Directed by:
Hans Petter MolandCinematography:
Philip ØgaardComposer:
George FentonCast:
Liam Neeson, Tom Bateman, Tom Jackson, Laura Dern, Nicholas Holmes, Emmy Rossum, Domenick Lombardozzi, Julia Jones, William Forsythe, Michael Eklund (more)VOD (4)
Plots(1)
A family man’s quiet life with his wife is upended following the mysterious death of their son. Nels’ search for justice turns into a vengeful hunt for Viking, a drug lord he believes is connected to the death. As one by one each of Viking's associates “disappear,” Nels goes from upstanding citizen to ice-cold vigilante, letting nothing - and no one - get in his way. (Lionsgate US)
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Reviews (7)
I admit that if I knew that this movie was a remake of the strange Scandinavian movie In Order of Disappearance, I would think long and hard about whether or not I would even watch it. Especially since it was done by the same director. This way I was lured in by Liam Neeson, from whom I was expecting a classic action ride, which he has providedin abundance in recent years. However, it was a little different here. The funny moments weren’t funny. The absurdity was rather ridiculously awkward. All in all, I didn’t find anything that would entertain me during the two hours. What’s more, it is a fairly faithful copy of the Swedish original, which renders it just as useless as, for example, Funny Games. It is a shame that Liam Neeson wasted his time here.
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It's as if the Coen brothers joined forces with Tarantino to create this cinematic gem. Hans Petter Moland perfectly combines an original storytelling approach with a fantastic script, delivering one delicious line after another, and of course, he cast Neeson in the lead role, which fits him like a glove. The setting in Denver and the exceptionally inhospitable town of Kehoe (of course, in winter) in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado was a pleasant surprise. As I mentioned, the film’s plot provides a solid dose of suspense, amusing situations, and unexpected twists. The main villain, Viking, is an unconventional character with almost schizophrenic behavior, but that's where the charm of Cold Pursuit lies. The supporting cast is also excellent, and the subplot with law enforcement is amusing. The film includes action with a snowplow, a few shootouts, but that’s not the main focus. If I were to compare it to something, Fargo comes to mind. So, if you enjoy situational drama with character-driven dialogue and elements of dark humor, you’ll appreciate this. And the end credits, designed to have character names disappear as they exit the screen? Genius. I’ll give it 4★, keeping some reserve for the Norwegian original by the same director. 84%.
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Cold Pursuit is a thriller with not only an original concept, but also humor and dozens of corpses. The comic relief makes it amusing in some ways, but I would rather see the topic of revenge for the murdered son in harsh northern conditions treated seriously. Even the bad guys do not earn enough respect here. And the positive Indian poetics surrounding drug dealers that are just as vile as the main bad guys is just WTF. This is a peculiar film hybrid that not quite successfully mixes American thriller elements with European courage to play with audience expectations.
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A delightful murder mystery where it’s clear to me that its subtle nuances will not be picked up by the average viewer. There are moments that it looks like something from the Coens at their peak. Unfortunately, it has minor flaws. Tom Bateman and Laura Dern cannot handle their roles, fortunately the latter disappears from the scene soon.
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Why this remake originated remains a mystery to me, but the main thing is that it's an excellent film. Just like the original. When I compare Cold Pursuit to In Order of Disappearance, I have to say that it has overcome its predecessor in some ways. How, you ask? Through Indians. They brought with them such peculiar melancholic poetics, a reserved and cynical longing for the old days, and for me, they fit into the story better than the Serbs the last time. And the music is better, too - George Fenton composed an excellent soundtrack that I've been listening to for some time and I'll continue to listen to for some time to come. Liam Neeson is excellent in the lead role, though of course he has played a character like this many times before, but he hasn't played one in a film like this, and he probably knew that fact when the role was offered to him. I'm guessing he had a good time (when he laughs during the final reckoning, you have to laugh with him). As for the directing, it's true that Hans Petter Moland didn't come up with anything new and just repeated what he knew was proven and occasionally improved it slightly (if that was even possible). But the main thing is that he kept the mood of the film where he wanted it, and that the way a silent depression gradually becomes a black comedy and almost made it a crazy spectacle is still impressive.
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