22 July Review: 5 Ups & 4 Downs

3. It's An Emotional Tribute To The Survivors

Though a great deal of time is devoted to Breivik, at its core the film still feels more like a tribute to the victims and especially the survivors of the attack. Greengrass deftly explores the impact that day had on not only those who were there, but also the families of those directly affected, and eventually even society as a whole.

With the film building slowly to Viljar heading to court to face Breivik, the director paints a compelling picture of courage in the face of enormous adversity, while never forgetting the huge human toll that was paid that day.

That Greengrass goes this route without getting overly sentimental is a testament to his shrewd skill as a filmmaker, even if the movie as a whole still feels rather messy.