Into the White (2013)

There is just so much movie here. For some it may be too much. But in the same secretly sarcastic way most telemarketers say the phrase, the title of this one is particularly apt.

I wanted to like it more than I actually did... But much of the humor totally escaped me and I walked out only mildly impressed.

The first must-see film of the year.

If you like to be scared, if you like to laugh, and if you like to learn a thing or two at the movies, this absolutely cannot be missed.

It's April 27, 1940. British and German forces are battling over Norway to claim its important iron ore resources. A German plane crash lands in the middle of nowhere. Three Germans survivors find a hunter's cabin. They are joined by two British aviators who survived being shoot down. Captain Davenport is annoyingly superior and the Germans take the unarmed British prisoners. Eventually the two groups have to work together to survive.It's a Norwegian movie with an European cast. Supposedly it's based on a true story, and I don't care. There is a grindingly slow pace and a surprisingly lack of tension. On its face, the story should have some compelling drama. However, that's not what plays out on the screen. There is a real need for more danger or some compelling personality conflicts. Davenport doesn't come off very well. He starts off as a pompous fool and I don't understand his motives. The concept sounds so much more interesting than the actual movie.

I am at a loss to understand how this Petter Naess masterpiece didn't merit a single nomination by the Academy. Perhaps the Academy's Nominations Coordinator was a former member of the Wehrmacht who couldn't fathom the concept of a Nazi soldier demonstrating warmth.Into the White is the story of the crew of a British and a German fighter plane, each of which crash-lands in the Norwegian tundra. In the midst of a blizzard, the five surviving soldiers (two British; three German) clamor for shelter and quickly find themselves sharing tight quarters in a nearby abandoned cabin.The soldiers' blood-lust quickly wanes in the absence of a windshield and airspace. The tension is palpable. Will they kill each other or will humanity prevail? This question will keep you from so much as a bathroom break; Into the White is a cinematic page-turner and its conclusion does not disappoint.While all five actors were excellent, Florian Lukas (Lieutenant Schopis) was superb. Schopis is the quintessential ranking German officer, cool and methodical. As resources become scarce and the situation deteriorates, Lukas does a phenomenal job of exposing the cracks in Schopis' emotional armor until either morality or duty to country must prevail.Into the White is a beautiful film. So rarely does one come across a movie combining such fine acting, cinematography and suspense. I will be on the lookout for future Naess flicks. Hopefully his handiwork will be met with greater recognition in the future.

Dumb dialogs, stupid reactions. Guionist sitting at home never faced a gun. Writers cannot even think about what would it feel like seen a gun pointed at your nose. The setting had potential but it has been turned in a disaster. Characters react like nerds fighting over dinner... characters are stereotypes of stereotypes of themselves. Cold Germans smart English you know the drill Stupidest script I have seen in a while. Even if you are Norwegian and want to support your limited national output you cannot possibly support this type of movie. If you like me cannot stand irrational behavior just for the sake of filling 2 hours of movie this movie is not for you. Trust me... see something else!

Although it does not really qualify as war film, 'Into the White' ranges among the best WW2 films I have seen. The makers as well as the actors deserve praise for getting the most out of a fascinating story: The film is beautifully shot, the soundtrack fits perfectly and the characters are convincing. Indeed, great care must have been taken when choosing the actors, for they not only have the correct origin (except for Strunk, though this will probably go undetected by non-native speakers) but also look like people did back then.All in all it might not be an overly thought-provoking film, but nonetheless it is very watchable - highly recommendable.