Gold Run

This movie, about the true story of the effort to evacuate the entire Norwegian gold reserve out of Norway during the German invasion of Norway in World War II to keep the gold out of Germany's hands, is a fantastic docudrama movie!

It is far from flawless. Some of the supporting actors give pretty mediocre performances, the dialogue is a bit on the simple side, and it is clear the movie draws inspiration from others-at times it feels a little like a wannabe. That said, there is still a lot to love! I am a sucker for cinematic movies that lean into cinematography, sound design, score, and effects-and Gold Run really nails those elements, especially for a Norwegian production. Plus, it is based on a true story, which stirs up a bit of national pride and reminds us how lucky we are today-85 years later.

This movie is not perfect, but its visuals, sound, and true story stand out. Despite flaws, it captures a proud moment in Norwegian history and stirs national spirit.

I am shocked by the negative reviews here and I'm wondering whether we watched the same film! I was on the edge of my seat throughout, the characters were excellent and I could feel their pain, frustration and joy. It opened my eyes to a piece of history that I knew very little about and it left me feeling so grateful for the comfort we live in today.

The characters were relatable and human. I felt a connection to each one, in particular Haslund. The cast did an excellent job in bringing them to life and within minutes I was truly rooting for each character. They are both likeable and yet fallible, and I think it is the characters that really make the film great.

I'll admit that the plot is simple, but I don't think that this is a bad thing. It was still filled with drama and emotion and it was thrilling and engaging throughout. The simpler plot also allowed for the characters to be explored more, and this they did well so I never felt bored.

This may not technically be the best film ever made, but this is still one of my favourites. I felt drawn into this film and I felt the highs and the lows of the characters and their journey. Perhaps it could have been more complex, perhaps it could have been deeper, but I don't think it needed to be. It was engaging, emotional and exciting, and I don't think a film can be anything more than that.

It's a primarily fictional David and Goliath story of the historical transport of Norway's gold reserve away from the advancing German army in April-May 1940.

Fredrik Haslund (Jon Oigarden), the secretary of the Labor Party's parliamentary group in Norway and a historical figure, leads the effort to get 50 tons of gold out of Oslo to British ships for transport to England. His sister, Nini (Ida Elise Broch), also becomes deeply involved.

The film follows Haslund and the gold as they go north narrowly ahead of the Germans. Other primary film characters are the real-life poet Nordahl Grieg (Morten Svartveit), Bank Manager Andreas Lund (Gard B. Eidsvold), Major Bjorn Sunde (Elvind Sander), and two fictional ordinary men, Odd Henry (Sven Nordin) and bank clerk Ingvar Berge (Axel Boyum). Major Otto Stoltmann (Anatole Taubman) leads the German pursuit.

"Gold Run" is mostly a fun action picture, with humor provided by Odd Henry and Ingvar Berge, who offer contrasting perspectives throughout. Haslund is meticulous to a fault, much to the dismay of Major Sunde. As expected, Norwegian creativity prevails over dogged German efforts.

"Gold Run" exaggerates events and lifts tension beyond the believable too often for my satisfaction. Thus, it's entertaining but far from historical accuracy.

The story sounds risky as a movie but rather early in the film solid characters are established and as much drama and fun as possible is generated from the events that actually took place. The best bits are, rather unlikely, entirely true, like the presence of the poet.

The suspence is constantly turned up as the reality of invasion becomes more and more serious. The action parts are spectacular and very well directed, always cranking up the emotional investment and describing civilian angst in a nation that hadn't seen war for over 100 years.

This was an very enjoyable movie, only held back by some slighter predictabilities with character developments.

Gold Run promised to be a gripping war drama. However, I could not avoid laughing at unexpected moments.

The film's saving grace lies in its remarkable visual effects. The cinematography captures the chaos of war with gritty realism.

Unfortunately, the character development falls flat. The actors seem trapped in caricatures rather than fully fleshed-out roles. The protagonists lack depth. Similarly, Anatole Taubman, portraying the Nazi officer, resorts to clichés rather than genuine complexity.

War dramas typically evoke somber emotions, but Gold Run could not make you feel that. If you are looking for a more authentic war drama, you'll likely find yourself disappointed.