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Amundsen: The Greatest Expedition

Play trailer 2:29 Poster for Amundsen: The Greatest Expedition 2019 2h 5m Adventure History Drama Biography Play Trailer Watchlist
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46% Tomatometer 13 Reviews 28% Popcornmeter Fewer than 50 Ratings
Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen embarks on a treacherous journey to reach the icy wastelands of the North Pole.
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Amundsen: The Greatest Expedition

Critics Reviews

View All (13) Critics Reviews
Owen Gleiberman Variety "Amundsen" has some moments of stately power, but most of it is a muddled and remote experience. Apr 4, 2021 Full Review Jeannette Catsoulis New York Times "Amundsen" tries in vain to make us care about its unprepossessing subject, a man who seems to extract little joy from his staggering successes. Apr 1, 2021 Full Review Chris Knight National Post A fun, educational adventure. Rated: 3.5/5 Apr 16, 2021 Full Review Monique Jones Common Sense Media Director Espen Sandberg and cinematographer Pål Ulvik Rokseth showcase the expansive beauty and haunting quality of the Arctic through methodical pacing and panoramic shots... Rated: 4/5 Apr 3, 2021 Full Review Todd Jorgenson Cinemalogue ... captures the daunting wintry landscapes with abundant visual flair, although the formulaic screenplay rarely penetrates the icy surface. Apr 2, 2021 Full Review Anne Brodie What She Said The film's mesmerising, set in places I know I won't visit, in conditions we can't imagine, as the men's strength, crew and leaders, shine through. Apr 2, 2021 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Liam D It's watchable but a very shallow look at one of the greatest adventurers of our time Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/15/23 Full Review isla s This is a sobering watch and I suppose its insightful, about the race to the North Pole and how various characters reacted to the achievements of others. It says a lot about the old boys club attitudes of the time. The rivalry between the men is put across quite convincingly, I thought. I thought it was interesting how much emphasis they put on the so called polar dogs (huskies, I think) and on learning from the natives - deciding on the mistakes made by previous explorers attempts to reach similar ground. Its an interesting watch, with some good cinematography and its thoughtful, although I'm not sure I'd say its entirely memorable. Its still a film worth seeing for the story alone though, I suppose. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review lee f Interesting film about the Norwegian explorer Amundsen. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review pete w Disappointing. Had expected another Shackleton. Didn't come close. Rated 2 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Audience Member This biographical film about the famous Norwegian polar explorer Roald Amundsen is at best educational and in many ways cinematographically entertaining, but sadly the cast is shamed by dependence on so called household names among yet the same old narrow range of Norwegian male actors, in stead of trying to find someone who are actually suitable for the roles, whether it's about character acting skills, types or looks. In fact, many of the basic roles are occupied by actors who are more or less overrated. Pål Sverre Hagen is not such a bad actor, but he's not a good enough character actor and does not convince as the highly robust type that the iconic polar explorer truly was. He grows somewhat into the role throughout the film, but Hagen simply does not possess the charisma or authority of Amundsen, however much he tries. Neither is there much help in modeling a replica of the pioneer's nose. Nevertheless, Trond Espen Seim as Nansen is even worse. Seim neither looks anything like Nansen, nor does he deliver a good performance this time either. At best he's a one trick pony as an actor, and it's a mystery why he gets any big roles. The rest of the Norwegian cast perform well enough, but there's an obvious quality difference compared to the cast from other nations. It might have something to do with for instance British actors being better educated, but in general also more talented, and that they won't stumble for any poor direction. It looks like director Espen Sandberg has fallen in the old Norwegian acting trap, where the obvious contrast between stage and screen acting is more or less forgotten or eliminated. Also, it's no plus that makeup and wigs are rather amateurish and make several actors look like they are in an old style television theater parody competition. Still, there are moments and sequences that grab you, with some of the dialogue between Christian Rubeck as Amundsen's brother Leon and Katherine Waterston as mistress Bess Magids making a dramaturgical highlight of the film. Regardless, it's almost a shame that the production designers and visual effect makers have done such a brilliant job, something that truly saves the total from near disaster. Rated 2 out of 5 stars 01/21/23 Full Review Audience Member La scelta è quella di raccontare l'intera vita dell'esploratore, senza concentrarsi particolarmente su nessun evento; ed utilizzando il fratello come narratore. Nonostante i numerosi episodi che rendono la biografia estremamente interessante, il metodo utilizzato per raccontarla finisce per appiattirla totalmente, riuscendo nella pessima impresa di non creare un minimo di empatia con nessuno dei personaggi. Troppo inoltre il tempo dedicato a conversazioni legate alla sfera familiare del soggetto, senza che mai esse conducano da qualche parte. Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 02/12/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Amundsen: The Greatest Expedition

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Cast & Crew

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Movie Info

Synopsis Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen embarks on a treacherous journey to reach the icy wastelands of the North Pole.
Director
Espen Sandberg
Producer
John M. Jacobsen, Kristian Strand Sinkerud, Espen Horn
Screenwriter
Ravn Lanesskog
Production Co
Motion Blur Films , Film Kolektiv, Filminvest AB, Film i Väst, SF Studios
Genre
Adventure, History, Drama, Biography
Original Language
Norwegian
Release Date (Streaming)
Apr 2, 2021
Runtime
2h 5m
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