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Gus Van Sant's Hostage Drama Relies on Bill Skarsgård's Perfectly Applied Boyish Charm
🇸🇪 Sweden /Technology

Gus Van Sant's Hostage Drama Relies on Bill Skarsgård's Perfectly Applied Boyish Charm

From Dagens Nyheter · (8m ago) Swedish Critical tone

Translated from Swedish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

TLDR

  • Gus Van Sant's new film, 'Dead Man's Wire,' is a hostage drama based on a real 1977 case.
  • The film stars Bill Skarsgård as Tony Kiritsis, a man who takes a loan shark's son hostage after financial ruin.
  • The review critiques the film for its subdued tone and lack of emotional depth, despite Skarsgård's performance.

Gus Van Sant's latest offering, 'Dead Man's Wire,' delves into the unsettling true story of Tony Kiritsis, a man driven to desperate measures after financial ruin. Starring Bill Skarsgård in a performance that anchors the film, the drama attempts to navigate the complexities of a real-life hostage situation that unfolded in Indianapolis in 1977. The film centers on Kiritsis's confrontation with the loan company that he believes wronged him, culminating in a hostage crisis involving the loan executive's son.

No one likes to be ripped off. Especially not by mortgage sharks and other kinds of wealthy greedy-guts who profit from the hopes and dreams of ordinary mortals.

— ReviewerDescribing the motivation of the protagonist, Tony Kiritsis.

Skarsgård's portrayal of Kiritsis is noted as a standout element, capturing the character's volatile state. However, the film struggles to fully engage the audience emotionally. Despite the inherent tension of the subject matter, the review suggests that Van Sant's direction results in a muted atmosphere, described as 'stiffly winter-frozen,' and an aesthetic that lacks vibrancy. The narrative, while based on a true event, fails to consistently generate the psychological suspense or emotional resonance that such stories often command.

Hostage situations often become more interesting when you root for the villain. As a viewer, you want to suffer from Stockholm Syndrome, feel that connection to the criminal.

— ReviewerDiscussing the audience's potential engagement with the film's premise.

The film's attempt to explore the victim's perspective, particularly through the character of the hostage, and the role of a radio DJ who inadvertently becomes a negotiator, are seen as missed opportunities. Instead of building intense drama, these elements are perceived as being undercut by a slightly comedic tone, partly due to Danny Elfman's dramatic score attempting to impose a tension that the visuals do not fully support. The review concludes that 'Dead Man's Wire' ultimately falls short of its potential, offering a viewing experience that is more curious than compelling, despite the strong central performance.

Actually not. The atmosphere is subdued, stiffly winter-frozen, and the aesthetics as tasteful as brown beans with flat, stale beer.

— ReviewerCritiquing the film's visual style and atmosphere.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Dagens Nyheter in Swedish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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