Wednesday, December 18, 2013

Sidetracked [HD]



Brilliant program
Gorgeous photography, actually shot in Sweden. Kenneth Branagh is perfect in the role of Kurt Wallander, an extraordinary detective solving unusual and gruesome cases.... Rough, uneven as are most real people, he is a powerful character. Start with `Sidetracked' as the first episode. The young girl in the opening is running through a huge field of blazing yellow flowers... I was so entranced with that opening shot I had to do some research to see what could be that brilliant in flower... "Rapeseed... grown for the production of animal feed, vegetable oil for human consumption, and biodiesel" says wiki so now you know too.

Did I mention the gorgeous photography?

Opening music is Emily Barker's Nostalgia

I just wish there were more.. :(

Superb television
I have not read the books, so I base my opinion on a comparison to other television programs in this genre. Although the story lines are quite similar to what one would expect from detective fiction, the subject matter is treated with far more depth of feeling. Story lines that might be predictable or corny in other shows feel more believable here. To the extent that the plots are as equally absurd as those in other cop shows, they serve as more of a backdrop, so that the real subject of the show is this main character guy who is just a wreck. Every episode is atmospheric, slow-paced, and heavy with brooding. The cinematography is fantastic.

Kenneth Branagh's portrayal of Wallander is a pleasure to watch because his performances are so nuanced, conveying a full range of emotion - you can see what the main character is thinking as events unfold. Wallander's life sucks. His father has Alzheimer's, his wife dumped him, his daughter resents him for never being available. He is...

Top Notch Drama
Kenneth Branagh's Wallander is a fantastic series which was shot on location in Sweden with stark scenery and a fine cast led by Branagh. Each episode is feature length with good production values. This is not a fast paced cop drama so be warned. Instead, you get a well crafted, slow burning, character driven series. Series 1 & 2 are equally good, and I can't wait for series 3.

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