4.7 | / 10 |
Users | 1.0 | |
Reviewer | 3.0 | |
Overall | 2.8 |
Detective Harry Hole investigates the disappearance of a woman whose pink scarf is found wrapped around an ominous-looking snowman.
Starring: Michael Fassbender, Rebecca Ferguson, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Jonas Karlsson, Michael YatesHorror | 100% |
Thriller | 47% |
Mystery | 32% |
Drama | Insignificant |
Crime | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.85:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1
Spanish: DTS 5.1
French (Canada): DTS 5.1
English SDH, French, Spanish
Blu-ray Disc
Two-disc set (1 BD, 1 DVD)
Digital copy
DVD copy
Slipcover in original pressing
Region free
Movie | 1.5 | |
Video | 4.0 | |
Audio | 4.5 | |
Extras | 2.5 | |
Overall | 3.0 |
Talk about lost in translation. The Snowman is the filmed adaptation of Author Jo Nesbø's novel of the same name, one in a series of acclaimed books (and curiously the seventh book in the series) centered on Harry Hole, a Norwegian detective whose style clashes with procedural orthodoxy but whose results are without equal. His cinematic debut is unfortunately a tragedy for the medium, a picture that's indecipherable and nearly unwatchable, sure to turn away audiences from an otherwise well-received literary figure who deserved better than a picture this strikingly absent cohesion and mired in cliché. Atmospheric but otherwise empty, Director Tomas Alfredson, whose other credits include vastly superior films like Let the Right One In and Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, fails to create a picture that's anything but a series of images overwhelmed by atmosphere and undermined by a critical absence of narrative cohesion.
Foundations of evil.
The Snowman certainly has its fair share of cold, bleak locations where blinding white snow, overcast skies, and a general lack of life and color define the moment, but it's also not lacking more richly saturated and more colorfully diverse scenes. The digitally photographed elements present with a rather filmic appearance on Blu-ray, accentuating the frigid textures and dreary designs that are often reflective in character eyes and cadences, too. Skin textures and tones are often bleak but sufficiently complex, as are environments, whether textured and packed snow or resplendent attire at a high dollar gala. The movie never offers any sort of extraordinarily high yield detailing that sees it stand apart from the crowded format landscape, but Universal's transfer certainly proves more than efficient and capturing essentials-plus with plenty of complexity and depth. Color saturation pleases in warmer light and more neutral locales, while frigid exteriors display a gray-dominant essence with ease. Black levels satisfy and skin tones appear true to any given scene's lighting and limitations. Noise and other source or encode maladies are kept to an agreeable minimum.
The Snowman's DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 lossless soundtrack is the highlight of the disc. The feeling of sonic immersion, more so than the typical 5.1 track can offer, is evident from the outset and for the duration. Thunder and frigidly gusty winds, ripples and crackling ice, cable cars maneuvering and ice breaking free, flapping flags, gunshot reverberations, crowd noise and crunches on the ice during an outdoor hockey game, din at a black-tie gala, and all sorts of moments and locations come to life with remarkable precision and stage saturation during the film, aided by the additional real estate the center-back channels offer. Each element is presented in carefully constructed working order, with captivating full-stage immersion that makes ordinary scenes feel like pivotal moments. Balance and clarity are exceptional with every scene, and music is likewise clear, detailed, and precisely positioned. Dialogue, too, proves flawless in delivery and stage placement. It's too bad this excellent track isn't in support of a better movie, but those who brave The Snowman's elements will find this a most rewarding listening experience.
The Snowman contains five featurettes. DVD and digital copies are included with purchase.
The Snowman comes based on a bestselling book, is directed by a man with a track record of making quality films, stars a capable leading man, exudes plenty of atmosphere and quality craftsmanship, yet it's about as empty a movie as one is going to find. Nothing about the film works. It's entirely superficial, capably moody and scenic but built around empty characters, indecipherable character relationships and motivations, and punctuated by bits of action that nearly mean nothing in the greater scheme. One can see the wheels churning in the movie, the processes put in place to make something better, but The Snowman fails to offer any reason to engage with it. Universal's Blu-ray does offer good video and audio and a handful featurettes. Skip it.
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