The Northman

I eagerly awaited for this film's release date since the moment the project was announced, but two strange things happened. First, it was released on April 22, and each weekend I'd find a way to push it off until the next weekend. Then the blu-ray is released. I pick it up and plan on watching the night it arrives in the post. But I don't. Months later I finally get around to it. Did I know I would find find it underwhelming? If so, thank you, universe. I guess?

I just don't know with this movie. Not even my favorite musician of all time, Björk, could save this for me, but it's also not a bad film. Far from it, really. But its weaknesses are glaring, and of them is a personal distaste of my own, and likely won't make sense to many, but for whatever reason, the vibe of this reeked heavily of Baz Luhrmann films. Obviously completely different kinds of "cinema." 'Moulin Rouge' and a film depicting the raping and pillaging ways of the vikings are worlds apart. But it's the approach, the style that didn't sit well with me. Add in some lackluster casting in places, some slightly off performances - none of it could be made up for via the film's strong elements. Skarsgård is unreal in the role, physically, and emotionally on screen. He deserves a LOT of credit for elevating this as far as he could. The location shooting in Ireland, and Iceland - the focus of the film's story - is gorgeous, undeniably. The story - hard to fuck it up, and they didn't. But the style, the tone - there's so much of it I found displeasing that I can't really recommend the film. But I also can't, and don't want to say "don't bother." There's a lot of love for this and I can see why. I'm just not feeling it. Carry on.