Stockholm

Yeah. I was expecting more I guess. You get to watch Ethan Hawke run around with a porn stache but that's kinda all that happens. There's no real drama taking place and the comedic aspect leaves a lot to be desired.

I would suggest that if you are looking for a true biopic this is not really gonna give all you would expect. It isn't awful. It's just a bit dull and like I said, unimpressive.

Stockholm can be described as a fun and comedic film, covering a dark subject matter in order to show its audience how human beings cope with stressful, life threatening situations. The film is based on the Swedish bank heist, and hostage situation, that would later inspire the coining of the phrase "Stockholm syndrome," which describes the phenomenon of a hostage forming a bond with their captor. Of the many things the film does well, what stands above the rest is the films ability to make the audience realize how someone might actually succumb to Stockholm syndrome. The main anti-hero of the story, Lars (Ethan Hawke), shows early on that all he really wants is to get his buddy, Gunnar (Mark Strong), out of jail. You the audience member even find yourself sympathizing with him as over the course of the film he goes out of his way to care for his hostages including letting one of them, Bianca (Noomi Rapace), use the telephone to call her family. The comedy in the film comes across quite well, at some points I found myself audibly laughing, and allows the audience to establish a better connection with Lars. Apart from the story, the 70's aesthetics were executed perfectly with a very pleasing color pallet focusing on shades of orange and teal, wonderful b-roll of a 70's Stockholm, and a few Bob Dylan songs thrown in for good measure. It was very enjoyable to watch and had my interest peaked right from the get-go.

Writer and director Robert Budreau did a great job directing, but his writing needed more "oomph". Pacing was a little slow, and not much comedy - all of it pretty much shown in the trailer. The acting however, was outstanding, especially from Ethan Hawke and Noomi Rapace. Enjoyable film on how Stockholm Syndrome was recognized as a psychological diagnosis. A 7/10 from me.

The basic virtues are the performances of Noomi Rapace and Ethan Hawke. And the wise way to say an absurde, ridicule real story in fair manner. A film about love in different manners and with a lot of nuances. And, off course, a film about loneliness. A good one, no doubts and a smart definition of the Stockholm syndrome.

From what I've read this retelling of the 1973 robbery/hostage taking of the Kreditbanken bank in Stockholm is fairly accurate, although, obviously dramatized for a movie. Seems that the hostages, to some extent, had more faith in their well being from the captors than from the government & police. Thus our first widely discussed incident of hostages having some sympathy w/their captors. Both robbers continued, in minor ways, their history of crime after either serving their time or court hearings. Amusingly well acted.