--- title: "The Baader Meinhof Complex: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/the-baader-meinhof-complex/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/the-baader-meinhof-complex" critics_score: 58 critics_reviews: 12 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # The Baader Meinhof Complex (2008): what the critics said Critics' score 58 from 12 reviews: 5 positive, 4 mixed, 3 negative. Most critics find the film absorbing as history. The praise clusters on the cast: Martina Gedeck’s finely graded Ulrike Meinhof is singled out repeatedly, Johanna Wokalek’s Gudrun Ensslin and Moritz Bleibtreu’s narcissistic, self-deluding Baader almost as often. Several reviews also credit the editing and cinematography with conveying the fear and upheaval of the period, and the better-disposed critics admire the film’s refusal to hand down easy judgements on the RAF. The reservations cluster on crowding and politics. Even admirers concede the story is overstuffed, with key transformations left unexplained; the harsher reviews call it incoherent, half-told or simply dull, the gunfire leaving no room to think. The New Yorker faults the narrowness of its perspective and the absence of the Cold War context, while the Evening Standard warns it edges towards glamorising terrorism. The spread is wide, from warm to dismissive, and the dissent comes largely from the American press on the film’s later release. ## Radio Times — Alan Jones Rating 4/5. Jones finds the story absorbingly told and the film gripping. He particularly praises its portrayal of the volatile Andreas Baader and disillusioned Ulrike Meinhof. [Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-21vjxd/the-baader-meinhof-complex/) ## Empire — Kim Newman Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 23 October 2008. Newman calls it fascinating history and a very good, demanding film, though its lack of easy answers may frustrate some viewers. He praises Martina Gedeck’s performance and the film’s vivid cast, while noting its commitment to historical complexity over comforting explanations. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/baader-meinhof-complex-review/) ## The Guardian — Philip French Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 16 November 2008. French finds the film a powerful, clear-eyed account of the RAF and the forces surrounding its rise. He praises its factual exposition and refusal to make easy judgments. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2008/nov/16/the-baader-meinhof-complex-review) ## The Hollywood Reporter — Bonnie J. Gordon Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 1 October 2008. The critic finds the film a compelling, relevant character study, though some key character transformations remain unexplained. She praises its focused portrayal of the women and the editing and cinematography that convey the period’s fear and upheaval. [Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/baader-meinhof-complex-125215/) ## Evening Standard Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 10 April 2012. The critic finds the film relevant, thought-provoking and highly watchable, while noting that it approaches the edge of glamorising terrorism. They particularly praise Martina Gedeck’s finely graded performance as Ulrike Meinhof. [Read the review](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/film/terror-and-glamour-in-the-baader-meinhof-complex-7411075.html) ## Slant Magazine — Joseph Jon Lanthier Rating 2.5/4. 17 August 2009. The critic finds the film politically muddled and ultimately disinteresting. He praises Edel’s ability to make the action sequences tense, despite the weak emotional stakes. [Read the review](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/the-baader-meinhof-complex/) ## Time Out — Wally Hammond Rating 3/5. 11 November 2008. The critic finds the film both fascinating and frustrating. The review singles out its portrait of the formation of the group as compelling but uneven. [Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/the-baader-meinhof-complex-1) ## Los Angeles Times — Kenneth Turan Fi1m's normalised score 50/100 (inferred from the text). 28 August 2009. Turan finds the film a fascinating but pulp-styled treatment of a serious subject, leaving viewers free to decide how seriously to take it. He praises the strong German cast and the film’s vivid capture of the era’s revolutionary fervor. [Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2009-aug-28-et-complex28-story.html) ## The New Yorker — Richard Brody Fi1m's normalised score 35/100 (inferred from the text). 31 August 2009. Brody finds the film’s political perspective compelling to contemporary audiences but ultimately too narrow and selective. He faults its omission of the Cold War context, especially East Germany’s role and the Berlin Wall. [Read the review](https://www.newyorker.com/culture/richard-brody/the-baader-meinhof-complex-ins-and-outs) ## Variety — Boyd van Hoeij Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 25 September 2008. The critic finds the film overstuffed and largely humdrum, with little exploration of its characters or the RAF’s ideology. Johanna Wokalek’s vivid performance as Gudrun Ensslin is singled out as the film’s strongest asset. [Read the review](https://variety.com/2008/film/awards/the-baader-meinhof-complex-2-1200470286/) ## IndieWire — robbiefreeling Fi1m's normalised score 25/100 (inferred from the text). 21 August 2009. The critic finds the film dull and unimaginative despite the importance of its subject. They fault its relentless gunfire and chronology for sacrificing narrative cohesion and thoughtful pauses. [Read the review](https://www.indiewire.com/news/general/world-gone-wrong-the-baader-meinhof-complex-225970/) ## Eye for Film — Jeff Robson Fi1m's normalised score 65/100 (inferred from the text). 29 October 2008. Robson finds the film gripping and powerful at its best, but says its crowded story ultimately becomes incoherent and feels only half-told. He particularly praises the excellent performances and singles out Moritz Bleibtreu’s portrayal of Baader’s narcissism and self-delusion. [Read the review](http://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/the-baader-meinhof-complex-film-review-by-jeff-robson) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/the-baader-meinhof-complex.md