The 12th Man (2018)

Available on Prime Video

Directed by Harald Zwart

Starring Thomas Gullestad, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, and Mads Sjogard Pettersen

Set during the Nazi occupation of Norway during WWII, a team of 12 Norwegian soldiers, trained by the British, sail to the shores of Norway with plans to explode key Nazi facilities. They are captured just as they land. One is killed immediately. Ten are tortured and executed. But one – Jan Baalsrud – gets away. The story is about his escape, through brutally cold conditions, to Sweden.

What I liked about it:

* Someone said that there are only two kinds of motion pictures: the peep show and the chase. This is a literal – and well-done – example of the latter.

* The fact that The 12th Man is based on a true story added to the pleasure of watching it.

* It was a good reminder of the brutality of war.

What I didn’t especially like:

Baalsrud was on the verge of being frozen to death for the entire hour and 50 minutes. Rooting for him… it was emotionally exhausting.

Interesting Facts 

I didn’t realize that Sweden was neutral during WWII.

According to German documents, the Nazis believed that the resistance group had perished in a blast. There are no reports indicating that they knew to hunt for Baalsrud, who claimed that he killed two German soldiers in the fight.

Critical Reviews 

 * “In a familiar genre, The 12th Man preserves the element of surprise by understanding its terrain.” (New York Times)

* “[Baalsrud’s] extraordinary story has unfortunately been turned into a handsomely produced but laborious, drawn-out, and dramatically inert movie.” (The Guardian)

* “A war film that wears superior influences on its sleeve. On the flipside, it brings us the best reindeer-chase scene ever committed to film.” (Rory Marsh)

The Dig (2021)

Available on Netflix

Directed by Simon Stone

Starring Carey Mulligan and Ralph Fiennes

K vetoed this film several times. Last night, I got my way.

Based on The Dig, by John Preston, this is a true story about the discovery of the Sutton Hoo treasure, one of the most important archeological finds ever in England. The plot revolves around several of the people involved.

What was good about it: The history behind it. The photography. The direction. The music. Ralph Fiennes’ acting, and Carey Mulligan’s amazing face.

What was not so good about it: The plot was weak. The romance between two secondary characters, Peggy Piggott and Rory Lomax, was distracting and factually inaccurate.

Interesting Facts

The film received generally positive reviews from critics and received five nominations for the British Academy Film Awards.

Critical Reviews 

* “There’s a great film to be unearthed from Jon Preston’s 2007 novel, but this isn’t it.” (Paul M. Bradshaw)

* “Quintessentially English, full of charm and tenacity, Ralph Fiennes and Carey Mulligan put in star performances.” (Zehra Phelan)