Þriðja nafni (2003) User Reviews

Unusual

[ollistef · 8/10 · 4 September 2013]

This film is available on www.icelandiccinema.com, but it seems the picture quality would not be good enough for broadcasting on TV, maybe cause it's low budget and it was made just after 2000 without the digital advances of today. But fine on laptop screen. It's a rare piece of work from the Nordic territories, a total indoor drama about a crazy- man, which right away sets the tone for good mix of humour, drama and sarcasm which compensates for the ending which is not as original as the rest of the film. Not a sloppy ending but a matter of taste, something wild was in the area which could have taken the story to the extreme which the makers didn't choose to do. The dialogue is entertaining, it has to be cause all the action is in two rooms and a tiny boat, a certain Woody Allen kind of feel to the boat. Some of the philosopher's gags (Montessori) are delivered in a soft way, like he is farting the jokes with the ass of the devil. The girl, Laura, is maybe the weakest link as far as the performances go, but overall good actors. Laura's comment on the Berlinske Tidene, a news paper, in the opening scene is a sarcasm of highest quality on all things which are measured for us by honourable and liberal media.

Interesting blend

[companio2000 · 10/10 · 24 February 2007]

I saw it in a friends house in Russia but would love to see it on the big screen, it makes a strange but good mix of US indie movie and Scandinavian character study stage play. Those who have seen American plays and Scandinavia plays in NYC fringe know the difference. Brilliant dialogue, but it needs a 2nd viewing to get the whole idea and where the director is going. The action takes place in two or three rooms and a boat and it gets more and more interesting because you know someone is lying but you don't know why, thou you know it's most likely all in Laura's head. I wont give anything away in case you see it. The actors do their job OK but the local sheriff guy is a very very good actor. Low budget writing at its best.