XX: A Swirl of Intrigue and Familiar Faces

So I just watched this flick, XX, directed by the legendary Christopher Nolan. Always expect him to mess with my brain, and he didn’t disappoint. You know the feeling when you’re figuring out a perfect recipe for köttbullar, just to realize you’ve mistaken salt for sugar? That’s kind of how watching this movie felt.

Starring Cate Blanchett and Denzel Washington, the acting was predictably top-notch. Cate, as usual, can express a universe of emotions with just a glance. Denzel, though, seemed like he was sometimes wrestling with the plot more than his character. But maybe that’s just me overthinking again—darned film critic instincts!

I need to confess, this film had me recalling a family gathering back in ‘98 when we first introduced our British cousins to kräftskiva. Like a multi-layered Nolan narrative, you think you know where you’re headed but you’ve only scratched the surface. Without spoilers, let’s just say crustaceans and heady questions of identity make an unexpectedly bewildering combo.

Street scenes brought a nostalgic wave of Gamla Stan’s cobbles under my feet at dusk. Vibrant, chaotic, yet grounding. It must’ve been intentional—no way you get that just by accident, right? Though Nolan was up to his usual tricks with time and reality, sometimes it felt like I was missing a page or watching Globen tilt while counting stars. You know the vibe.

I respect the ambition but felt like the film tried juggling twelve balls under water. There’s awe in that, surely, but also too much to keep track of. Anyway, take your popcorn but leave space for an open mind and probably a second watch. And hey, let’s discuss over a fika later. Skål!

Check the trailer below