Wildside (1998) User Reviews

redemption doesn't come easy

[anniemarshallster · 7/10 · 30 May 2013]

Lots of secrets here, underlined by male friendship and love gone stale and destroyed by time, maturity and cruel biology. The film reminds me of Paul Schrader's world - where things get as bad as they possibly can before people find themselves and access their better nature. Ossy's back and is in Jimmy's face and what is worse his space - his home with his wife and kid. The warmed over remains of the friendship are played out to their inevitable conclusion - Ossy always desperately pushing, Jimmy trying to disengage. Iceland's bleak landscape contributes a lot to the atmosphere but the strength of this film is in the performances - all of them good but Coaster-Waldau and Mikkelsen particularly strong. Both Ossy and Jimmy have everything to lose, one his life and the other his family (which amounts to much the same thing). Incidentally will Jimmy be off the financial hook at the end? Ossy has paid but in this world is that enough?

Simplistic.

[derekbd1966 · 5/10 · 23 March 2021]

I enjoyed most of the film's running time. Both men are very good actors and most things about the set-up and starting plot lines were intriguing.

But by the end, it's become clear that Ossy's situation has only made him more pathetically selfish and self-destructive than he has (apparently) most of his adult life. Are we meant to pity this man who is apparently healthy enough to travel easily and breezily from wherever he last screwed people over, dive into undoubtedly very cold and rough water and then climb nimbly and swiftly up rocks he'd not even been near until a minute before, spend a night drinking to excess, and looking pretty damn good (most of the time) as far as we can see? Assuming this was set in 1997 or 1998, and we've no reason not to, his condition was far from critical, much less lethal.

His actions from beginning (and probably before) to the end did nothing but harm others, both cherished friend (!) as well as and strangers who selflessly helped him.

He could have called Jimmy, said goodbye, and then jumped off a cliff somewhere, instead of careen through a day and night leaving damage in his wake that he won't have to face, as usual.

Acting showcase.

[McBuff · 4 May 2001]

This powerful drama (beautifully filmed in Iceland) was much maligned by Danish critics, which seems quite unfair to me, as I was very moved by it. Nikolaj Waldau´s performance is one of the best you´ll ever see, and Mads Mikkelsen is great as always. Debuting helmer Simon Staho lets his actors give it their best, but loses his grip somewhat with a derivative drug-dealer subplot, although it doesn´t detract from an otherwise excellent film. Nikolaj Coster Waldau co-wrote with the director and eventually married costar Nukâka. *** (of ****)

Very bad movie, bad in the wrong way that is.

[Holst11 · 1/10 · 24 July 2003]

I just saw this piece of I-don't-know-what on video. What a waste of time! A wall of boring clichés instead of depth or insight, it's plain immature in stead of thought provoking. Superficial nonsense and wannabe-arty, that's what this movie is. And it's dead boring, too. Don't waste your time on it, fellas. In one word it's just: pseudo!

Moving and compelling film about friendship gone astray

[tanja-8 · 10/10 · 14 May 1999]

I will warmly recommend people of all ages to see this extraordinary film. It´s about a friendship gone astray and how to deal with the demons of the past and within yourself. The film is shot on Iceland and has some fantastic scenery. A very beautiful and moving debut from director Simon Staho and indeed very compelling acting from Mads Mikkelsen and Nikolai Coster-Waldau in the main roles.

terrible

[petersen738 · 2/10 · 7 February 2018]

Terrible and embarrassing, i am danish, i like danish movies and i like both actors, but this movie is terribly simple and cartoonish. The dialogue is pretentious and cheesy and the plot is very predictable.