Review: Max Manus (2008)

[Tristán White]

MAX MANUS (2008)
Directed by: Joachim Rønning and Espen Sandberg
Review by:  Tristán Harvey E. White
Rating: (0 to *****):    **** (four stars out of five)


Well, I admit, I'd never heard of the real life Norwegian hero before
last night. This is probably something to be ashamed about - it
certainly seems that was after seeing last night's outstanding movie,
which is surely bound for nomination for a best "foreign picture"
Oscar. And if it does not, there is no justice in the system.

I don't normally go for war films, but the war itself does not feature
heavily in this excellent film (the most expensive Norwegian film
ever, I hear). In fact, it probably has more in common with a James
Bond movie than your typical trenches warfare movie, but with a much
more believable premise. Which is hardly surprising, given that MAX
MANUS is based on a true story, which is follows fairly accurately
throughout.

So, what's it all about? Well, Max is an ordinary bloke who
volunteered in Finland in the winter of 1939/1940 to try to keep
Stalin out of Finland. When he returned to Norway, however, the German
Nazis invaded their country. Max and other freethinkers decided to set
up a counterpropaganda newssheet to encourage the anti-Nazi resistance
fighters in Norway, but was soon captured by the Gestapo, from whom he
escaped by famously jumping through a window.

He then trained in England and Scotland as a saboteur, and was then
parachuted back into Norway where he succeeded, with a small band of
men, in destroying various SS ships and was almost certainly
instrumental in stopping the Nazis from deploying more troops to the
Western Front. Max Manus and his men therefore played an important if
not decisive role in speeding up the fall of Germany.

The film also delves inside Max's character, his battle with
alcoholism and his relationship with both his mates as well as with
Tikken, the married liaison officer at the British consulate in
Stockholm. Aksel Hennie is excellent as Max, who brings the character
very much alive from start to finish.

A national hero in Norway, and proud to be so, he received not only
the two highest military medals in his country, but also the
Distinguished Service Order and the Military Cross and Bar from Great
Britain.

One criticism I would have of this film is the third act, which does
tend to drag on a bit too long but, for the first and second act, this
is edge-of-your-seat stuff. With excellent production values
throughout, I would be very surprised indeed if this film did not make
the shortlist at this year's Oscars, in their "foreign picture"
category.  I doubt it would beat THE WHITE RIBBON or A PROPHET, but it
would sure give them a run for their money.

Reviewer:  Tristán White
***********************************************************************
118 minutes.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1029235/
MAX MANUS is currently being shown at the International Film Festival
in Palm Springs (January 2010). It is currently on release in Denmark,
and will be released in Germany in February 2010. It has already
available on DVD in the UK.