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After "Budbringeren" (1997), the expectations have been really high for Norwegian director Pål Sletaune's next movie, "Amatørene". When he last year refused to direct the fantastic "American Beauty" because "the screenplay wasn't good enough...", one could start to wonder what the heck was going on. But even though "Amatørene" isn't nearly as good as the American Oscar winner, it's really a good movie, with entertainment value high above an average Hollywood comedy. I'm one of few Norwegian filmfreaks who haven't seen "Budbringeren" yet (I was going to, but then my VHS tape got stuck in the player, so too bad...), so my expectations were on a comfortable low level. There were no way I could possibly be disappointed, and I wasn't. On the other side, I was very positively surprised. But in fact, the only reason I saw the movie, was because a friend asked me. Without him, I think I would just have let it passed, so I'm glad he asked, 'cause that would have been a shame. No I just have to wait until "Budbringeren" is shown again on TV.

**** out of ***** from me.

In case you are in a mood for that special blend of black humor, realistic characters and difficult, but funny situations that actually happen in real life Amatørene is the movie for you. Granted, it is a bit more obscure than the usual black comedies that we are used to, but only by recognition, this is a phenomenal movie that is waiting to be discovered. The concept is pretty much simple, you take one average (maybe below, sorry) guy and his life and make that at an almost every junction in his life he makes a wrong turn. His life sucks, and he didn't deserve this, but if you can identify yourself with him and some of his problems you can actually help yourself, it's always good to get some perspective on your life… But don't get me wrong, its not preachy or anything, just cleverly and relatively realistically written, with situations that happen to almost anyone at one point in life (what, they could totally happen...).

Lets face it, Jan is a loser… He lives with his father who harasses him constantly, while running a fast food joint that is not doing well, and by not doing well I mean its bankrupt. While we are on the harassment subject, he also has a girlfriend, well 'nuff said. With no way out, and his life slowly falling apart, especially since his girlfriend left him (even that isn't as good as it sounds for him), he is desperate. So, when he accidentally gets involved in a kidnapping of a famous rock star, he decides that enough is enough…

Great thing about movies like this is that you can watch them as a bunch of interesting and funny stuff or you can get all analytical and stuff, and follow one mans journey through some rough times. In the end, the life is a journey, not a destination (totally quote worthy), and maybe we should all treat it like that, with a positive spin and attitude…

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