Author: Jeff Mitchell

10 Quirky Movies: ‘O’Horten’

Jeff Mitchell

“O’Horten” (2007) – In the middle of a snowy winter in Oslo, Odd (Baard Owe), a train engineer, turns 67 and reluctantly faces his impending retirement.  A quiet loner, he’d prefer zero fanfare, but his coworkers plan an honorary dinner.  After he steps down, Odd runs into a series of odd circumstances that depart from his normal routines, ones that he has safely enjoyed for decades. In this delightful comedy/drama, writer/director Bent Hamer presents a 90-minute feast of eccentric visuals and soft, caring moments with an unlikely hero placed front…

10 Quirky Comedies: ‘Kitchen Stories’

Jeff Mitchell

“Kitchen Stories” (2003) – Director Bent Hamer’s oddball, playful import is as fresh as a breath of crisp Scandinavian air.  Just after WWII, Sweden’s Home Research Institute – a technological leader in improving home efficiencies – wishes to understand the kitchen habits of single Norwegian men. Who knows how they tick, right? This pits an elderly hermit named Isak (Joachim Calmeyer) against Folke (Tomas Norstrom), who has been assigned as his observer during a frigid winter in an isolated, snowy village.  The weather plays the role of a third character…

10 Quirky Comedies: ‘Quick Change’

Jeff Mitchell

“Quick Change” (1990) – Before lawmakers cleaned up New York City, crime ran high, some areas resembled third world countries and seedy peep shows in Times Square were commonplace.  Grimm (Bill Murray) works as a frustrated city planner, doesn’t like what he sees and longs to live somewhere else. “God, I hate this town,” he says…repeatedly. So why not rob a bank for $1,000,000 and leave the city for good? Due to the U.S. Federal Government properly insuring bank customers’ deposits up to a certain limit, no one “really” gets hurt…