Absolutely amazing

Simple and well acted, it has tension enough to knot the stomach.

It’s fine. It's literally the definition of a fine movie. You’ve seen it before, you know every beat and outcome before the characters even do. Only question is how much escapism you’re looking for.

It is a whirlwind of delight --- attractive actors, stunning couture, spectacular sets and outrageous parties.

THE ODESSA FILE is a low-key spy thriller of the 1970s, going for gritty realism rather than Bond-style thrills and spills. It has a little in common with THE IPCRESS FILE and much in common with the Nazi-hunting movies of the later '70s such as THE BOYS FROM BRAZIL and MARATHON MAN. Jon Voight is an unusual choice for the German journalist protagonist but he makes a good fist of the job and is remarkably convincing.The story sees Voight's steely reporter hunting for members of the secret Odessa gang, populated by former Nazis evading justice. This tale was taken from the headlines, based on a novel by Frederick Forsyth, and it also happened to be true; Odessa really did exist. The story that follows is overlong at times but generally compelling, especially when Voight's cover is blown in the latter stages and the peril builds increasingly. There's some nicely-drawn character work and one protracted fight scene which director Ronald Neame handles very well.

This thriller opens in 1963 with a brief prologue where we see Israeli intelligence officers discussing an Egyptian plan to launch a biochemical attack on Israel; the only thing the Egyptians require is a missile component being made in West Germany. The action then moves to West Germany where Peter Miller, a freelance reporter with an eye for a story, follows an ambulance only to discover it was just going to an old man who had committed suicide. The next day the investigating police officer gives Peter the old man's dairy thinking it might make a human interest story... it does far more than that though; it tells of how he had survived Riga concentration camp where he'd seen his wife killed at the orders of camp commandant Eduard Roschmann, the dairy goes on to allege that Roschmann is still alive having been given a new identity by an organisation known as ODESSA. Having read the dairy Miller is determined to find Roschmann and expose ODESSA; it soon becomes clear it reaches deep into the West German state and it isn't long before an attempt is made on his life. With few clues in Germany he heads to Vienna to see Nazi hunter Simon Wiesenthal; not long after that he is approached by Israeli intelligence; they have a plan to send him undercover into ODESSA; a dangerous task where exposure could mean death but success could destroy ODESSA.Most thrillers seem to be packed with action however this one keeps things tense with a feeling of almost constant danger; this means when the few action scenes do come they feel more intense. Jon Voight does a fine job as protagonist Peter Miller; it was good to have a thriller about Nazis where the hero is German; even if he isn't played by one! Maximilian Schell only has a fairly small role as Roschmann but he makes the character quite chilling due to the way he first denies having anything to do with the slaughter in Riga, then making out that it was nothing important then finally boasting of the greatness of the SS. The story is well told and kept me gripped from the moment we learnt the contents of the old man's dairy... just the time Miller got gripped by the story too! If there is a flaw it was the suddenness of the end and the way he managed to find Roschmann alone in a castle; still the story demanded that they be alone together for their final talk so that improbability can be forgiven. Overall this is definitely worth watching if you like your thrillers tense and don't demand nonstop action and special effects.

From the skillful and adroit hand of master novelist Frederick Forsythe comes this suspenseful story which begins in the wet streets of Berlin and traces itself to a WW II concentration camp called Riga. The movie is called " The Odessa File " and is based on the secret organization which helps ex-Nazis escape justice. Jon Voight plays Peter Miller a young German journalist who is intrigued by the diary of a survivor of the Riga death camp and left a journal identifying the 'Butcher' of Riga. With that diary, Miller decides to investigate if in fact Eduard Roschmann (Maximilian Schell) is still at large. Endangering his life and that of his girlfriend, Miller learns that Mossad, the Israeli Intelligence arm is also trying to locate the source of a electrical missile guidance system threatening Israel. With the help of Simon Wiesenthal (Shmuel Rodensky) and Mossad, Miller infiltrates the Oddessa organization and soon discovers Klaus Wenzer (Derek Jacobi) the man behind the false identifications given to escaping Nazis. However, Oddessa agents also discover who Miller really is and send their own men to dispose of him. The film is filled with intrigue, dark drama and tingling suspense and with Voight at the helm, this movie will soon join only the best which have all become Classics. ****

It is interesting that the movie opens with the assassination of President John F. Kennedy on Nov. 22, 1963 in Dallas, a date and name that may mean nothing to young people today, or to non-Americans.Spoiler alert:The Odessa File is about a vast Nazi conspiracy, about Nazis who have infiltrated every level of government, police and business in post-war Germany. Some believe there was also a high-level conspiracy behind the killing of JFK. Is the movie suggesting a parallel?This is a great movie that holds up well to repeat viewings over the years. History can gain greater meaning as we age, if we take the time to study it. With greater familiarity of World War 2, this movie takes on added strength. The extraordinary ending still has power. The Odessa File has a slower pace than most thrillers, but this allows for creating a sense of atmosphere and gives the movie life and realism. Perhaps this is one reason it holds up well in repeat viewings.This pace and naturalistic direction is also found in director Ronald Neamse's Hopscotch (1980). While Hopscotch is a comic thriller, and Odessa has utterly serious, there are some curious connections, making Hopscotch a good follow up movie. The commentary to Hopscotch is especially interesting. Walter Matthau actually wanted to turn down the role, but instead said he would do it only if Ronald Neame were to direct. He didn't actually know Neame, had no particular reason to pick him, and assumed this condition would never be met, so he figured he was off the hook. But the studio offered the picture to Neame and he accepted, so Matthau was stuck. This was a problem because they planned to film in Germany, and Matthau refused to set foot in the country because the Nazis had killed many of his relatives. A deal was set to hire his son as an actor if he would film the scenes in Germany, so it was back on. I mention this because after watching Odessa, it is clear Neame was a good fit with Matthau because of the anti-Nazi credentials of this movie. And he was an absolutely perfect fit for Hopscotch because of his relaxed, atmospheric style. I guess it was one of those Hollywood serendipities. Other movies of Neame's I recommend are Gambit, with Michael Caine and Shirley MacLaine, and the truly unusual The Horse's Mouth, starring Alec Guinness.Some are critical of the Andrew Lloyd Weber music for The Odessa File; it is certainly an odd decision to begin such a serious movie with a faux Christmas Carol and use it as a theme. But there is very little background music in the movie, and it doesn't need it. The movie gets serious quickly enough, so why wear the viewer down from the start? And the melody has an appropriately German lilt, a sort of beer hall polka carol, that is reasonably pleasant. I wouldn't mind hearing in played in the shopping malls in season, but it never caught on. Is Odessa a 10? I figure if a movie is in my list of top 100 or 200 movies, out of the thousands I have seen, and it holds up to repeat viewings over the years, then surely it must be a 10, regardless of any nitpicking about music or whatnot.Odessa has a rich, complex, tight plot, some taut suspense, powerful subject matter presented realistically and credibly, and a dynamite ending that not only surprises and ties all of the movie together, but also provides an emotional catharsis that leaves you sitting in your chair in stunned silence after the movie ends. What more could you ask for? So 10 it is. Is this Neame's best work? Neame worked in many different genres, so it is hard to compare. Hopscotch is by far my favorite, but I suppose in terms of directorial technique, Odessa may be his best, that I have seen. And I dare say people will still be watching The Odessa File in the year 2111, 2211, 2311, and probably for as long as there are movies, because of its powerful historical message.