elision10 This is one of those movies where you hate to criticize it because there are so few movies nowadays that are effecting and tell a story for grown-ups. And for the first two-thirds or so the film IS absorbing, and the characters are touching. The humor of a man who, try as he may, cannot kill himself, is hard to resist. But in the end, this curmudgeon-becomes-loving-and-lovable story feels hackneyed and false. Ove rails against the bureaucracy of the "whiteshirts," but as many have pointed out when asked, "What did people do before the government got involved in (fill in the blank),"... well, they were abused, or were poisoned, or were killed. I don't know -- maybe it's a Swedish thing of an overbearing state, and there is a real risk of the infirm being carted away by money-minded caretakers (or at least there was one such story in the papers). But Ove's world view seems rather like that of a (rather unappealing) Idaho separatist. Moreover, I felt cheated that the fact his wife spent her adult life in a wheelchair wasn't disclosed until near the end. It would have come up more naturally earlier in the story, and leaving it for last felt like manipulation. Again, the movie is certainly watchable, or at least most of it. But ultimately I think it is a failure, and its rating among critics too high.

Corey James This review of A Man Called Ove is spoiler free**** (4/5)SENTIMENT IS A godsend, and to come across them these days is a real miracle that seemingly can't be done, in blockbusters maybe but in Hannes Holm's irresistible adaptation of Fredrik Backman's eponymous bestseller, A Man Called Ove has that and more. Holm gently matches beautiful material, emotional heft, and loving melodrama all in one and it's wonderful. Ove (Rolf Lassgård) is the grumpy man of the block – a 59-year-old retiree, who several years before the film's setting had been kicked out of the Condominium Association, yet he still angrily enforces rules for the isolated community, this turns him into the most hated man on the block. He writes down rules in his handy notepad, stops cars, and refuses to do the simplest tasks. He blames his wife's death on everyone and everything around him; he's always angry, shouting at people and terrifying animals. This perfect characterization comes with a flaw, he's terribly lonely, visiting the grave of recently deceased wife, and he tries to commit suicide. Until new neighbours move in. A young family of four. The young woman of this new family, Parvaneh (Bahar Pars) wants to meet her new neighbour, Ove doesn't want to know. Character-wise Ove is a lot like As Good As It Gets' Melvin Udall, he hates everyone and everything, until someone special takes a hold of his heart – that is Parvaneh and her two children. He starts to get used to her, he teaches her to drive, and he vows to baby-sit. And it's wonderful. Holms' direction is polished to near perfection, he handles Ove's story with fierce hands, there's no heavy touch, the way his camera moves through the community, the cemetery the detail is exquisite. It excels in its redemption tale setting, it's made with love, carefully mixing melodrama with dark comedy and Holm makes it work well. The material used from the novel is used beautifully. There's sympathy for him as visits his wife's grave, and as he wills to commit suicide. He's hilarious too, with his deadpan expression he's hilarious in his behaviour he utters the word idiot to passers-by, he imitates a Chihuahua plus his rivalry with people who own foreign cars is exceptionally funny. And he's emotional, thanks to timely flashbacks that carefully construct his life from the death of his mother, through growing up with his father, to the meeting of his wife, which combined with Lassgård's tour de force performance is a perfect storyteller. A Man Called Ove excels in brilliance, it's an incredibly human comedy which captures true sentiment and fires it like an arrow at your heartstrings; this could be one of the best films of the year by far. VERDICT: Flawless performances help convert this lovable tale onto the silver screen, with excellent execution in true sentiment and emotional heft.

Human This is a funny movie, perhaps it is tragic comedy somehow. The story is about a man that has a life full of bad events outside his control. When he is really young his mother dies and he is left alone with his father. So he grows up with his father. It seems as they only talk cars and not much more, but his father says that it is the only thing he needs to know in order to get by. In a way that seems more right, considering the outcome of his life events. You will understand it, when you see the film. Anyway, this movie really starts off when Ove is a older man living on his own. He looses his job and his life takes another turn. But on this way we get to see flashbacks to the life Ove has lived. The flashbacks make us understand Ove a bit more. I would consider it as Ove had a hard life, but he seems to have adapted to circumstances. He has also been good in accomplishments, when he has set a goal. You will understand that too, if you see the movie. I laughed a lot in this film, then at times it was tragic and there was nothing to really laugh about. It is about life, both joy and sadness and how you as a person can handle it. We are all different. Ove has his routines and we could say he likes routines. Every week he visits his wife's grave and talks to her. He tells her what is going on, as if she was still alive. I consider Ove a simple man, he likes his routines. Who doesn't? Ove is no different from other's that like routines. But then a new family moves in to the neighboring house and Ove's routines are changed. So what happens when Ove's routines change? Is it changing differently than all other strange events in his life? Well Ove is a interesting man. I would say a strong man, a man that adapts to the circumstances given. I like this routine-like movie with comedy and sorrow. It is a about a possible life, a life that someone could have. Ove is a unique person, who dares to be himself. I wish you do too. If you want to enjoy a good story in happiness and tears, then perhaps A man named Ove could help you with that? The part of Ove is well played, the actor seems like he is Ove himself. He makes laughter and convinces the viewer he is "Ove", even though it is all just fiction. It is not an action, it is not a drama, even though this tragedy contains drama too. It has a melancholic feel to it, but yet enjoyable with the possibility to bring laughter to those small moments of joy.

Ana Silva (Anaslair) This was my first experience with Swedish cinema and I have to say I am so pleasantly surprised. I absolutely loved this film.It portrays the life of 59-year-old Ove as he gives up on life; his routine is interspersed with scenes of his past that tell us how he has become the man he is today. I have to say the performances were right on top. The two actors that portrayed this character were right on. I can see how the young Ove became the older one and why he resents everything and everyone - the light of his life, who made him the way he is, has gone.I thought this would be more depressing than it actually was. Yes, there were moments when I got teary-eyed because you can't help but relate to this guy and everything he is and has been through. However, I laughed out loud in more than one occasion and so did other folks in the audience. At the same time it is so tender and touching. Ove struggles all the way but his new neighbours, particularly the mom with her perpetual sunny smile on her face who is not afraid to rant right back at him cannot help but snap his out of his bad humour and make Ove open up to life.The photography is beautiful. The pace is as well. I thought there would be slow moments but there was no such thing. The scenes are every-day stuff for the most part but the interactions of Ove with other characters or animals or even his monologues at his wife's grave always have an element or two to perk things up, usually Ove's humour.There were only a couple of things I thought were overdone, like the bureaucratic character that seemed too vilified and a few other occasions that were exacerbated for comical value. However even despite that I cannot recommend this movie enough. It really is brilliant, a work of art. I am sure there is something in it that everyone can relate to.