Munich (*** ½)
Up front, this movie is 2 hours and 45 minutes long. And, as with another film that I recently reviewed, I could have been better by at least 45 minutes.
Munich is a fictional back-story about the aftermath of the horrendous deaths of Israeli athletes during the 1976 Olympics. Palestinian terrorists abducted and murdered eleven men. They themselves were killed while trying to escape Germany in a botched attempt to free the hostages. That part is historical fact. The rest is fiction based on other events.
A man named Avner (Eric Bana) is recruited by his native Israel to take revenge on those who planned the terrorist's abduction and who formed the group know as "Black Friday". Along with four other men, none of who appear to be experienced field agents, they search throughout Europe to find and kill them. Despite their inexperience, they start to do their job. Eventually, however, their deeds catch up with them and they are targets themselves.
For most of the film, the action holds us, and we are able to deal with the Jewish angst through the dialog of the characters. One of the main sources of information for the team is a Frenchman who's father is in the lucrative business of providing intelligence to anyone who can pay.
After three of the team are killed and the paranoia is so overwhelming, Avner retires to New York with his wife and child. He is tired of trying to kill the beast that grows a new head when one is chopped off. He is left with his fears and what remains of his Hebrewness away from the country and parents that loved him so much.
I give this film 3½ stars (out of five). I think it takes too long for Spielberg to make his point. Although he did an excellent job in directing the film, he should have been a little more frugal in the editing room.
If the result of trying to save your country is loosing your heritage and belief system, as Avner realizes at the end, then is it really worth it? Does revenge beget more revenge? I would say yes, but it does not take that long to express that in a movie.
There are no surprise endings or plot twists, so don't look for any additional information here. Wait for the DVD and be prepared to stop it for a break right after the woman gets killed. (OK, so I did give you some extra information.)
Munich is a fictional back-story about the aftermath of the horrendous deaths of Israeli athletes during the 1976 Olympics. Palestinian terrorists abducted and murdered eleven men. They themselves were killed while trying to escape Germany in a botched attempt to free the hostages. That part is historical fact. The rest is fiction based on other events.
A man named Avner (Eric Bana) is recruited by his native Israel to take revenge on those who planned the terrorist's abduction and who formed the group know as "Black Friday". Along with four other men, none of who appear to be experienced field agents, they search throughout Europe to find and kill them. Despite their inexperience, they start to do their job. Eventually, however, their deeds catch up with them and they are targets themselves.
For most of the film, the action holds us, and we are able to deal with the Jewish angst through the dialog of the characters. One of the main sources of information for the team is a Frenchman who's father is in the lucrative business of providing intelligence to anyone who can pay.
After three of the team are killed and the paranoia is so overwhelming, Avner retires to New York with his wife and child. He is tired of trying to kill the beast that grows a new head when one is chopped off. He is left with his fears and what remains of his Hebrewness away from the country and parents that loved him so much.
I give this film 3½ stars (out of five). I think it takes too long for Spielberg to make his point. Although he did an excellent job in directing the film, he should have been a little more frugal in the editing room.
If the result of trying to save your country is loosing your heritage and belief system, as Avner realizes at the end, then is it really worth it? Does revenge beget more revenge? I would say yes, but it does not take that long to express that in a movie.
There are no surprise endings or plot twists, so don't look for any additional information here. Wait for the DVD and be prepared to stop it for a break right after the woman gets killed. (OK, so I did give you some extra information.)
posted by Mr. Don at
8:59 PM
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