Norwegian Ninjaby Patti MartinsonReviews may contain information that could be considered 'spoilers'. Readers should proceed at their own risk. Studio
Credits Grade: 6 Arne Treholt is a real-life politician and diplomat charged and convicted of espionage.Writer and Thomas Cappelen Malling wrote a book positing that instead of being a traitor, Arne Treholt was the leader of a secret group of ninjas, authorized by King Olaf to defend Norway against Soviet Communism during the Cold War. Thomas also wrote the movie, and directed it as well despite have no directing experience at all. Norwegian Ninja comes across as the most serious comedy I've ever seen. It is obvious that there is a lot of ridiculous and humorous things in this movie, so much so that it almost borders on a parody of action/espionage movies. Nevertheless, it is all treated with sincerity and gravity by the actors. The film style mixes a lot of different looks into one film. You see real-life newsreel footage, night-camera work, historic recreations and false-color scenes. What impressed me most about the movie is that despite some of the modern touches, the movie has a clear, dated tone to it that gives an air of authenticity to it, even though it is ridiculous when you stop and think about it. Recommended just for the sheer inventiveness and incongruity of what you are watching. If you get cognitive dissonance with just the title, watching it just re-affirms that. I liked watching this weirdly watchable movie and would recommend it to others looking for something off the beaten movie path. Written: January 7, 2012
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