Adam's Apples (2005)

As some of the synopsis/summaries say, this is indeed a wickedly dark comedy. What it also is, is a beautiful feel-good story about faith. No, no, no. Don't get me wrong. There's no evangelism or no preaching involved here. It's just that the movie makes you think while you are watching it and even after you are done with it. A few plot-lines may require a leap of faith and most audiences will be fine with that. I highly recommend this as a watch if you don't mind the subtitles.

"Adam's Apples" is one of the strangest movies I've ever seen--so strange that I am not even sure if I liked it or not! It certainly IS a one-of-a-kind viewing experience!!When the film begins, Adam (Ulrich Thomsen) is being paroled to the custody of a very strange priest, Ivan (Mads Mikkelsen). Despite Adam being a thoroughly unrepentant neo-Nazi, Ivan seems oblivious to the evil man who he's agreed to care for...as well as two other rather screwed up criminals he's already caring for at his church. Through the course of the film, Adam is amazed that Ivan has the most horrible life on Earth...yet he is bizarrely optimistic and happy. Even when Adam nearly beats Ivan to death, Ivan is still idealistic to the point of insanity. What gives? And, what does making an apple pie have to do with all this?!Technically speaking, the film is well made and the acting good. I was also impressed by how all this ended. But it certainly IS a strange journey...one that is challenging for most viewers. It's about the strangest and darkest comedies I've ever seen, that's for sure!

Not in the negative or disparaging sense, but both the background and characters are like from another world. Everything is twisted and intertwined, laugh is inside tragic events and/or past, people in the parish are so different as they can be... And so there is religion: a kind of unifying factor, but through questionable motives and patterns. Well, the director and screenwriter Anders Thomas Jensen is famous for strange films and Adams æbler is definitely shining in this row.But the strongest part of the film is the cast, it includes so many contemporary Danish character actors: Ulrich Thomsen, Mads Mikkelsen, Nicolas Bro, Paprika Steen, Nikolaj Lie Kaas... They are really great to follow, even if their characters' actions make you shrug your shoulders, or some jokes or scenes are just above/your comprehension. Thus, the film is well recommended, but it must be seen in a company of like-minded, it is not for everyone's taste. People with extreme or fie!ugh! attitudes should better skip it totally.

"Let's stop with the accusations. It was an old cat. He just happened to fall down while we were shooting."There are dark comedies. There are pitch black comedies. And then, there's Adam's Apples.If you want to watch a movie that takes some of the most depressing, horrible things you can think of, and makes them absolutely hilarious, this is the movie for you.I won't spoil much of the story, as watching what unexpectedly happens throughout is one of the pleasures of the movie. It begins with a priest named Ivan driving an unrepentant neo-Nazi named Adam from prison to the church where he will be performing his community service. Ivan gives Adam the choice of one goal to set for himself to complete, before he leaves. Ivan, completely uncaring, chooses to make an apple pie from the apple tree outside the church, once they are ripe.From there, things quickly get out of hand. Let's just say that the sensitive need not apply. I recommend Adam's Apples to people with a dark sense of humor, who are fine with laughing at incredibly inappropriate (yet incredibly amusing) things. This movie was made for people like you and me. I'm not referring to low-brow humor. This is a different animal. An utterly unique (as far as my experience goes), intelligent comedy that ultimately brings sunshine forth from some of the darkest clouds you've ever seen (both figuratively and literally).