Jar City

In Jar City everything is exactly as it should be, nothing is leaking, overflowing or missing. It's the type of film that few will dismiss, but it's hard to remember years later. It's just a good raw crime drama, and sympathetically believable at its core; within the confines of the genre, of course. (29/03/2008)

Jar City caught my attention with its audiovisual aspect – the rugged Icelandic landscape and the hard-thinking, religiously tuned musical score. I was a bit disappointed that the criminal plot, the identity of the perpetrator and, in fact, the narrative devices were quite transparent, and as a result there was no surprising plot twist at the end. Still, it's a noteworthy film with some typically evocative moments for Nordic cinema, and it makes for a pretty murderously depressing advert for Iceland. (24/02/2021)

Jar City is a hellishly dark crime film with a unique atmosphere. The mystery is gradually unraveled by visiting more and more residents that had something to do with it and their information pushes the bewildered detectives forward, which is strengthened by deeper and deeper immersion in the harshness and isolation of the Scandinavian environment. A film with a great audiovisual aspect that won’t attract many tourists to Iceland. (25/02/2015)

It is quite unbelievable that Iceland, with around three hundred thousand inhabitants, can regularly produce films that surpass much more populous nations and established cinema. Jar City has everything that belongs to a modern crime thriller and what I appreciate in this genre. It has a believable story, with well-developed characters, tension, and above all, an atmosphere created by both the contemplative stark and yet beautiful Nordic landscape, and the dark music where the important element is played by a male choir. The cinematography also deserves recognition, as it creates stylistic shots reminiscent of Fincher's style, and sometimes plays with shocking details, whether in a medical laboratory or when discovering the victim. As the icing on the cake, it provides specific Nordic humor that is unlikely to be found in mainstream American crime films. The film is not action-packed, and the only chase scene turns into a farce when the perpetrator, a robust thug, realizes after a few dozen meters that he is being pursued by a short-statured police officer, and they soon exchange roles. National specificities are highlighted in the plot, for example, when it turns out that in desolate Iceland, everyone knows everyone. Overall impression: 80%. (10/10/2010)

I think Kormákur has slightly overstepped the pursuit of a pure Nordic detective story into hyper-gritty and hyper-tragic stylization, which does not seem very credible, especially towards the end. Otherwise, it is beautifully filmed, equipped with a stylish get-up and, above all, fabulously cast. All they had to do was push a little less and let the atmosphere and interesting characters do the talking. The director is undoubtedly talented and full of healthy energy, but Jar City just doesn’t manage to always stretch it in the ideal direction. Anyway, it's an interesting account of Icelandic identity. (25/07/2011)