English Translations of Scandinavian/Nordic Mysteries & Thrillers discussion

Saw this this morning on Facebook (no direct link, so I'll copy and paste):

Amazing news just in! Martin Scorsese is set to direct the film of Jo Nesbo’s bestselling novel The Snowman. Many production companies had approached the author about the film rights, but he wanted to wait for his favourite director. Tim Bevan and Eric Fellner of Working Title films will produce, with Jo Nesbo and his agent Niclas Salomonsson as executive producers. Michael Carnahan will write the screenplay!

And here it is on his website:

http://jonesbo.com/2480

Exciting!

Wish I could echo your excitement. It will no doubt now be a huge commercial success, but Scorsese's recent films have just not matched up to his earlier work. Casino, Gangs Of New York, The Aviator and The Departed were all overblown, overlong and pretty dreadful. I'm convinced that his best Director Oscar for the latter was just a long service award to make up for the glaring omissions on that score in his earlier career particularly with regard to Goodfellas. I haven't seen Shutter Island but his very recent George Harrison docufilm was just too uncritically one sided and consequently rather tedious.

See, I thought Gang of New York was pretty underrated, to be honest. Daniel Day-Lewis was outstanding. I also really liked "The Departed." My over-zealous father-in-law stood up and proclaimed, "Scorcese's best film yet!" at the end of it. In the theater. Yeah. Embarrassment all around. While I didn't quite agree, I thought it was a pretty great film. But, to be fair, nothing can really live up to "Goodfellas." I did like the similar red themes in GOFNY, even if Donovan's "Atlantis" wasn't playing in the background.

Great that we all have different opinions. I find DDL an enigma. Great in some roles but completely OTT in others when he appears to be given licence to overract like GONY and that one where he discovered oil....can't quite remember the name.

Ian wrote: "Wish I could echo your excitement. It will no doubt now be a huge commercial success, but Scorsese's recent films have just not matched up to his earlier work. Casino, Gangs Of New York, The Aviato..."

I love all of those films! How could you!

I'll reserve any judgement until I see who's cast as Harry. As long as Scorcese can hold off from casting Leo in a movie for once, it might be good. That said, I did really enjoy "Shutter Island"

Ian wrote: "Great that we all have different opinions. I find DDL an enigma. Great in some roles but completely OTT in others when he appears to be given licence to overract like GONY and that one where he dis..."

I thought "There Will Be Blood" was fantastic! To be fair, I really just love him to bits.

I'd like to keep Harry Hole and the environments Norwegian. Somehow I can't imagine Scorsese to capture the essence of Norway too well. But I guess I'll have to see the movie anyway.

Heartbreaking is the way I received the news! Leave him to Boardwalk Empire. Having watched again and again how English and American have to stamp their culture over good books and remake otherwise excellent series because they cannot handle subtitles ..into their own versions, I
am worried sick. And why start Harry at The Snowman? :-(

Hollywoodizing Harry? Sigh.

Well maybe not all is lost. I know Larsson's trilogy and the Swedish movies were under promoted , yet widely popular here in the US. The fact that the redo of The Dragon Tattoo retains its Nordic setting makes me think Fincher and likely Scorcese realize the need to hold fast to the environment and characterization in the books. Can't imagine who could be Harry! Nesbo mentioned Nick Nolte in one interview, but I don't see that. As to the discussion on Scorcese's films, I've liked his recent stuff and have considered Daniel Day Lewis a mesmerizing force in the roles discussed here!

Scorcese to direct Scandinavian lit? "Gack" to quote a great penguin!
Perish the thought. And I agree with the rest, why start with Harry here?
But what the heck do I know! I've only been reading this genre for about
5 years, a mere novice compared to Nesbo who wrote the book and has made the decision. I think I'll go crawl in a corner and lie in a coil of barbed wire in a fetal position and sob for the next 3 days!

Sorry I'm new at this!

Hah! I must be the only one who is genuinely looking forward to the movie. But, I think movies are their own thing and the book is merely a plot outline (which may not be ideal, but so it goes).

For me, The Snowman was the most movie-friendly out of all the Harry Hole books. The ending! So dramatic! Just like a Die Hard movie (I kid! I kid!) And I think a creepy snowman packs the most visual punch to transfer to a film.

I think the book will work well as a film.......it's just the Scorsese treatment that worries me....but I look forward to being wrong

Isn't Nick Nolte a tad too old to be Harry Hole?

Maggie wrote: "Isn't Nick Nolte a tad too old to be Harry Hole?"

Goodness yes!
Watched a bit of the American remake of The Killing currently on FoxLife....nonesense. Not optimistic ...sorry.

I liked it

Nick Nolte? Lord I thought he had.... Oh well nevermind!
He is a bit long in the tooth ( teeth?) How about oh I dunno
someone who actually looks like they belong in that landscape?
(Viggo Mortensen) if he's not too busy making some unknown film
that no one will ever watch. A G A I N! Bitter?.... me.....?
No I'm just chewing on sandpaper again, and liking it!
I just would like to see Harry portrayed as he is written?
In Nesbo's interview he says that as he continued to write
about Harry.... oh heck just look it up on utube!

Where are y'all seeing that Nick Nolte is playing Harry?

I'm sort of confused about the anti-Scorcese sentiments. Taxi Driver! Goodfellas! You know, I even liked Gangs of New York a lot! Also, Nesbo sold the rights to the movie on the condition that he could pick the director, and Scorcese was his first choice.

http://www.newsinenglish.no/2011/12/0...

NB Goodfellas is one of my favorite movies.

Goodfellas is one of my faves as well Molly....just don't rate his more recent work as I said above. I can see why Nick Nolte might be a fit as he seems to be one of the few US actors who has aged without excessive and ridiculous plastic surgery - he's got a face like a craggy cliff. Liam Neeson might make a good Harry - bit tall, or perhaps Ray Fiennes. Just hope it is not some pretty boy Hollywood star to boost publicity.

Ian wrote: "Goodfellas is one of my faves as well Molly....just don't rate his more recent work as I said above. I can see why Nick Nolte might be a fit as he seems to be one of the few US actors who has aged ..."

All good suggestions. Except Nick Nolte who is 71 and absolutely too old for any such part.

Nick Nolte is 70 now, so I can't imagine him being Harry. Isn't Harry supposed to be late 30s-early 40s? I agree with you, Ian, we don't want a pretty face cast just to promote the film. I think it needs to be someone who naturally speaks with an accent, maybe English or Australian (if you're American, that's an accent). Otherwise it will seem fake from the outset.

Susan wrote: "Nick Nolte is 70 now, so I can't imagine him being Harry. Isn't Harry supposed to be late 30s-early 40s? I agree with you, Ian, we don't want a pretty face cast just to promote the film. I think..."

Yes, NN born 1941! Has to be someone more tall, doesn't eat often at all so skinny, why he seems balding or bald to me I cannot remember...perhaps I see the author in the part somewhat! Fiennes ..either ....or Neeson or a less hairy Cumberbatch...perhaps. Even Hugh Laurie would do and he is now free.....but cannot imagine any American in the role. Are there any tall ones?

Please NOT Tom Cruise or Daniel Craig! I know they've not been mentioned so far - and I hope they're not again! ( Didn't like Craig in The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo). Viggo Mortenson sounds good - how old is he? Liam Neeson? NO! Feinnes? NO! Laurie? NO! Cumberbatch? Hmmmm - could do!

Maggie wrote: "Please NOT Tom Cruise or Daniel Craig! I know they've not been mentioned so far - and I hope they're not again! ( Didn't like Craig in The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo). Viggo Mortenson sounds go..."

Last I heard of Tom Cruise he was wanting to play Lee Child's hero ....hilarious way shorter than the book character but ...either way I hope to never see it. Can you see Craig in an opium den in HK? VM sounds good...time will tell.

While we're listing the 'definitely not' people, I'm throwing in Brad Pitt. If we could consider a black version of HH, I'd give it Idris Elba any day. He can do swagger and desperation quite well.

Susan wrote: "While we're listing the 'definitely not' people, I'm throwing in Brad Pitt. If we could consider a black version of HH, I'd give it Idris Elba any day. He can do swagger and desperation quite well."

Absolutely..... :-)

I think we are all agreed we need a character actor not a pretty film star(Pitt/Cruise/Di Caprio etc). Is there a younger version of Anthony Hopkins out there? It'll never happen, but I think the Danish actor who was the policeman in Killing 2 and I think is also in Borgen would do nicely. No doubt he speaks better English than me.

What do people think about Christian Bale? He might be able to rough himself up enough to have the edge of HH. He's done some tough roles in the past in which he didn't count on his looks, and think he's a good actor. When he buzzes his hair and has stubble on his face, he might just do.

Phillip Christensen.... the husband in Borgen played by Mikael Birkkjaer....perfect Harry!

Mikael Birkkjær (born 14 September 1958) is a Danish actor.
Raised in Copenhagen, Birkkjær trained at Skuespillerskolen at Odense Teater in 1985. He is best known for his roles as Philip Christensen[1] in the Danish TV political drama Borgen and Detective Ulrik Strange in the 2009 TV series Forbrydelsen, The Killing 2, in English.  Amazing language skills.

The main reason I suggested Mortensen is because he's from that area(Denmark I believe) then later grew up in Sourh America. He can and has done any accent ( see Eastern Promises) Alcoholics, heavy drinkers always look older than they actually are, Mortensen is 51, but can look anywhere from 35 to 55, his face and form are completely self moldable!
Also there must be a Scandinavian, Serbian, Russin, actor that isn't over
exposed who would suit! Goren Visnick?( sp)

Joel Kinnaman (born Charles Joel Nordström; 25 November 1979) is a Swedish-American actor from Stockholm. He is best known for playing the lead role in the critically acclaimed Swedish film Easy Money and for his role as Frank Wagner in the Johan Falk film series – a role that earned him a Guldbagge Award nomination in the "Best Supporting Actor" category.  Now in the US remake of The Killing.  The superb Swedish drama, Johan Falk he played Frank Wagner which was my favorite Swedish series.   Kinnaman made Wagner just so real and tortured in that series.

Ada-Lee wrote: "The main reason I suggested Mortensen is because he's from that area(Denmark I believe) then later grew up in Sourh America. He can and has done any accent ( see Eastern Promises) Alcoholics, heavy..."

Interesting chap. Viggo Mortenson   was born in New York City 1958.  His mother, Grace Gamble (née Atkinson), was American, and his father, Viggo Peter Mortensen, Sr., was Danish; the two met in Norway. His maternal grandfather was from Nova Scotia, Canada, and his maternal grandmother's family was from New England.
The family moved to Venezuela, then Denmark, and eventually settled in Argentina, taking residency in the Argentine provinces of Córdoba, Chaco and Buenos Aires, where he attended primary school and acquired fluent Spanish, while his father managed chicken farms and ranches.They remained there until Mortensen was eleven, when his parents divorced. With his mother he returned to New York, where he spent the rest of his childhood, graduating from Watertown High School in Watertown, New York.
He then attended St. Lawrence University in Canton, New York, earning a bachelor's degree in Government and Spanish.[citation needed] Afterward, he went to Europe and lived in Spain, England, and Denmark, where he took various jobs such as driving a truck in Esbjerg and selling flowers in Copenhagen. After two years, he returned to the United States to pursue an acting career.

Not my choice. Seems to be popping up in everything...even Pan Am!  Also a bit fleshy ...not really a Nordic type ??

Goran Višnjić born September 9, 1972 is a Croatian actor who has appeared in American and British films and television productions. He is best known for his role as Dr. Luka Kovač in the hit television series ER. Now credited as Goran Visnjic in his English-language work, he adopted the simplified spelling of his name when he came to the United States in the late '90s, believing it would be more accessible to American audiences.
Always will wonder about this part:
As Yugoslavia began to dissolve, Višnjić was serving a year-long tour of duty with the Yugoslav People's Army (JNA). He left the JNA and returned to Šibenik, where he joined the nascent Croatian Army in defending his hometown against JNA-supported Krajina Serbs.
After leaving the Croatian Army, he moved to Zagreb to study at the Academy of Dramatic Arts.

Interesting turn this conversation has taken. I feel like I'm might be suffering from whiplash! We all seem to have our own take on our beloved Harry, that just shows you the power of the written word. What it conjures up in each of our minds, is what Nesbo is so talented in doing! Very interesting!

I think Jo Nesbø himself looks a lot like I imagine Harry Hole to be. Skinnier and more introvert, but essentiallyHole would have to look like him somehow. The classic Norwegian version of tall, blond, skinny introvert who doesn't bend to pointless rules.

And if they really wanted to think definitely-not-Norwegian-for-one-bit characters, they might do what they did for M in James Bond series. Replace him with a woman....

Anna wrote: "I think Jo Nesbø himself looks a lot like I imagine Harry Hole to be. Skinnier and more introvert, but essentiallyHole would have to look like him somehow. The classic Norwegian version of tall, bl..."

I could not agree with you more.....excellent on both points. I think I see HH as a version of JN but also his early descriptions of him.

I do agree - Idris Elba - fantastic! The husband from Borgen would be good too. Goran Visnij too. My favourite is still Viggo Mortenson - loved him in Eastern Promises.

Every female i spoke too was rather taken with Strange from The Killing...could.see him in the role. Did hear nesbo say that he could imagine Nolte playing Harry...so maybe that is where Scorcese got.the idea from
?

The fact that Hollywood did "The Girl with the Dragoon Tattoo" well gives me hope they'll treat Nesbo's Hole the respect it deserves.

Anna I agree with you as well, I have a sneaky feeling that is our boy Jo on the cover of "Nemisis"! anyone else catch that? I'm a photographer so I really love to disect photos. So yes after watching Nesbos' interviews on utube he really IS Harry in more ways than one. But again it's Nesbo's decision, we may not like it, but ultimately, his decision, ya?

“Hopefully, Scandinavian crime has — the quality is good. You do have bad Scandinavian crime lit — but I think what separates it from not only American, but the rest of Europe also, is there is a tradition stemming from the ’70s that it was OK to write crime literature. It was prestigious. Sjöwall and Wahlöö sort of moved the crime novel from the kiosks into the bookstores, meaning that young talented writers would use the crime novel as vehicles for their storytelling talents. And so you have had good crime novelists, good writers, who would, from time to time, write so-called serious literature and almost all the well-known, established serious writers in Scandinavia have at one time written a crime novel. It’s sort of a thing that you do. You must have a go at genre.”
— Jo Nesbø talks on Scandinavian crime fiction.

Just seen that the Norwegian film of Jo Nesbo's non Harry Hole novel Headhunters is coming to my local cinema soon. Anyone seen it?

Maggie:
Viggo was my first choice back when this discussion started 'round Feb 2nd, so glad it came back ' round to him again! Thanks!
I'm with you all the way. He would be perfect as Harry Hole!
(And I just wish he would do another film that would bring him back into the public eye instead of dropping him off the face of the earth as most of his films have done!)
Besides, he's got just the right wear and tear for Harry, don't you think?
Ian :
I've been hearing about "Headhunters" from everyone but can't find it anywhere, if YOU do, please let me know, I'd appreciate it!

It's showing in Picturehouse cinemas in the UK - release date the first week of April.

http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-ent...

Interesting review on Jo Nesbo's just out Phantom...which I hope to start this weekend.

Ian wrote: "It's showing in Picturehouse cinemas in the UK - release date the first week of April."

Showing here in The Netherlands April too.

Sharon wrote: "Phillip Christensen.... the husband in Borgen played by Mikael Birkkjaer....perfect Harry!"

And/or Lars Mikkelsen? Tall, skinny, somewhat thinning hair. Does that not fit the bill?

I can see why they would make this a movie, but I can't say I am to happy. I guess that you couldn't make this a series of movies because it would just be to long, but its unfortunate that a majority of people who will enjoy this story will get the movie version, and not the masterfully developed book version. I think this novel was so great because along with a great story, the characters were developed for at least 4 previous books ( 2 not in english). I probably won't even see this movie unless it gets absolutely astounding reviews because I don't want it to ruin my perception of what nesbo wrote. Girl with the dragon tattoo was a good movie, but it still didnt measure to the book. I expect that to be the same with The Snowman.

As for whos playing harry, its important to remember that Nesbo describes him as being ugly, although very likable ( for the reader at least), so its important to keep that in mind for who ever gets the part. It would be a shame if the story gets glamourized by having someone like Leo or Brad Pitt get the role (great actors, but not harry hole). I guess I just hope that the movie keeps the novels scandanavian crime grit.