The Keeper of Lost Causes

A good old-fashioned crime story from the North. I don't seek out the crime genre, but once every six months it doesn't hurt to watch something that entertains, surprises and intrigues from this genre. The highlight of the film for me is the scene with the slow motion shot of the falling car, which was literally breathtaking... Decent direction, actors and plot. For fans of the crime genre I recommend it. 65%. (03/02/2014)

I feel like once you fall in love with Scandinavian crime investigation movies, that love never fades away. That’s why it makes me so happy that out of the whole range of books I’ll never manage to read, there’s one that the Scandinavians decided to make into a movie. I didn’t yet manage to get through the Department Q series from Olsen, but The Keeper of LostCauses grabbed my attention at first glance. It was worse when I started watching the movie – it took me about half an hour to get used to Carl. His character was very bland and wishy-washy, but Assad made up for it as his character was likeable from the very beginning. But eventually, I got used to both of them as investigators and what really helped was the story itself, which was outright flawless. The ending was a bit unfinished and half-assed, but I have to give it at least four stars just out of the excitement and joy that the Scandinavians decided to shoot such a movie. (06/15/2015)

Another terrific Nordic mystery that feels rather more intimate (e.g. when compared to the Millennium trilogy), but overall an excellent opening to the loose Department Q cold case series. A great main duo that, while fulfilling perhaps every possible genre schema/cliché (the formerly successful, now downgraded investigator with a tendency to alcoholism and the ad hoc assigned partner who comes across as a perfect wimp at first); on the other hand, is one of the supporting elements of the whole narrative and I'm very curious to see the evolution of the two main characters in the next installments. (03/03/2020)

If I had seen the film first and didn't know much about the book, it probably wouldn't grab me as much. I could easily imagine this as a very good introduction to a television series. The plot is simple but well-structured, and the characters are interesting and definitely not boring, but as a beginning for a film series, it didn't strike me as particularly strong. Good, but not exceptional. (06/20/2015)

A screenplay for a decent TV detective film adapted to the big screen by adding attractive visuals and a stellar cast. However, the film is merely average due to the absence of moments of surprise, its simple story and the presence of genre clichés. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo was more sophisticated and multilayered. (11/03/2013)