THE MIDDLE MAN: This Film Surprised Me

I went into this movie, as I often do, knowing very little about what I was in for. I just think it’s fun to watch a film where I have to spend my time living in the moment trying to figure out if it is a horror or a comedy or a crime thriller or a mystery, it keeps things interesting. If I go into a movie with zero expectations, I can take it all in for what it is, good or bad. Often I’m left scratching my head wondering why I just spent two hours on something I wouldn’t show as a form of torture to an enemy but in the case of The Middle Man, I was happily surprised.

This movie was written and directed by Bent Hamer (yes, I love his name too) and he really put together a story that left me guessing what direction it was going to take. It begins with our lead guy Frank (Pål Sverre Hagen) being interviewed for the position of middle man in the small town of Karmack. The Middle Man is tasked basically with delivering all the bad news to families when something tragic happens. Frank isn’t particularly good at this job, often fumbling over his words or leaving out the most important bits until the end.

There isn’t a lot I can tell you about the story without revealing or ruining some of the twists and turns but what I will say is this movie is very funny at times. It also happens to be tragic and heartfelt and in the end left me feeling kind of hopeful. It was weird to feel that after the events that I had just witnessed, but hopeful was how I felt. There is a love story here, and a tragic past that has left a broken man, a fully formed character. Frank feels real.

What The Middle Man Got Right

I could talk for hours about the cinematography in this film, the way the shots were framed, and the lighting, creating moving paintings that highlight the story being told perfectly. Hamer did a great job here. The film also has a great score, sometimes you don’t even notice until you listen for it, it fits with what we are seeing sneaky and under the radar. And that cast; Pål Sverre Hagen of course but also, Don McKellar, Paul Gross, Tuva Novotny, Nicolas Bro, and Nina Andresen Borud, all completely took turns stealing the show.

The story cannot be left out as a point of something I think they got right. It was different, and original, and I love everything about being able to use those two words. It isn’t often that I can. This isn’t a retread of something you’ve seen before, it’s new and tells a very concise; beginning, middle, and end. A self-contained, original tale, that came in and took me on a journey, what more can anyone ask for? Nothing is my answer.

This isn’t a mystery but it definitely had hints of mystery because I didn’t know where the story was going to go next. It started as a dark comedy, shifted to a feel-good film then quickly cranked up the tragedy and let that ride a little. After it got us on the edge of our seats with wonder, it punched us in the heart and then somehow delivered a bittersweet yet happy ending. It is an enigma of a little movie in the best way.

Where the Middle Man Went Wrong

I’m going to have to do nitpicking to the highest degree to find things that this movie got wrong. I’m sure many might disagree with me and that’s okay, I thought it was great. One thing I can call out about the film is that there are a couple of times the movie references things from the past that we didn’t know were on anybody’s mind. It isn’t important that we know before they bring them up but they could have been scenes that they showed us in flashback. As it is, the biggest of these memories, we are left to decide whose account we believe, Frank’s or his mother’s. That’s all I’ll say about that, I’m not going to ruin anything.

The only other thing I can think to draw attention to is that I wanted to spend more time with these people. None of them are particularly awful, everyone is layered with good and bad aspects to their personalities. It would have been good to learn more about each one. It wasn’t necessary to the story, this is just me being selfish and always wanting more of a good thing. I can’t help it, I’ve always been that way.

Conclusion:

I really enjoyed going into this movie blind, being forced to figure it out as it unfolded before me. I’m going to make it a habit of trying to do that more in the future, it just adds another layer of being forced to pay attention. Great art deserves to be paid attention to and often when we have preconceived notions about what something is going to be we fade in and out and really miss what the filmmaker is going for. The Middle Man was a great film and has turned into something I will definitely be recommending to anyone who will listen.

If you like movies that aren’t all about explosions or car chases or endless violence and are there just to tell a great story and take us on a ninety-minute ride, this is the movie for you. It’s fun and heartfelt, tragic and funny. It really has a little bit of something for everyone. This is one of those movies that will make you think when it’s over, whether you are questioning how everyone ended up where they did or just rooting for people to succeed, it will stick with you. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m off to tell everyone that they need to watch this as soon as possible.

The Middle Man is currently streaming on VOD. 

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