Amundsen: The Greatest Expedition

2019

2h 5m

Adventure

History

Drama

Biography

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46%

13 Reviews

Tomatometer

25%

Fewer than 50 Ratings

Audience Score

Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen embarks on a treacherous journey to reach the icy wastelands of the North Pole.

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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

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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

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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

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Espen Sandberg

Director

Pål Sverre Hagen

Roald Amundsen

Christian Rubeck

Leon Amundsen

Katherine Waterston

Bess Magids

Trond Espen Seim

Fridtjof Nansen

Fridtjov Såheim

Hjalmar Johansen

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Amundsen: The Greatest Expedition: Trailer 1

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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

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Chris Knight

National Post

A fun, educational adventure.

Rated: 3.5/5

Apr 16, 2021

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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

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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

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Synopsis

Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen embarks on a treacherous journey to reach the icy wastelands of the North Pole.

Director: Espen Sandberg
Producer: Harald Zwart, Veslemøy Ruud Zwart, Jenny Stjernströmer-Björk, Espen Sandberg
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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