Rent The 12th Man (2017)

Excellent film based on a little-known true story about Norway in the Second World War - The 12th Man review by PV

This brilliant films tells the often-forgotten story of Norway in WWII.

Invaded by Germans in April 1940, the allies retook a town before finally being defeated - BUt that did inflict severe damage on the German navy which was weak anyway, and so was one factor of many for Hitler decide not to try and invade Britain in summer 1940 or the next year. Every little helped! The Christmas tree in Trafalgar Square London is an annual present from Norway to Britain for our help in WWII and we are not both proudly out of the EU too!

Watch THE DAY WILL DAWN, 1942, a British film about events which then were just 2 years old! That shows the history. Also watch THE KING'S CHOICE 2016 about how Norway';s king escaped to London where the free Norwegian government was based.

This is a tragic tale, and the 12th Man of the title is the only of 12 to survive. It is an almost incredible tale or survival - and very fitting to watch in winter and there is a LOT of snow and ice in this movie!

Jan Baalsrud escaped Norway when it was taken over by Nazis and the puppet leader Quisling. Eventually he made it to Britain where he joined the Norwegian Company Linge - a unit to train Norwegians to sabotage the Nazis (run by SOE). In early 1943, he and 11 others embarked on a mission to destroy a German airfield control tower at Bardufosss. Operation Martin, was compromised when Baalsrud and his fellow soldiers, seeking a Resistance contact, accidentally made contact with a civilian shopkeeper who ran the same store as their contact. Fearing for his life and suspecting it was a test by the Germans, he reported them to the local police office, who notified the Germans.

So a tragic tale. A shame the man in real life only got an honorary MBE, the very common medal awarded to any and every grime rapper these days, it seems. Sad. I'd award him and the Norwegians who dies far more.

4.5 stars rounded up.

Too Drawn Out war/Survival Story - The 12th Man review by GI

There is no doubt that the real events behind this film is a remarkable story but unfortunately, whilst it looks great, the film is a plodding affair. It tells the tale of Jan Baalsrud, a Norwegian commando trained by the British who with eleven others attempt to land in occupied Norway in the winter of 1943 with a mission to sabotage German strategic airfields and such. But they are betrayed and only Jan escapes during the German ambush. The film then becomes a long, drawn out survival narrative of Baalsrud, making an attempt to escape to Sweden across the wilderness whilst wounded and frostbitten. Jonathan Rhys Meyers plays the rather clichéd Gestapo officer, with facial duelling scar attached, who attempts to hunt him down. The director, Harald Zwart, adds in various hallucination scenes where Jan is holed up, literally for weeks in some cases, to try and spice up the story but it just ends up making it more prolonged and eventually tedious. A pity because as I say the story is of an astounding feat of bravery but as a cinematic war drama it needed some action.

Stirring Arctic Warfare Survival Movie - The 12th Man review by Alphaville

If you like films such as Arctic and The Revenant you’ll like this, based on a true story. In WW2 the last survivor of a 12-man sabotage mission has to cross Arctic Norway to Sweden. He only has one boot, has been shot in the toe and nasty Nazis are after him. There are some terrific scenes. One pays homage to North By North-West as a plane strafes him while he’s skiing across a snowfield and starts an avalanche. Other scenes will make you squirm, especially when he has to amputate a gangrenous toe. The climactic scene is spectacular and barely believable were it not for a caption at the start of the film telling us that ‘the most incredible events are the ones that actually took place’. AVOID THE TRAILER so as not to spoil the surprise (why do they keep putting spoilers in trailers?)

It would be a 5-star film were it not for two problems. At 130 minutes it could do with some pruning. Of course, it’s difficult to cut out characters who actually existed, but our hero’s adventures do become a bit repetitive at times. However, the main problem is the edit. The story is told in flashback, so we know from the start that he will survive and that his 11 companions won’t. This takes the sting out of some of the drama. Even the Nazi attack on the boat carrying the men to Norway is only shown in flashback near the end of the film, so it’s only then that we understand why he only has one boot. Telling the story in linear fashion would add extra drama to it. Nevertheless, this is a film that is both thrilling and amazing.

Epic survival in the Norwegian wilderness during WWII - The 12th Man review by Philip in Paradiso

'The 12th Man' tells the dramatic and amazing story of Jan Baalsrud's escape from the Nazis during World War II. A Norwegian, he was part of a commando sent over to occupied Norway by Britain. Out of 12 men, only 1 survived: Jan Baalsrud. The movie tells his story, as he tries to survive, on the run, and cross into neutral Sweden. The Germans are making huge and persistent efforts to track him down, under the orders of a fanatical Gestapo commander: Jan Baalsrud has become a symbol of Norwegian resistance to the occupiers.

The film shows how he survived thanks to the help he got from Norwegian resistance fighters, but also from ordinary citizens who wanted to help and save him. It is a tale of endurance and survival, but also a depiction of a collective effort: the desire to resist on the part of the locals, against the will to crush them on the part of the Germans.

It is a relentless, yet remarkable film. A must-see. And the landscapes are breathtaking of mineral beauty as well as harshness.

Loved it - The 12th Man review by RD

A thoroughly moving film, and the fact that it is based on a true story should make it even more so.

Yes, it is long, but you wouldn't expect an epic journey to be finished in thirty minutes, would you?

In my opinion, a good film should connect with you emotionally, and this one certainly does.

Gripping tale of courage and endurance. - The 12th Man review by BC

This film is an epic story of courage and endurance. The 12th man’, the only survivor from a Norwegian Resistance group, crosses the country  ( in winter), whist being hunted down by the Gestapo.It really is quite thrilling and based on a true story.The Lead actors are wonderfully played.Where were the Oscar nominations for these great actors? Jonathan Rhys Myers plays a Gestapo Commander with chilling conviction.Worth seeing this film for the 2 great Leads.