What if they had chosen De Niro or Edward Norton to play the role of Finch?

Rating: 7/10 (21 June 2005)

Before I wanted to write a review, I didn't know it yet, but apparently this movie is a remake of a Norwegian movie, made 5 years earlier. That's something I don't really understand about Hollywood: Why do they always have to make remakes of European and Asian movies? Is it because they can't bare the thought that someone else might have come up with an idea for a movie that actually worked or is it because they believe that no-one will have seen the original version and therefor will believe that the remake is actually an original movie? I don't know, but I find it quite sad actually. Still, if it is a good movie, I can see past that...
The story is situated in Alaska this time. When Detective Will Dormer is sent from the city to investigate the murder of a teenage girl in a small Alaskan town, he accidentally shoots his own partner while trying to apprehend a suspect. But instead of admitting that he shot the man, he uses an unexpected alibi. But that doesn't make it easier for him, it only adds to his guilt and makes it almost impossible for him to cope with his emotions. Add to this the fact that he can't sleep because of the midnight sun, the murder case that needs to be solved, the investigation that has been opened against him, some blackmail and framing of an innocent bystander, orchestrated by the man they were chasing and you know that it is all getting much too big to handle for one man...
I can't say that I had ever heard of Nikolaj Frobenius or Erik Skjoldbjærg before, but they sure know how to write an interesting script. The story is nice and there are enough twists to keep you guessing until the end about who actually did it and once you know that, why he did it. But if I had been the director of this movie I would have chosen another actor for the role of Walter Finch. What Robin Williams did with it, certainly wasn't bad, but I believe that a man like Robert De Niro or even Edward Norton might have been better for the role. Somehow I don't see Williams as a man capable of what he does in this movie. Still, that doesn't mean that the quality of the movie is low or even average. No, this is definitely an enjoyable thriller that offers some very good acting, beautiful decors, a good story... I liked it all and that's why I give this movie a 7/10, maybe even a 7.5/10.