The Bothersome Man

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Wayne K @WayneKelso 09/04/2024 The Bothersome Man is a film I likely would never have seen if it had not been recommended to me. I didn’t know the director or any member of the cast aside from the lead, who I only recognise because he was in Oppenheimer. I had no idea about the setting, the premise or any key events, and that’s almost always the best way to approach a film. The story itself aims to be a critique of our modern world where safety and complacency are prioritised, resulting in a blandly happy and agreeable populace whose only concern is getting through their mundane chores with a smile on their face. The film could have been more upbeat and snappier, which would have been a better contrast with the slow and dull routines the characters undertake. Instead, some segments feel longer than they need to, and the lead character rarely pushes back against the system he’s been thrust into, despite being the outsider. I wanted more dark humour, more unique observations of a life defined by disconnect and a lack of human emotions. There’s a lot of sequences that work, but I feel like it wears out its welcome too soon, and just seems to drift aimlessly into a climax that feels like it was made for a different film entirely. I did appreciate that the opening scene, which is a flash forward, isn’t just an excuse to tease an upcoming event, but actually makes more sense when its been put into context. It’s a mixed bag to say the least, but I’ll always champion a film for at least trying to do something special. It didn’t fully work for me, but I think it will for many others. See more dave s @RT68722908 07/05/2022 Imagine, if you can, a film directed by David Lynch, written by Charlie Kaufman, based on an idea from Franz Kafka. The end product would look something like Jens Lien's The Bothersome Man, a Norwegian film that seems to have something to do with the nature of happiness, but who really knows and does it really matter? Andreas, a middle-aged man, finds himself in an odd new world, a world devoid of children and hot chocolate, among other things, where everyone seems agreeable to his every whim. It is as black as comedy comes, bleak and dreary at the best of times, but as wildly entertaining and surprising as imaginable. Is it for all tastes? Absolutely not, but those willing to join Andreas on his bizarre journey will find it to be a rewarding experience. See more 06/19/2019 Den brysomme mannen (international title: The Bothersome Man) is a dystopian dark comedy about a man who mysteriously finds himself in a seemingly perfect society, with the only drawback that the people there are completely detached from real emotions. The performances and the cinematography are great and support the general notion of isolated loneliness, which the main character experiences. Thus, the movie's premise is a clever allegory for how people constantly keep themselves occupied with superficial objects and activities, while ignoring what makes them an emotional and social being. The shift in tone after the opening and the lack of a successful combination of the main character's fate with the overall social commentary of the movie, does mean, however, that it's not as competent as previous, comparable efforts, like Brazil (1980), Anomalisa (2015), or Her (2013). Read my full review on my blog movie-discourse. See more 06/05/2018 Dynamic, interested and fresh. The movie will transport you to the plot of the situation of the character. See more 04/11/2017 Very very weird creepy movie with a weird ending See more 06/13/2016 3.7/5 Every point the film makes comes with a joke or a comedic aspect to it all that gives the film an excentric feel to the dull world Andreas is presented with, allowing the experience to be quite the interesting exploration of a man outside his world and full of simple but powerful desires. See more Read all reviews

The Bothersome Man

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