Mannen på taket

Gripping police procedural which feels completely authentic and undramatised.

This film manages to do a number of good things at the same time that one would almost expect to be mutually exclusive. First of all it feels completely authentic, as if you are watching real police work. Secondly it shows you all kinds of aspects of the police work rather than focusing only on the most exciting ones. Finally it grabbed my attention right from the start and kept me interested all the way through. Basically it's an exciting movie about not always exciting police work.

From one of Sweden's wonderful, but sadly overshadowed filmmakers, "Man on the Roof" is a gritty and brutal thriller which is also an examination of police ethics. If "The Deadly Tower" had been made by Sidney Lumet it might have looked something like this.

Pleasantly surprised. Manages to be both as cynical as nordic crime would later be known for, but the grimness felt a lot less forced. And interestingly "The Man" is the hero, probably the last time we'll see that for some decades.

Captivating police thriller with a good investigation in the first half and a tense ride in the second.