IN BRIEF: Well acted but talky drama about the Oslo Peace Accord of 1993 that debates the issues without making its case.
JIM'S REVIEW: (RECOMMENDED) Oslo was a slow go for this reviewer. The more prior knowledge one has about the Israel / Palestinian conflict, the more compelling the film will be. This reviewer must admit to be one of the uninformed. The movie tells the back story about the secret negotiations between Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and Palestine Liberation Organization Chairman Yasser Arafat in 1993. Other political representatives are their proxies and main characters, all leading to Oslo Peace Accords, as two Norwegian diplomats who are also husband and wife, Terje Rød-Larsen (Andrew Scott) and Mona Juul (Ruth Wilson), broker peace talks in Oslo.
Adapting his Tony-winning play for the screen, J. T. Rogers cuts down his three hour play's length by an hour, although the film's pacing still seems much longer. Just how many scenes of constant bickering and debate between pompous men can be exciting, despite his fine prose? That is the central theme of the film. (And who would want to be caught in a room with these politician for an hour or two?) Bartlett Sher makes his directorial film debut and tries to cut back on the stagey proceedings by opening up the play with flashbacks. Archival footage of the war, and scenes of conversational walks outdoors, but he is only partially successful in his approach.
I found the film a tad disappointing. While it does provide some historical and political insights, the overall result was turgid and unemotionally involving for me, despite its uniformly strong cast. Succinctly stated, unlike the movie itself, this dramatization lacks drama. Perhaps, the subject matter remains too frustrating and unsettling for this reviewer. The war in Gaza continues as the casualties mount to this day. Conflicts outweigh commonalities and borders stay ever-present. Since this initial meeting in Oslo nearly three decades ago, treaties have come and gone, with no real hope in sight.
Some may like the fact that both Mr. Sher and Mr. Rogers never cast any blame on either party. But for me, the filmmakers compromise their own personal views and never take any side on the debate when more compassion and outrage is needed to be heard to make a broader impact on the topic. They remain neutral parties, without any solutions. And ultimately, so do I about this well-intentioned film. (GRADE: B-)
JIM'S REVIEW: (RECOMMENDED) Oslo was a slow go for this reviewer. The more prior knowledge one has about the Israel / Palestinian conflict, the more compelling the film will be. This reviewer must admit to be one of the uninformed. The movie tells the back story about the secret negotiations between Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and Palestine Liberation Organization Chairman Yasser Arafat in 1993. Other political representatives are their proxies and main characters, all leading to Oslo Peace Accords, as two Norwegian diplomats who are also husband and wife, Terje Rød-Larsen (Andrew Scott) and Mona Juul (Ruth Wilson), broker peace talks in Oslo.
Adapting his Tony-winning play for the screen, J. T. Rogers cuts down his three hour play's length by an hour, although the film's pacing still seems much longer. Just how many scenes of constant bickering and debate between pompous men can be exciting, despite his fine prose? That is the central theme of the film. (And who would want to be caught in a room with these politician for an hour or two?) Bartlett Sher makes his directorial film debut and tries to cut back on the stagey proceedings by opening up the play with flashbacks. Archival footage of the war, and scenes of conversational walks outdoors, but he is only partially successful in his approach.
I found the film a tad disappointing. While it does provide some historical and political insights, the overall result was turgid and unemotionally involving for me, despite its uniformly strong cast. Succinctly stated, unlike the movie itself, this dramatization lacks drama. Perhaps, the subject matter remains too frustrating and unsettling for this reviewer. The war in Gaza continues as the casualties mount to this day. Conflicts outweigh commonalities and borders stay ever-present. Since this initial meeting in Oslo nearly three decades ago, treaties have come and gone, with no real hope in sight.
Some may like the fact that both Mr. Sher and Mr. Rogers never cast any blame on either party. But for me, the filmmakers compromise their own personal views and never take any side on the debate when more compassion and outrage is needed to be heard to make a broader impact on the topic. They remain neutral parties, without any solutions. And ultimately, so do I about this well-intentioned film. (GRADE: B-)