Film Review: ‘The 12th Man’
A stirring retelling of Resistance hero Jan Baalsrud's epic cross-country flight in Nazi-occupied Norway.
By Dennis Harvey
Dennis Harvey
Film Critic
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Harrowing physical adventure “ The 12th Man ” retells the story of Jan Baalsrud , the sole survivor of a thwarted Allied sabotage mission against the Nazis in occupied Norway. Wounded, hunted, often near-death, his long but ultimately successful escape to Sweden was already dramatized onscreen in 1957’s “Ni Liv” aka “Nine Lives,” an Oscar nominee considered one of the greatest Norwegian features ever made. (More recently it was also the subject of documentary miniseries “In the Footsteps of Jan Baalsrud.”)
One might not automatically set expectations quite so high for a new version directed by Harald Zwart , who’s scored some major hits both at home (comedy “Long Flat Balls” and its sequel) and internationally (the “Karate Kid” remake) as well as some thoroughly mainstream duds (“Pink Panther 2,” “The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones”). But “12th Man” easily reps a personal best for the helmer, and is a stirring adventure by any standard. It opens in New York and Los Angeles this Friday via IFC Midnight — a bit curiously, as this isn’t that distributor’s usual horror or other genre fare.
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An opening title notes that “The most incredible events in this story are the ones that actually took place,” which both provides wiggle room for dramatic license and prepares one to accept a saga of arduous peril at times so extreme it might normally beggar belief. Baalsrud was a much-traveled cartographer who fled his native Norway after fighting during the initial German invasion, eventually landing in Britain to train with a squad of fellow expats. In early 1943 a dozen of them took a boat heavily loaded with explosives back to their homeland, intending to blow up Nazi airfields. Discovered before reaching their destination, they had to destroy their vessel and cargo and were fired upon by the enemy as they swam ashore in freezing waters.
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Only Baalsrud (played here by Thomas Gullestad ) managed to escape capture, despite having been shot in the foot and losing a boot. His flight to safety remains almost beyond the limits of human endurance: He somehow not only successfully eluded an extensive Nazi manhunt, he spent more than two months in an arctic winter landscape traveling on foot, by boat, skis and sled, though blizzards and other harsh conditions — dealing with gangrene and near-starvation en route.
Those among his comrades who weren’t tortured to death were executed by firing squad. Baalsrud’s lone endurance made him a popular hero of Norwegian resistance even as his ordeal was ongoing. Thus he finds rural residents ready to help him when he stumbles into their isolated farmhouses — though such acts could get them killed by the occupiers.
While much of “The 12th Man” is naturally dominated by our protagonist’s solo battle for survival — which included long forced stints hiding under a mountain rock and in a cave — the film’s emotional core is provided by his interactions with civilians who recurrently save his life. These samaritans’ resourcefulness, bravery and self-sacrifice is quietly moving, as shown by two key characters played by Mads Sjogard Pettersen and Marie Blokhus. It’s typical of the judicious script by “Kon-Tiki” scribe Petter Skavlan (billed here for unknown reasons as Alex Boe) that their patriotism is seldom verbalized; it’s taken for granted that these people will do the right thing, no matter the risk.
There are very few false steps in this long but taut account, though Zwart doesn’t quite pull off some moments of delusion and/or nightmare that feel unnecessary. An 11th-hour crisis involving a reindeer-pulled sled feels a bit over-the-top, whether it’s actually based on fact or not. But otherwise “12th Man” wisely hews to an understatement that appreciates the tale’s considerable scope without caving in to the kind of melodramatic tone that might’ve rendered its epic pileup of emergencies implausible or excessive. Likewise, Jonathan Rhys Meyers’ German-speaking turn as Col. Kurt Stage, the Gestapo officer obsessed with tracking Baalsrud down, provides a villain whose rage simmers under a rigid surface rather than bursting into stereotypical tantrums.
Gullestad, who reportedly lost more than 30 pounds within eight weeks to convey his character’s hardships, runs a thespian gamut of physical and psychological extremity with nuanced skill. It’s all the more impressive a turn given that this is his first major acting role; until now he’s been primarily a Norwegian TV personality and member of pop hip-hop group Klovner i Kamp.
“The 12th Man” is also first rate in technical and design aspects, with frequently spectacular widescreen location photography by Geir Hartly Andreassen (also DP on “Kon-Tiki,” as well as several of Zwart’s prior features) and a fine score by Christophe Beck.
Reviewed online, San Francisco, May 1, 2018. Running time: 130 MIN. (Original title: “Den 12. Mann.”)
- Production: (Norway) An IFC Midnight release (U.S.) of a Nordisk Film and Zwart Arbeid presentation. Producers: Aage Aaberge, Veslemoy Ruud Zwart, Espen Horn, Harald Zwart. Executive producers: Henrik Zein, Lone Korslund, Kjetil Jensberg, Petter Skavlan, Jonathan Rhys Meyers.
- Crew: Director: Harald Zwart. Screenplay: Alex Boe, based the book “Jan Baalsrud og de som reddet ham” by Tore Haug and Astrid Karlsen Scott. Camera (color, widescreen, HD): Geir Hartly Andreassen. Editor: Jens Christian Fodstad. Music: Christophe Beck.
- With: Thomas Gullestad, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Mads Sjogard Pettersen, Marie Blokhus, Martin Kiefer, Torgny Aanderaa, Vegar Hoel, Hakon Thorstensen Nielsen, Eirik Risholm Velle, Daniel Frikstad, Alexander Zwart, Eric Dirnes. (Norwegian, German, English dialogue)
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‘the 12th man’: film review.
Jonathan Rhys Meyers plays a ruthless Gestapo officer in 'The 12th Man,' Harald Zwart's World War II thriller based on real-life events.
By Frank Scheck
Frank Scheck
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Little in Harald Zwart’s filmography would have suggested that he would one day direct a gripping World War II thriller. The filmmaker’s previous credits include such bland Hollywood fare as Agent Cody Banks , The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones and the 2010 Karate Kid remake, but his latest, far superior effort is clearly a labor of love for the Dutch filmmaker. Telling the real-life wartime story that was also the subject of Nine Lives , a 1957 Norwegian drama nominated for a best foreign film Oscar, The 12th Man is the sort of suspenseful, old-fashioned war movie that should particularly appealing to older viewers, provided they don’t mind reading subtitles.
Norwegian hip-hop performer Thomas Gullestad makes an impressive starring debut as Norwegian national hero Jan Baalsrud , one of 12 British-trained commandos who participated in a 1943 anti-Nazi mission in his home country. The mission failed spectacularly, with Baalsrud the only one who managed to escape as the other 11 men were either captured or killed. Suffering a gunshot wound to his toe in the process, Baalsrud swam through freezing waters to make his way across the wintry landscape. He was relentlessly pursued by Kurt Stage (Jonathan Rhys Meyers), an Inspector Javert-like Gestapo officer determined to hunt him down. In the ensuing months of struggling for survival, Baalsrud relied on the efforts of numerous ordinary Norwegian citizens who risked their lives to help him travel to safety.
Release date: May 04, 2018
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The 12th Man relates this amazing tale of survival in harrowing detail, not stinting from depicting the effects of gangrene on Baalsrud’s toe and his many other injuries. The stark beauty of the Arctic settings contrasts with the grittiness of the storyline and the frequently graphic violence on display. But there’s a strong humanistic aspect as well, especially in the hero’s warm interactions with the people, including his primary helper Marius (Mads Sjogard Petterson ) and his younger sister Gudrun (Marie Blokhus ), who facilitate his survival.
It’s hard to know whether some of the more outlandish plot elements are based in truth, one example being when Baalsrud takes to skis to elude his pursuer and literally bumps into him. An annoyed Stage helps him up, complaining, “I thought Norwegians knew how to ski.” Some of screenwriter Alex Boe’s dialogue is a bit ripe as well, such as when one of the Germans comments about their leader’s obsessiveness, “They say no one has escaped him before.” On the other hand, the film takes pains to reassure us with its opening graphic reading, “The most incredible events in this story are the ones that actually took place.”
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Despite its occasional hokey moments, The 12th Man proves consistently engrossing and suspenseful, with its lead performances further enhancing its impact. Gullestad has charisma to spare as the beleaguered hero, handling his role’s considerable physical and emotional demands with a skill that belies his acting inexperience. And Rhys Meyers, his face adorned with the sort of scar that instantly signals villainy, is hypnotically compelling as the Nazi who will do anything to capture his quarry. The actor’s intense turn is all the more effective for being delivered entirely in German.
Production companies: Nordisk Film Production AS, Zwart Arbeid Distributor: IFC Midnight Cast: Thomas Gullestad , Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Marie Blokus , Mads Sjogard Pettersen , Martin Kiefer Director: Harald Zwart Screenwriter: Alex Boe Producers: Aage Aaberge , Veslemoy Ruud Zwart , Espen Horn, Harald Zwart Executive producers: Henrik Zein , Lone Korslund , Jetil Jensberg , Petter Skavian , Jonathan Rhys Meyers Director of photography: Geir Hartly Andreassen Production designer: Mikael Varhelyi Editor: Jens Christian Fodstad Composer: Christophe Beck Costume designer: Karen Fabritius Gram Casting: Petter S. Holmsen
131 minutes
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The 12th Man Reviews
Riveting both visually and narratively.
Full Review | Original Score: 4.5/5 | Aug 27, 2022
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.
Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | Jan 4, 2019
A bold end to an original version of a familiar tale.
Full Review | Original Score: 4/5 | Jan 4, 2019
Although initially the movie is a bit of a slog, the final leg is superbly staged and finger-chewingly tense, and it left me with almost as few nails as our frostbitten hero.
Each sequence is informative and involving, with moments of strong suspense as well as some low-key emotional resonance.
Full Review | Original Score: 3.5/5 | Jan 3, 2019
Baalsrud never claimed to be a hero and the emphasis of this gripping reconstruction rightly falls on the resourcefulness, courage and self-sacrifice of those who epitomised the spirit of resistance.
Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | Jan 3, 2019
A handsomely produced but laborious, drawn-out and dramatically inert movie...
Full Review | Original Score: 2/5 | Jan 3, 2019
The 12th Man is shamelessly old-fashioned, but sincere in capturing quiet stoicism.
..an epic war drama about one man's struggle against all the odds to survive.
Full Review | Dec 31, 2018
Although competent in terms of storytelling, the most impressive aspect of the film was its visual impact, with some severe scenes causing discomfort. But it's also a jolt when we think that these occurrences actually happened.
Full Review | Original Score: 6/10 | Jul 16, 2018
Thrilling story based on an actual occurrence during World War 2 in which a high-ranking Nazis persistently chases a Norwegian saboteur across the snowbound terrain of Northern Norway.
Full Review | Original Score: B+ | May 25, 2018
The best freedom-fighting reindeer in all of cinema can be found right here in "The 12th Man."
Full Review | May 8, 2018
... lacks conviction and doesn't convey sufficient urgency considering the subject matter and the stakes involved. It's more tedious than suspenseful.
Full Review | May 4, 2018
Despite a slow start and some overly graphic scenes, 'The 12th Man' is a suspenseful thriller about a World War II Norwegian resistance fighter and the people who helped him.
When Baalsrud, played with resilience by Thomas Gullestad, isn't dodging Germans, his fights against the elements bring to mind films such as The Revenant.
Full Review | Original Score: 2.5/4 | May 4, 2018
One of the wildest, most creative fugitive stories told about the Nazi occupation...
At 130 minutes, it isn't a short film, and its most intriguing elements, much like Baalsrud's rations, are in short supply.
Full Review | Original Score: 2.5/4 | May 3, 2018
In a familiar genre, "The 12th Man" preserves the element of surprise by understanding its terrain.
Full Review | May 3, 2018
"The 12th Man" is a polished crowd-pleaser, with a timeless message: Nazis suck.
Easily reps a personal best for the helmer, and is a stirring adventure by any standard.
The 12th Man
By Filipe Freitas | July 15, 2018
Films about authentic heroes with keen survival instincts and an extreme capacity for resilience usually provide solid entertainment. Danny Boyle’s 127 Hours , Baltasar Kormakur’s The Deep , Sean Penn’s Into the Wild , and Kevin Macdonald’s Into The Void are some acknowledged cases of cinematic success.
The historical war thriller The 12th Man , written by Petter Skavlan ( Kon-Tiki ) and directed by Harald Zwart, was underpinned by another amazing fact-based story that, even far from the titles cited above, is worth watching.
“… the only saboteur from a group of twelve that survived the Nazis in the winter of 1943…”
Set in Norway, the account follows Jan Baalsrud (Thomas Gullestad), the only saboteur from a group of twelve that survived the Nazis in the winter of 1943 after their boat has sunk. Emphasizing the priceless courage of the local population, the director depicts Baalsrud as a modest hero and a noble patriot. A model of determination, this Resistance fighter, despite forced to sacrifice some gangrened toes due to the extreme cold, ultimately reaches his goal: to cross the border into neutral Sweden. Blessed by the heavens, he couldn’t have made it without the help of a few inestimable friends, including an old midwife and the Gronvolls – siblings Gudrun (Marie Blokhus) and Marius (Mads Sjogard Pettersen). Their assistance was of the most importance, so he could elude the unremitting manhunt mounted by Kurt Stage (Jonathan Rhys Meyers), an inflexible, hostile SS officer who always knew he was not chasing a ghost but a real man.
“… most impressive aspect of the film was its visual impact, with some severe scenes causing discomfort.”
Curiously, Arne Skouen had depicted this same story in 1957 in his Oscar-nominated drama Nine Lives . At the time, it was Jack Fjeldstad who embodied the protagonist.
Although competent in terms of storytelling, the most impressive aspect of the film was its visual impact, with some severe scenes causing discomfort. But it’s also a jolt when we think that these occurrences actually happened. The question is: with which level of accuracy? Regardless of the answer and a cliché here and there, Zwart did his job accordingly. Even perceiving how this cat-and-mouse game would end up, we have the bitter Scandinavian cold acting like an enemy as lethal as the merciless Germans.
The 12th Man (2018) – Directed by Harald Zwart. Written by Petter Skavlan. Starring Thomas Gullestad, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Marie Blokhus, Mads Sjogard Pettersen.
6 out of 10
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REVIEW: “The 12th Man” (2018)
Some brief opening text lays out the setting for director Harald Zwart’s astounding “The 12th Man”. Nazi Germany occupied Norway on April 9, 1940. Three years later in Scotland British forces trained Norwegian soldiers to carry out sabotage missions in their homeland. On March 24, 1943 twelve Norwegian resistance fighters were sent to target German airfields in Operation Martin Red. Only one would come back alive.
This Norwegian historical thriller is based on the extraordinary true story of Jan Baalsrud, the lone survivor of that doomed operation. The film is based on a biography by Tore Haug and Astrid Karlsen Scott. It’s not the first movie based on a book of Baalsrud’s life. The 1957 drama “Nine Lives” received an Oscar nomination and remains a highly regarded picture.
The grueling role of Baalsrud is played by Thomas Gullestad. Zwart starts quickly with Baalsrud and his team crawling out of the icy arctic waters onto the northern shores of Norway amid a hail of bullets. We learn that a costly mistake blew their cover and a German vessel attacks as they approach the mainland. Forced to scuttle their shot-up fishing boat, the twelve struggle ashore where German troops await them. Eleven are captured, Baalsrud escapes.
One of the first things I noticed was Zwart and cinematographer Geir Hartly Andreassen’s striking perspectives. Their camera placements and the fluidity of its movements offer one penetrating visual after another. Then you have the shots of the stunning Norwegian landscapes which in context are both beautiful and ominous. These images add a menacing dimension as the wounded and battered Baalsrud trudges through the frigid snow and ice.
“The 12th Man” spotlights Jan Baalsrud’s resilience as he makes his way towards neutral Sweden’s border, fighting treacherous terrain, excruciating cold and the doggedly determined Gestapo. But as he slowly succumbs to snowblindness, hypothermia, and gangrene the true crux of the story comes into focus. The film is just as much about the people he meets throughout his harrowing journey. Jan’s strength and heroism is matched, often exceeded, only by the Norwegian patriots helping him at every step – civilians routinely risking their lives to save his. In many ways they form the emotional core of the movie.
Equally fascinating is when the movie shifts focus to that of a Gestapo officer named Kurt Stage (played by Jonathan Rhys Meyers). No one has ever escaped Stage’s pursuit and he takes Baalsrud’s flight personally. He persistently hunts Jan rejecting the skepticism and needling of an ambitious fellow officer (Martin Kiefer). Myers offers a charismatic antagonist pushed more by ego and obsession than duty.
Some may say the film’s biggest surprise is in Harald Zwart’s direction. Perhaps known more for his misfires (“Agent Cody Banks”, “The Pink Panther 2”, “The Karate Kid” remake), but don’t let that dissuade you for a second. His portrayal of this unbelievable true story is riveting both visually and narratively. Whether he is capturing Jan Baalsrud’s intense and sometimes brutal attempts at survival or creating genuine moments of levity with the men and women risking everything to aid him. It makes for truly inspirational cinema.
VERDICT – 4.5 STARS
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14 thoughts on “ review: “the 12th man” (2018) ”.
Since you gave this such a high rating I will take your word for it and check this one out.
Please do. I was immediately drawn to it after seeing the first trailer. Are familiar with the backstory? I wasn’t going in, but it’s truly an incredible journey.
I’m not. Is it a film where you would have to know some context of the event to understand it?
Not at all. It’s set during World War 2 and the opening text gives you all the setup you need.
Did you get to see this in theaters or did you find it streaming? This looks like something I have to see!
Definitely see it. It’s actually available for early viewing on Vudu. It’s one of those cases where the trailer completely sold me.
I’ve heard good things about this as I’m sure this is a total surprise from someone who is known for making crap Hollywood movies as I think he saved all of that money from those movies to do this. That is awesome.
It sure is. He comes across as an entirely different filmmaker in this film. It’s so good. It could have been really cliche but it never becomes that kind of movie. Hope you get a chance to see it.
I’d like to read the book first. Then watch the film. Looks great! Gracefully written review, Keith.
Thanks so much Cindy. I bet the it’s an extremely compelling read. I think you know how much I appreciate WW2 movies. This is a unique story that I think you would like.
I’m sure I will. Thank you!
You bet. Anxious to hear your houghts!
I need to see this movie, will have to look for it. Fab review!
Thanks. I was finally able to see it through Vudu. Let me know what you think.
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The 12th Man Review
04 Jan 2019
The 12th Man
In 1991, the public voted Ni Liv , Arne Skouen's Oscar-nominated account of the wartime exploits of cartographer-cum-commando Jan Baalsrud, the greatest Norwegian film ever produced. By remaking it, therefore, Harald Zwart was taking a risk on the same scale as a British film-maker having another crack at The Dam Busters . Given that the Dutch director has The Pink Panther 2 on his CV, there was ample reason for concern. But this gripping and laudably restrained saga is anything but another unnecessary Zwart retool like The Karate Kid .
It helps considerably that the script has been written by Petter Skavlan (using the name Alex Boe), as he is no stranger to Norwegian heroics after penning Joachim Rønning and Espen Sandberg's 2012 Thor Heyerdahl biopic, Kon-Tiki . Zwart is also fortunate in being able to call on that picture's cinematographer, Geir Hartly Andreassen, as his views of the unforgiving terrain that Baalsrud traverses reinforce the extraordinary nature of his achievement.
For the most part, this is a traditional Second World War movie and the weakest moments are the fussily fragmented flashback to the failure of Operation Martin Red and the misjudged sequence of Baalsrud repeatedly waking from an unending nightmare. But Thomas Gullestad is doughtiness personified, as he swims icy seas, slices off gangrenous toes with a penknife and wastes away to skin and bone while waiting 27 days in a cave to cross the frontier.
There's little room for character depth, however, and Baalsrud remains as sketchy as the compatriots who risk all to shelter him and the Nazis on his tail. Nevertheless, the encounter with the little girl who draws him a morale-boosting map is charming, while Jonathan Rhys Meyers brings a forensic ferocity to Kurt Stage, who was executed for war crimes in 1947.
The 12th Man
Director(s)
Year of release.
D espite the blockbusters of today often climaxing with fictional wars, the war genre itself is perhaps out of favour. Perhaps in our mollycoddling superhero culture, war movies seem too real. Well 12th Man is a film of fantasy and fervour that’s ultimately very accessible and as thrilling as anything that climbs the box office charts . Who would have thought then that the director of high-style kids films Agent Cody Banks and The Karate Kid (Harald Zwart, 2003 and 2010) would come through with a solid World War II thriller? Clearly, the Dutch director is happy to slip away from the frontline in order to deliver what the film needs. So it’s fascinating to see how he handles a more personal story.
Beginning with the claim that “the most incredible events are the ones which took place”, 12th Man is a survival epic about Jan Baalsrud, the one survivor of a Norwegian resistance boat sunk by a German warship, who begins a dramatic escape attempt from the Nazis in hopes of getting to neutral Sweden. As much as this is a historical reenactment, 12th Man takes joy in being a nostalgic boys own adventure, with ski chases, gunfights, and Baalsrud running from a fighter plane.
But Baalsrud is far from James Bond. Early on his gun is jammed by the frost and he sustains a horrendous injury that forces him to rely on the good-natured folk he meets. Thomas Gullestad as Baalsrud delivers a great, steely performance, showing the Leos of the world that you can depict determination and creeping madness without actually sleeping in an animal carcass . There’s a great scene where Baalsrud keeps waking up from nightmares, which turns into a horrifying dark night of the soul as he suffers from gangrene. His character reminded me of Boris Plotnikov’s hobbling martyr in Larissa Shepitko’s snowy resistance masterpiece The Ascent (1977). That film casts a long shadow over 12th Man , Zwart paying homage with a few visual nods. The atmosphere of the film strikes an icy tone that puts across the sub-zero temperatures . One early, extended shot has Baalsrud swimming away from camera and into the total darkness of the fjords, the water lit to convey sheer forbidding.
A surprise to see Jonathan Rhys Meyers showing up as the mad, vindictive SS officer Kurt Sage, who heading up the chase is timing himself in ice water. There’s no way anyone could have survived, he is told. But Sage hunts after the ghost anyway. This dynamic shows promise in the first act, but it never gets fully fleshed out. It’s a thankless role of a man who’s always a few steps behind. His inability to get up close to Baalsrud stops the men, from really learning about each other.
This is hardly the first Nazis in the snow movie to emerge from Norway (does anyone remember Tommy Wirkola’s 2009 Dead Snow ?) and it’s one which uses Baalsrud’s perseverance as a national symbol. The northern lights are used in symbolic and literal ways as a sign for the characters, and there’s a real emphasis on members of the villagers and resistance fighters who helped Baalsrud on his journey.
Zwart lays on the inspirational messaging a little thick, the individual stories of the resistance fighters are probably the least interesting part of the film, because we’ve seen it all before. POWs singing in defiance, young children imparting wisdom beyond their years. The sentimentality really holds up the pace of the film, which, when it’s moving, has clear, motivated action that doesn’t let go of its audience. It’s a little too long to be a great action film, and isn’t quite bold enough to break free of its genre trappings. 12th Man remains a solid and well-told film with an action style movie .
The 12th Man is in selected cinemas across the UK and also on VoD on Friday, January 4th.