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Comprising 1994’s The Kingdom, 1997’s The Kingdom II, and 2022’s much belated The Kingdom: Exodus, Lars von Trier’s television miniseries trilogy plays like the unholy love child of St. Elsewhere and Twin Peaks, the latter an acknowledged influence on the director. The trilogy works brilliantly as a blackly comic piss take on running a hospital, with all its attendant frustrations and absurdities, as well as a blast of surreal weirdness that seeks to expose the dark underbelly of its titular locale.

But the parallels between The Kingdom series and its forebears are even more specific. The final episode of Exodus dramatically hinges on a snow globe containing a miniature of the hospital, just as St. Elsewhere famously ended on a similar image. As with Twin Peaks: The Return, over two decades passed between the second and third season of The Kingdom, allowing for some intriguing narrative resets and retakes.

Norwegian born actor, Baard Owe, lived for most of his life in Denmark but worked in the entire Scandinavia for over 55 years as an active actor, passed away at the age of 81 due to lungue cancer on Saturday, November 11, in his home in Copenhagen, Denmark. Baard Owe was energetic actor who worked up until the day before his passing. Baard Owe leaves behind his wife Marie-Louise Coninck, and four children, David Owe, Anja Owe, Rebekka Owe and Benjamin Owe. Both his wife and three of their children works as actors in Denmark. For a list of Baard Owe's body of work on film, please visit IMDb...

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Director: Pål Øie. Writers: Kjersti Helen Rasmussen and Pål Øie. Cast: Anders Baasmo Christiansen, Baard Owe, Mads Sjøgård Pettersen and Ellen Dorrit Petersen. Norway continues to develop a frightening horror scene. From the Fritt Vilt slasher series to Død snø (2009), this cold country has lots of scary tales to tell. The latest is titled Villmark 2. Shot twelve years after the first film, this time a crew of workers are tasked with identifying toxic materials in an ancient asylum. Very reminiscent of Session 9 (2001) and definitely an homage, Villmark 2 is very slow in its build up of tension. However, into the third act, events take a brutal turn as the film's World War II mythology comes to the forefront. Sound design and production values are high. But, Villmark 2 fails to find its own original story and direction, which makes a viewing of this film very predictable and slightly unexciting.

Norway continues to churn out quality horror films. From Cold Prey (2006) to Dead Snow (2009), Norway knows how to use its wild, snowy settings to create a chilling atmosphere. The latest to come from this Scandinavian country is titled Villmark 2, or Wilderness 2, or Dark Woods 2. This feature follows the original 2003 film and near the same setting. This time several contract workers must clear an ancient sanatorium, but something malicious lingers nearby. The film stars Anders Baasmo Christiansen, Ellen Dorrit Petersen, Baard Owe and Mads Sjøgård Pettersen. As well, the film has been directed by Pål Øie (Hidden). The first trailer for Villmark 2 is hosted here. From the longer synopsis, a sanatorium lies deep in an isolated forest. Here, a janitor manages the building, with five more contract workers set to remove hazardous material, including asbestos. Over a 100 rooms have to be cleaned. However, something or someone lays in wait within this ancient abode.

Headhunters / Hodejegerne Trailer. Morten Tyldum‘s Headhunters / Hodejegerne (2011) movie trailer stars Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Aksel Hennie, Julie R. Olgaard, Joachim Rafaelsen, and Baard Owe. Hodejegerne‘s plot synopsis: based on the book by Jo Nesbo, Headhunter “chronicles the escapades of a high-living corporate headhunter who steals artwork from his rich clients to finance his expensive lifestyle. When a heist unexpectedly goes south, he discovers he’s in way over his head in a murderous scheme.”

Great movie trailer. I am looking forward to seeing this. The Headhunter certainly gets more than he pardon for towards the mid-point of this trailer. Looks gritty. The Us rights to this film have already been acquired, written about here: Headhunters: Summit Entertainment acquires Jo Nesbø Crime Thriller.

Watch the Headhunters / Hodejegerne movie trailer below and leave your thoughts on it in the comments section. For more Headhunters / Hodejegerne photos, videos, and information, check out our Headhunters Page.

DVD Playhouse—September 2009

By

Allen Gardner

The Human Condition (Criterion) Masaki Kobayashi’s epic (574 minutes) adaptation of Junpei Gomikawa’s six-volume novel was originally made and released as three separate films (1959-61), and is rightfully regarded as a landmark of Japanese cinema. Candide-like story of naïve, good-hearted Kaiji (Japanese superstar Tatsuya Nakadai) from labor camp supervisor, to Imperial Army solider, to Soviet Pow, and Kaiji’s struggle to maintain his humanity throughout. Unfolds with the mastery of a great novel, beautifully-shot, and a stunning example of cinematic mastery on the part of its makers. Four-disc set bonuses include: Interview with Kobayashi; Interview with Nakadai; Featurette; Trailer; Essay by critic Philip Kemp. Widescreen. Dolby 3.0 surround.

State Of Play (Universal) Russell Crowe stars as a veteran Washington D.C. political reporter investigating the murder of an aide to a rising congressional star (Ben Affleck), who also happens to be an old friend.

O'Horten

directed by Bent Hamer

2007, 90 minutes, in Norwegian with English subtitles

Sony Pictures Classics The oddest quality about the 67-year-old Norwegian pipe puffer who grants this low-key absurdist comedy its title is his name: Odd Horten. Or perhaps, because this loyal railroad engineer of four decades is a creature not just of habit but of synched timetables, his dedication to his near-ceremonial morning preparation is the mark of an eccentric. Meticulously dressed, polite and reticent, the lanky Horten walks curiously through the wintry Nordic landscape with a stiff upper everything. He's the epitome of everyman dignity, though his ever-present pipe and ability to meander into frame as a curious, Magoo-ish observer draw easy comparisons to the accidental slapstick of Jacques Tati's Monsieur Hulot. In a wonderfully and precisely understated performance, Baard Owe (whose craggy, mustachioed, ovoidal mug also suggests a blood relation to the French actor Jean Rochefort) doesn't...

O’Horten

Directed by: Bent Hamer

Cast: Bård Owe, Espen Skjønberg

Running Time: 1 hr 30 mins

Rating: PG-13

Release Date: June 12, 2009

Plot: On the eve of his retirement, train engineer Odd Horten begins to have a series of unusual encounters.

Who’s It For? Fans of quirky Scandinavian cinema, like the films of Aki Kaurismäki or Hamer’s previous film, Kitchen Stories.

Expectations: A quirky, enjoyable film. I liked the preview.

Scorecard (0-10)

Actors:

Bård Owe as Odd Horten: Owe plays it close to the vest as Odd Horten. There’s not a lot of plot, the film is mainly a character study so a lot of the burden falls on him. Horten wanders through Oslo, trying to find his place in the world after the job that had defined him is gone. Owe carries himself with pride, Horten never feels like someone to be pitied. His willingness to meet people...

In O’Horten, Bent Hamer’s writing and directing follow-up to 2005’s surprisingly solid Charles Bukowski adaptation Factotum, the clothes make the man. The impeccably groomed Bård Owe strolls confidently through his job as a railroad engineer, resplendent in his sharp leather jacket and dapper uniform. For Owe, “engineer” isn’t a job so much as an identity. His job gives him purpose, direction, and security. O’Horten explores what happens when this quintessential company man loses his company. As O’Horten begins, Owe is being pushed out of his job because he’s reached mandatory retirement age ...

Release Date: May 15

Director/Writer: Bent Hamer

Cinematographer: John Christian RosenlundStarring: Baard Owe, Espen Skjønberg, Githa Nørby

Studio/Run Time: Sony Pictures Classics, 90 mins.

Arresting cinematography fuels quirky character study

Mainstream cinema has experienced a noteworthy decline in starring roles for seasoned actors since the ’60s and ’70s. In beautifully shot character analysis O’Horten, Norwegian director Bent Hamer (Factotum) shows there’s still vibrant intrigue to be mined from our golden years. The film trails a stoic locomotive engineer (Baard Owe) who succumbs to retirement, wishing his life could remain as frozen as the icy mountains he crossed in years past. Lost and reborn, Horten embarks on a series of random misadventures that charmingly illustrate the miracle of spontaneity. The film’s environmental cinematography provides a lonely mirror of whitewashed desolation for the title character’s odyssey, reflecting as much splendor as melancholy in the fairytale streets of Oslo.

We're all for getting out in the summertime, but there might not be anything more refreshing than cooling off in a movie theater... or seeing a movie in the comfort of your air-conditioned home on demand, on DVD, or online... or better yet catching a classic on the big screen at a nearby repertory theater. With literally hundreds of films to choose from this summer, we humbly present this guide to the season's most exciting offerings.

May 1

"Eldorado"

The Cast: Bouli Lanners, Fabrice Adde, Philippe Nahon, Didier Toupy, Franise Chichy

Director: Bouli Lanners

Fest Cred: Cannes, Warsaw, Glasgow, Palm Springs,

The Gist: When Elie (Adde), a hapless young thief attempts to rob Yvan (Lanners), a 40-year-old car dealer, the two form a unlikely friendship that leads to a road trip across Belgium in this slight comedy that won the Best European Film at the Director's Fortnight at Cannes last year.

The trailer for the Norwegian indie film O'Horten arrived earlier this week, and although I wasn't too fond of the film itself, I thought I'd feature this trailer for those who may be interested in checking it out. O'Horten is a charming film about the 67-year-old Odd Horten (played by Bård Owe), who retires from his position as a train engineer after 40 years. This shouldn't be taken the wrong way, but O'Horten is a small film, it has that very indie feel to it. While this trailer isn't anything amazing, it does at least feature on of my favorite elements of the film - the music written by Norwegian band Kaada. I hope you enjoy! Watch the trailer for O'Horten: [flv:http://media2.firstshowing.net/firstshowing/ohorten-trailer.flv http://media2.firstshowing.net/firstshowing/ohorten-trailer.jpg 596 322] You can also watch the O'Horten trailer in High Definition on Yahoo O'Horten is both written and directed by Norwegian filmmaker Bent Hamer, of Applause, Water Easy Reach, Kitchen ...

Following my screening of Flame and Citron, I caught Bent Hamer's O'Horten, an amusing drama about the life of a train engineer from Norway after he retires. Bård Owe charmingly embodies a lonely conductor who has driven a train through the snowy mountains of Norway for over 40 years. When he finally retires, and misses his last train due to a faulty door at a friend's apartment, he spends his next few days meeting new friends and getting into all sorts of quirky mishaps. Unfortunately the film is a bit too slow and a bit too sloppy to be truly entertaining, but there are some magical moments that had me smiling. The film kicks off with a wonderful journey through the mountains and tunnels that make up Odd Horten's route. The score, composed by Norwegian group Kaada, adds a wonderful touch to many of these magical scenes and throughout most...