A few days ago I noticed that my husband was browsing different DVD stores online. My thought was, nice, we’ll get something new to watch. I was not quite prepared for the order’s size and I was shocked when I was met by a mountain of DVDs on the dining table. Even worse – we are apparently expecting another two packages from different stores…

Will Ferrell movies for him, a few mysteries for me (thank you!), selected box office hits and classics that were on sale. Now the question is — when are we supposed to have the time to watch all of them?

The Swedish movie Master Detective Lives Dangerously from 1957 is one of my all time favorites. The movie is based on Astrid Lindgrens book about the boy detective Kalle Blomkvist and she wrote the script as well. I really recommend it if you have not seen it yet. I do not even know how many times I have seen the movie.

War of the Roses

It is summer in Lillköping, Sweden, and Kalle, Anders and Eva-Lotta (The White Rose) battle against Sixten, Jonte and Benka (The Red Rose) in the war about a special stone. Their innocent game becomes serious when Eva-Lotta finds the old man Gren dead. She bumped into the killer right before that and she becomes the most important witness. It is not surprising that Master Detective Kalle Blomkvist ends up solving the murder mystery.

The Robber Language

The Robber Language was introduced in Astrid Lindgren’s books about Kalle Blomkvist, and The White Rose benefit from it in the movie. I am sure that I am not the only one who have used this code language as a child, or?

Stieg Larsson

Lisbeth Salander is based on Astrid Lindgrens Pippi Longstocking. Stieg Larsson also borrowed Kalle Blomkvist’s last name to the male main character of his books – Mikael Blomkvist – and in the Millenium books Swedish media sometimes nicknames him “Kalle”.

Original movie title in Swedish: Mästerdetektiven lever farligt

The much anticipated movie release of the year finally came and we stood in line to the theatre with other die-hard fans of the Millennium trilogy. Most of the people we talked to had read all the books and seen all the Swedish movies. Just like us.

Swedish or American Version?

The American movie is awesome, but somehow I feel like I had seen it all before. However, if you do not know Swedish and do not like subtitles, then this is the movie for you. Being from Sweden I loved that this movie was filmed there as well. I realize that this version will reach a much wider audience, and give Sweden a lot of publicity. You cannot argue with that.

Battle of Lisbeth Salander

Would Rooney Mara measure up to Noomi Rapace? That was the big question, and in my opinion the answer is YES. Rooney did an awesome job! However, I do not think she was better than Noomi, just different. I love them both!

Sequel?

I do not know if there will be American movie versions of the other two books, but I really hope so. I loved the first Swedish movie, but I think Hollywood can make something more, something better, with the second and third book.

I am a big fan of Pixar’s movies. They can tell a good story and also create extremely beautiful animations at the same time. In other words, what is there not to like?

For the sequel to Cars, Cars 2, Pixar has chosen to create a children’s version of James Bond, well maybe not quite, a British agent movie is maybe a better description. But this time they do not succeed with the storyline, which is too weak. It may be entertaining for really young children, but for 12-year-olds it will be too childish. For us even older “children” there is nothing entertaining about the story. Too bad.

However, the animation is INCREDIBLY beautiful, but it is not enough to save the movie.

The movie is worth seeing for the young audience that liked the first Cars movie, but it is not a great choice if the whole family wants to watch a movie.

Some of you may have read Harlan Cobens book thriller Tell no one. This movie is a french adaption of that movie and when I saw it I was blown away. It is great!

Story

8 years ago the wife of Alexander Beck was presumed killed by a serial killer who later was captured. Now the doctor receives an e-mail from, what it seems, his late wife…. and fter the police finds a new body, killed in the same way as the other victims the case is reopened and Alexander is the prime suspect. Now he has to escape from the law as well as try to find out if his wife still is alive…

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The movie from 2006 is directed by Guillame Canet. If you still aren´t convinced that it is great you can watch this trailer.  Harlan Coben himself figures in the movie. Why not see if you can spot him!

This past weekend it was finally time to see The Adventures of Tintin. Wow! You could tell in every frame of the movie that the creators really love the characters!

Storyline

Tintin is dragged into a wild treasure hunt when he buys a model ship at a flea market. The ship turns out to contain one of the three clues that lead to a sunken treasure. But there are others also looking for the treasure and they will do anything to find it first.

Highest Rating

It is almost impossible to make a better Tintin movie than this! I really hope that more will follow.

Translator’s note: The movie has been released in Europe, and will continue to be released in additional countries Nov 2011 – Jan 2012.

“What is hidden in snow, comes forth in the thaw” is a translation of a common Swedish expression. We on the other hand will have to wait until the snowy season (December 21, 2011) for the American movie adaptation of “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” to be released. I am excited, are you?

We welcome Nigel Bellis to TheCrimeHouse! Nigel is the Co-executive Producer and Series Producer of Investigation Discovery’s “Wicked Attraction.”

Welcome to TheCrimeHouse! Could you first share with us a little bit of information about the show, “Wicked Attraction” for those who might not be familiar with it?

Wicked Attraction is now in its fifth season for Discovery I.D. The series features stories where more than one person has been involved in a murder. Usually this is couples, but sometimes a group of individuals. Wicked Attraction explores – assisted by psychologists, former FBI profilers, and other human behavioral experts – the mindset of those who are carrying out these crimes. The series uses dramatic reconstruction, news archive, location interviews and video to tell the story. The local police, prosecutors, crime writers, reporters, defense attorneys, family members and sometimes the killers themselves assist the recounting of events.

Why did you choose to work on a true crime show?

This is my fourth season producing the series. I find murder a fascinating subject. People kill – as this series demonstrates – for a very wide range of reasons and in all manner of ways. Creatively it offers the chance to make mini movies, and to work with a skilled team of TV professionals, where the aim is to captivate the audience throughout. It’s challenging TV to get right in terms of tone, drama, and the way that the story unfolds. I also enjoy ensuring that our episodes have something new to say – perhaps through an interview with someone involved who hasn’t spoken on camera before, or through some police video or interview tape that hasn’t previously been shown. Another example is that a lot of viewers are unlikely to be aware of Phillip Garrido’s earlier serious crimes which we feature prominently in the Jaycee Dugard kidnapping episode.

The Jaycee Dugard Story premieres on Thursday, October 13, 2011 at 9 PM (ET) in the U.S.

How do you choose what criminal cases to do episodes about?

They have to sustain an hour of television. Some cases involve more than one murder at different times. Where there is a single murder the story needs a number of key elements, such as a build up to the crime itself, interesting life stories of everyone involved, or perhaps a real ‘who did it” mystery angle. In the case of Jaycee Dugard a key challenge was in deciding which events to focus on in a story that spans so many years.

How do you feel working on a show that deals with such horrendous crimes?

How do you feel? I’m assuming you mean on an emotional level. I never cease to be moved by the interviews from family members of victims which can be extremely powerful even when having seen them many times during the editing process. We take pride in our sensitive handling of re-enactments. It’s usually down to me as to what we show and what we don’t recreate. We want these moments to be credible and powerful, but not gratuitous in terms of showing the actual murder.

Some cases do cause me sleepless nights, especially when I’m alone and the wind is howling outside. I make sure my doors are locked!

How do you find the experts featured on the show?

We tend to use the same experts now from previous seasons of Wicked Attraction, although if a crime writer has written about a new case we are always interested in considering featuring them.

Is there a certain episode that has touched you more than the others?

An elderly couple buried alive and another case of two men who drove around California kidnapping, raping, torturing and murdering young girls were especially difficult for the whole team to deal with.

Why do you think “Wicked Attraction” is so successful?

I think Wicked Attraction is successful because the show has a certain voice, style and visual look – and predominantly we tell interesting stories in a compelling way. After a while you get a true sense of what works and what doesn’t in the crime genre.

How long does it take to finish an episode (from the decision is made to do a particular case until the episode airs on TV)?

It takes four months to make an episode and usually there is a month or two before it is transmitted here in the USA. We produce 13 episodes each season.

Do you have a favorite crime novel, TV show (except “Wicked Attraction”) or movie?

All three Godfather movies, Casino, and Goodfellas are classics in my view that I enjoy re-watching from time to time, and I am currently enjoying the Inspector Lewis fictional crime mysteries from the UK. I don’t tend to read crime novels, but I am slowly wading through In Cold Blood – because I’m interested in seeing why it is regarded as a literary masterpiece.

Anything else you would like to share with TheCrimeHouse and our visitors?

My proudest moments are when we receive a letter from a family member of a victim thanking us for portraying the story both accurately and sensitively. Sometimes they also write saying that our portrayal of events has brought them a sense of closure, as this was the first time they had been able to see, understand, and digest all aspects of what transpired and why.

I’d also like to thank your readers for their interest in what we do and how we do it, and look forward to bringing them a new season of Wicked Attraction in the Summer of 2012!

Thank you so much for taking the time to answer our questions.

Se7en

David Fincher’s first movie as a feature length director was Alien 3, which was a borderline disaster, but his breakout performance was his next movie Se7en. Every scene jumps off the screen. And the suspense builds throughout the movie as Detective Mills (Brad Pitt) and Detective Somerset (Morgan Freeman) discover each new crime scene, rake over the clues, and get closer the finding the killer. As they discover each new body, the unnamed city they are in is constantly rainy, dark, and depressing (this style is blatantly copied in the recently released American version of The Killing). As usual, Fincher gets the most out of his cast, which included Brad Pitt, Morgan Freeman, and Gwyneth Paltrow. The actor who played the killer, one of Hollywood’s best, was not billed in the movie posters, and did no promotion for the movie so that it would be a surprise to the audience, at least to those who saw it opening weekend. I will continue this tradition and encourage those of you who have not seen it, not to look it up, but instead to watch the movie to find out.

Honorary Status

Of any American movie, I think Se7en deserves honorary status in the “Deckare” genre (“deckare” is the Swedish word for crime fiction). So I also think if anyone can pull off an American version of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, it is David Fincher. He was robbed of an Oscar for The Social Network, so I think he was extremely motivated to go back to the crime genre and create a movie that will amaze.

I also encourage “Deckare” fans to check out Zodiac—it is not quite as good as Se7en, but it is another good Fincher crime movie about a serial killer.

Fincher is also teaming up again with the Oscar winning composer Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails. While The Social Network was Reznor’s first official movie score, he actually remixed his hit Closer for the classic and creepy opening sequence which sets the stage for Se7en. So I will wait to judge the Dragon Tattoo remake until after I have seen it in the theaters, but I am confident it is in good hands.

John W. Arterberry

No, they are not regulars at Flashback, they have just become obsessed with “Dexter”. The atmosphere by the coffeemaker is fascinating, and when I revealed that I had not watched a single episode I was met with confused looks and a mob that all of a sudden became extremely dedicated to make me aware of the phenomenon Dexter.

One Morning I Found This at My Desk

I have now started what I understand will be a Dexter marathon. After the first episode I knew that I hated the intro, which is despicable. And the series seemed ok, but not more, and I was pondering whether or not I would spend more time watching it. I mentioned this next time at the coffee maker at work, and was met by even more confused looks. Consequently I had to give it another chance. And here we are, three episodes later. I have to admit that my desire to watch another episode is growing stronger. I only have one problem: the appetite. I have somehow managed to watch all of the episodes so far while eating a meal. Not recommended!