M

Second watch. An absolute pleasure to behold from start to end.

This is an incredible looking film: The angles, framing, composition, lighting, contrast, camera movement. More than that though, it’s the storytelling that’s brilliant, and that’s the magic. It’s all very well having every frame be a painting, but this isn’t a painting, it’s a living breathing story and everything is working together in perfect unison to tell that story.

A slightly ridiculous example, but the infamous “crotch shot” of Inspector Lohmann. The investigation is going nowhere. He’s still physically there in the office, but he’s listless with a dishevelled look, undignified, eyes heavy-lidded. In the other, more tasteful angles, you see his desk is a mess. He’s just waiting and has nothing to do apart from drink coffee, smoke cigars and eat snacks. But then there’s a lead, and a breakthrough… everything about him transforms - his face, posture, clothing; he’s back in action! Great visual storytelling, just as with basically every other scene throughout this entire film!