to Gus Van Sant´s awful "Psycho"-rip off a real masterpiece!!!

The stage curtains open ...

"Nightwatch" is one of those dark, brooding horror thrillers that grabs you from the first minute and doesn't let you go. A young Ewan McGregor plays the part of Martin Bells, a college student looking for an easy job where he can spend most of his time studying and reading. What he gets is anything but!

Martin Bells is the new night watchman at a hospital morgue, surrounded by haunting images, pictures and human cadavers. Active at the same time, is a serial killer - who takes his victim's eyes as sort of a trophy, his signature. Unfortunately for Martin, their two paths cross when the killer is looking to pin the murders on someone else - and Martin fits the bill. Nick Nolte plays a morbid, shady detective working the case, and Josh Brolin as Martin's perverted, thrill seeking friend.

The killer, at least to me, wasn't too hard to figure out, but the acting and story was developed very well keeping you engaged and interested. The cinematography was pretty good with striking visuals and dark overtones. The morgue really plays out as a character of its own, having a major role in the film's outcome. I really liked Ewan McGregor in this film. He played the part very convincingly, showing flashes of a great career ahead of him. Also fun to see in this movie, was an early supporting role by John C. Reilly.

I would definitely recommend this one. If you like dark, twisted thrillers, this is a good one for you. It is a bit predictable, but still a good movie. It's not the best of its genre, but you could do a lot worse than spend 90 minutes of your time watching "Nightwatch".

Well, lets just start of by saying this movie is no way near as good as the original movie "Nattevagten", of which this movie is a remake but it's still being a pretty good and fun whodunit to have a good time with.

Kind of weird to notice how different this movie is in atmosphere and approach, since it actually got directed by the same director who made the original, 3 years prior to this American remake. And it's not just different but also most definitely less effective. There is not as much tension and mystery in this one, also due to some pacing issues (it's too fast paced at times) and a poor buildup to things.

And all while this movie in essence is still being just like the original. Not much had been changed in its story really and I was therefore also quite surprised to find out Steven Soderbergh was involved with the writing. Guess it was an easy paycheck for him, since really not all that much had been changed or added to the movie, when compared to the original movie.

While the original was being a whole lot of different things, this movie is just being a more simple and more straightforward thriller, or rather said whodunit. So really, don't expect this movie to provide you with any horror but as a mystery/thriller, I can still see this movie entertaining a whole bunch of people out there, of course especially those who aren't familiar with the original movie already.

And really, the movie on its own is really being quite good and entertaining for what it is. It really doesn't handle everything well, mainly stuff concerning the earlier mentioned pacing and buildup to things but as a whole it's still being a better movie than just the average genre attempt. There are plenty of thrills and surprises in it, that help to keep you invested in the movie.

It also has a cast to die for. Really an all-star cast, of which some actors are better known now days as back then. Ewan McGregor plays the main lead, while the movie further more stars Patricia Arquette, Nick Nolte, a still very young looking Josh Brolin, Brad Dourif and John C. Reilly. Not that this movie features any of their best or most interesting and challenging performances but still, it's always good to see so many talented people together on screen.

A definitely good enough movie as a straightforward thriller.

7/10

http://bobafett1138.blogspot.com/

If you've seen Nightwatch & you liked it then you should go see the original version called Nattevagten - you'll be nothing less than thrilled! If Nightwatch is a 6 then Nattevagten is 9+!

For those of you who haven't seen either one of them go see Nattevagten first!

• MooseT, 27/06 - '99 (ddmmyy)