War Sailor (2022)

 

            “War Sailor” (Krigsseileren) is a new Netflix limited series.  It is an expansion of a WWII film.  The movie and series were written and directed by Gunnar Vikene.  He based the screenplay on true stories of Norwegian merchant mariners in the war.  The characters are fictional, however.  The movie had  the largest budget ever for a Norwegian film.  It cost $11 million.  It was Norway’s entry for the Best International Feature for an Academy Award, but it did not make the cut.

            After a scene marking the reunion of the two main characters in Singapore in 1948, the movie flashes back to 1939 Norway.  The country has not been invaded by the Germans yet.  Sigborn (Pal Sverre Hagen) and Freddie (Kristoffer Joner) are best friends.  Sigborn lives with Freddie’s family.  He has a wife Cecilia (Ine Marie Wilmann) and three kids.  Times are tough, so Sigborn convinces Freddie to go aboard a merchant ship for an 18 month job.  When Norway is invaded, all its merchant ships are transferred to the Allies.  These “drafted” men become known as “war sailors”.  Freddie won’t be coming home until the war is over.  The movie follows the two friends through several brushes with death.  That makes them typical of war sailors, many of whom died when their ships were sunk.  The movie keeps a running total of Norwegian ships that were lost.  The number reaches 680!

            The movie has dual tracks as about 1/4 of it follows Freddie’s family as it deals with making a living and dealing with German occupation and British bombing attacks on the u-boat base located at their city.  Meanwhile, Freddie finds a new family in the core group that he and Sigborn sail with.  The group includes a woman and an underage boy.  They have a series of trials that include trying to rescue shipwrecked sailors, surviving a u-boat torpedo, and being castaways.  The castaway sequence is marked by benevolence by the u-boat captain.  There are no Nazi villains in the film.    

            “War Sailor” is another of Netflix’s Norway productions.  The last one was “Narvik: Hitler's First Defeat”.  This is better.  The cast is strong with Kristoffer Joner giving a standout performance.  His Freddie goes through a lot, as does Sigborn.  But Sigborn has no family to worry about.  There are some harrowing scenes which come without any warning.  Director Vikene pulls off a bravura intercutting sequence which pairs a u-boat sinking with the bombing of the kids’ school.  Great cinematography adds to the intriguing narrative.  I need to add that although I am not a big fan of dubbing instead of subtitles, this movie’s English dubbing is outstanding

            Normally, I believe more is better when it comes to war movies, so I have no problem with the movie being lengthened to a mini-series.  Sometimes this improves the film, like with “Das Boot”.  Other times it dilutes the quality of the film, like with “Apocalypse Now Redux”.  “War Sailor” is in that second category.  I have not seen the movie, so I can only imagine what was added.  It appears to be the section that covers after the war.  When I finished the first two episodes, I was thinking the movie was a clear A, but I had to reduce the series a letter grade because of the weak third hour.  This episode covers Freddie’s return home and includes a huge time jump to 1972.  I felt like air was leaking out of the balloon during this episode.

            I still recommend the series.  It certainly is a fitting tribute to all the Norwegian sailors who gave their lives in a war they were not trained for and did not volunteer for.  If they were at sea when Germany invaded, they had no choice but to continue sailing the Atlantic when u-boats made their ships very vulnerable.  Imagine being forced to make the Murmansk run, which Freddie and friends are.  (If you are familiar with the Battle of the Atlantic, a convoy to Murmansk, Russia had the highest pucker factor of any convoy duty.)  Or you could desert and save your life, but be considered a traitor back home.  That’s quite a dilemma.  And then throw in the families of men who were gone for years.  Families that lost their breadwinner and were in some amount of danger themselves from bombings.  We tend to forget that the “war sailors” had “war families”.

GRADE  =  B   

 

 

                 

 

CRACKER? Into the White (2012)

                “Into the White” is a Norwegian movie loosely based on a World War II tale.  It was released under the title “Cross of Honour” in the United Kingdom.  Why the name was changed to something unassociated with the movie is beyond me.  It was directed by Petter Naess.  Yes, that Peter Naess.  We are about to find out what the phrase “inspired by a true story” means when applied to a war movie.

 

                In April, 1940 the Germans and British were fighting over Norway and its natural resources.  The film claims they both wanted to conquer Norway.  The British might find the word “conquer” a bit harsh.  A British fighter shoots down a German bomber, but goes down itself in the encounter.  Both crews end up at the same hunter’s hut.  The Germans arrive first, but allow the British in despite the fact that the Germans are armed and the Brits aren’t (and just shot them down).  Instead of being grateful for that not killing us thing, the British insist on being treated equally and even bitch when the Germans take their lighter to start a fire.  They plan to provoke their hosts and stress them out.  This task is taken up by future soccer hooligan Smith (Rupert Gint – Weasley of Harry Potter fame!).  He manages to get a pistol and now they have the upper hand.

                Since they are stuck in a cabin in wintertime, we get some exposition (but no explosion because this is not a Hollywood film).  The foes debate which is worse – Nazi Germany or the British Empire?  When German Captain Schopis (Florien Lukas) argues that England wants Norway for its raw materials, British Captain Davenport (Lachlan Nieboer) agrees!  I think Norwegian cinema has a grudge against WWII England.  Along with the exposition, we also get the requisite bonding.  The schnapps helps.  You know they are accepting each other because they share cigarettes.  Part of the bonding experience involves Smith and Strunk (Stig Hoff) going off hunting.  Only one comes back when they meet a Norwegian patrol searching for the Germans.  War over for the Germans.  Movie over for us.

                I am always skeptical when a movie claims to be “inspired by a true story”.  I spend the movie wondering what moments of bull shit might actually be true.  Sometimes I am stunned when my research proves the most ridiculous scenes are verifiable.  Most of the time my cynicism is warranted.  This movie is somewhere in the middle.  There really was a German bomber that got shot down and its hunter also crashed.  The movie changes the names of the British, but not the Germans.  Davenport was actually Capt. R.T. Partridge and Smith was Lt. R.S. Bostock.  The British arrived at the cabin first and when the Germans came armed, a truce was agreed to.  The British lied and convinced the Germans that they were the crew of a bomber.  The Brits moved on to a nearby abandoned hotel and were joined there the next day by the Germans.  Davenport (not Smith) and Strunk went out scouting and ran into a Norwegian ski patrol.  Because they feared Strunk was going to kill Davenport, they shot him.  They then moved on to the hotel where Schopis and Auchtor were taken captive.  The movie post script is accurate.  It is obvious that all of the filling in between the lines (like the amputation of Auchtor’s arm) were made up.

                If the “true story” had not existed, someone would have invented it anyway.  Two planes crash near each other and the crews have to live and let live.  Cinema 101.  “Into the White” fumbles the chance to enhance the basic story with entertaining elements.  The characters are all stereotypes.  One of the Germans is “bad” (Auchtor), but strangely not the officer.  We know he’s bad because he carries a copy of “Mein Kampf”.  Smith is a caricature.  The two leaders are too noble.  The dialogue is bland and the plot is predictable.  You can see the bonding coming from a mile away.  There is no real suspense.  You never get the feeling that the two groups will open fire on each other.

                If your favorite color is white, this is the movie for you.  Otherwise, it’s not anything special. It certainly is not going to make my 100 Best War Movies list.

GRADE  =  C 

LIVE: Age of Heroes

DEAR FOLLOWERS, I AM NOW ON TWITTER - @warmoviebuff
I will tweet not only when I post, but whenever I watch a new war movie I will tweet a mini-review.  Also, please follow my compadre: @AboutWarMovies
This is my third "Live" review.  A live review is a stream of consciousness review of a movie.  I jot down thoughts as I am watching and then clean them up for my readers.  Being a big Sean Bean fan I was attracted to a recent movie of his entitled "Age of Heroes".  SPOILER ALERT:  I cover the whole movie, stop wherever you want and then jump to the last paragraph.  Here goes:

Credits - I don't recognize anyone but Bean  /  France May, 1940;  hand held, looks like "Lost Battalion" style;  5 Brits on the run, none is SB;  the wounded one gets killed - convenient for more rapid movement;  the obligatory "we're all gonna die" dude  /  they run into some other Brits led by a stuffy twit of an officer - he orders them to stay and join their last stand because he has been ordered to hold;  Raines insists its suicidal and plans to move on to Dunkirk (he's not a coward, he's just sensible) - head butts the twit;  wasn't the twit right?  orders is orders - you can't have the enlisted deciding what makes sense  /  Naval Institute at White Hall -  there's SB (he's looking kinda old, I guess so am I);  he's a Maj. Jones of the Royal Marines - he's ruffled feathers, naturally;  an intel type named Fleming (I later found out it's Ian) tells him of Operation Grendal and introduces him to an American (first Where Eagles Dare (WED from here) ripoff) named Steinar;  something about German radar taking out British bombers ( you know - this mission will win the war);  all they have to do is infiltrate Norway and steal radar technology (wait - didn't the British have a clear advantage in radar technolgy?);  subgenre - suicide mission!;  some uncomfortable looks from Fleming when he asks about Jones' pregnant wife (or is the dude just constipated?)  /  Grace does not want Jones to go (baby on the way is war movie speak for you ain't coming back)  /  Jones goes to a military prison (with the requisite sadistic guards) to pick up one of his select team (Sid);  Raines is there because of his head butting the officer, he wants to be a commando too so he grabs a gun and takes Jones hostage which of course wins Jones' admiration (?) and a spot on the team (if he promises to behave)  /  training segment -  the sergeant (Mac) is a tough SOB who will make men of them;  6 guys besides Mac and Jones - who will survive?  not many, I bet;  time for a montage - hiking, rapeling, boxing, etc.;  "Pain is just weakness leaving the body" (I think I'll use that in the weight room);  Raines screws up by being a crack shot, but a dick about it - Jones almost washes him out but then he wouldn't get redemption, would he?  /  Fleming comes to brief and brings a radar geek with him - it's actually a anti-jamming device they are going after and he will know it when he sees it;  Fleming to Jones - don't let geek get captured, Fleming to Raines - kill geek if it comes to it;  mission outlined - I wonder if everything will go according to plan  /  paradrop without parachute training (these guys are hard core);  glitch #1 -  German night fighter Swiss cheeses plane and an expendable is killed (suddenly, nice touch) one down  /  glitch #2 - they land far off course;  glitch #3 - they lost most of their equipment;  snow on the ground (WED) and broken neck (WED);  geek is already captured - end of movie?  nope, he's rescued;  they are being tracked (easily what with the lack of white gear) by a handsome, charming, but malevolent Nazi  the movie has subtitles - a bit too classy for this movie;  they meet their contact - it's a girl! (WED)  she's cute, but can she be trusted?;  she takes them to a farm to get explosives - the farmer is less than thrilled considering their tracks in the snow lead right to his family (sorry, dude - be a patriot)  /  after they leave the Germans arrive, they wouldn't kill that lovely family would they - the music says yes;  wow, that's some serious killing - I hate that German and can't wait for his bloody death  /  the radar site -  checking things out via binocular;  explosions via dynamite for distracting (WED);  lots of dead Germans (WED), our guys seem charmed;  geek gets the intel;  oh there goes someone and another is captured (who? can't tell) - down to 7 now;  no naval pick-up, have to go to Sweden (Christ, what next?!)  /  return to the farm - hey, where is everyone?;  Nazis arrive and they have Sid and torture him to get them to come out meanwhile they stand in the open clearly shootable;  Jones opens fire but neglects to target Nazi guy (drat!);  fire fight - no grenades because the Germans want to take them alive;  Jones shoots Sid (6 left) to put him out of his misery (anguished look)  /  escaping -  Steinar is killed; Raines prepares to slash throat when geek and girl (disobeying orders, of course) come rescue him because he is not redeemed yet;  Jones and Mac stay as rear guard and argue who will sacrifice themself, neither convinces the other (looks bad for Jones' newborn)  /  jump to Raines, geek, and girl on top of a mountain - "that's Sweden";  swelling music - the end;  30% survival rate - pretty standard;  hey, what about the bloody death of the Nazi?  boo!  Well, at least we did not have to see Bean die.

Entertaining B-movie.  Pretty well acted (especially Bean, of course!)  Poor character development, we don't learn much about the men and thus do not care.  The cinematography is actually above average.  Action is satisfactory and inconsistently graphic.  Unsatisfactory ending (did they run out of film?)  Typical dialogue.  No comic relief - take's itself too seriously.  Unobtrusive sound track.  Watch it if you are a man and don't have anything better to do.

grade =  C

the trailer

the whole movie