A Danish pop video director who’s just got a big Hollywood break.
Where would I know him from?
So far, he’s mostly done commercials and music videos. His only serious productions have been the 2006 Danish children’s TV series ‘Johanne i troldeskoven’ and a documentary about ‘Fear X’, a film made by another Danish director, Nicolas Winding Refn.
So he’s boring, nerdy and a bit of a kiss-ass.
Well, somebody was obviously impressed because he’s just caught a break directing the feature film ‘Agent: Ventury 21’.
Sounds like a brand of washing powder.
Actually, it’s a big Hollywood production featuring Cameron Diaz and Benicio Del Toro.
Sexy cast! So what’s it about?
Diaz plays a real estate agent who is getting over a divorce. She agrees to do a task for her boss, and the next thing she knows, she’s been kidnapped and ends up in the middle of a Mexican drug war.
Which is where Del Toro comes in …
Yeah, he plays a cartel boss who takes pity on her and gives her a way out by sending her on a somewhat impossible mission to avenge his dead son.
But why would Hollywood entrust such a big production with a relatively unknown director?
That’s a good question. Safe to say it wasn’t his work for Danish pop band Oh No Ono – although he was pretty happy about it himself.
Really?
In his own words, in the music video ‘Swim’, “I’m constantly seeking a balance in my filmmaking, between seriousness and a grotesque form of comedy, and that video is the closest I’ve gotten. So far.”
Grotesque comedy? And he’s working with Benicio Del Toro. Isn’t he one of those method actors?
He’s pretty much as serious as they come. I guess we’ll just have to wait and see if the two of them can come to terms with each others’ artistic views.
