The Exception

2017 • 107 minutes
4.2
104 reviews
75%
Tomatometer
R
Rating
Eligible
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About this movie

A riveting World War II thriller that is filled with espionage and romance in equal measure, The Exception follows German soldier Stefan Brandt (Jai Courtney) as he goes on a mission to investigate exiled German Monarch Kaiser Wilhelm II (Christopher Plummer). The Kaiser lives in Huis Doorn, a secluded mansion just outside of Utretcht in the Netherlands, and as Germany is taking over Holland, the country’s authorities are concerned that Dutch spies may be watching the Kaiser. As Brandt begins to infiltrate the Kaiser’s life in search of clues, he finds himself drawn into an unexpected and passionate romance with Mieke (Lily James), one of the Kaiser’s maids whom Brandt soon discovers is secretly Jewish. When Heinrich Himmler (Eddie Marsan), Head of the SS, makes an unexpected visit with a large platoon of Nazis in tow, the stage is set for a breathtaking showdown, as secrets are revealed, allegiances are tested, and Brandt is forced to make the ultimate choice between honoring his country and following his heart.
Rating
R

Ratings and reviews

4.2
104 reviews
Ben Fortson
October 25, 2018
This is a fascinating plot--only undermined by the ridiculous premise that a woman who's husband was murdered by the Nazi's could overcome her grief and Nazi-hatred by finding the perfect sex partner in... you guessed it... a Nazi. We are encouraged to believe our heroine (a British spy and an all-too-eager-too-expose-herself Jew) simultaneously seeks to kill Nazi's, while aggressively pursuing tryst's with a Nazi guard, who apparently offers such good sex that she is willing to risk her life, and let bygones be bygones. Beyond this lame storyline, which seems to abandon any sense of reality for a chance to be considered for a Porn Oscar, the rest of the tale is quite good, and actually believable. Christopher Plummer is excellent, the portrayal of Himmler exceptionally creepy, and once you get past the shallow sex scenes, the tale unfolds in a marvelously crescendoing drama. Hmmm... if only you didn't find yourself detesting the main characters. Call me old school, but a budding romance, a little conversation and some character development would have done wonders for this film.
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John Coryat
January 9, 2018
A little over the top. Hardly believable but for a recently produced WWII story, not too bad. I doubt I'll ever watch it again though.
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A Google user
December 12, 2017
Jai Courtney is an exceptional actor along With Christpher Plummer. Made the movie. To bad it is not recognized as a wonderful movie.
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