As we've seen over the course of this journey only a few directors have truly been able to thrive in multiple decades. One who we've followed almost throughout his career is Steven Spielberg who we first met when he helmed Jaws and most recently caught up with when he won his two Best Director Oscars. Both of his 1990s Oscar favourites; Schindler's List and Saving Private Ryan, looked at the Second World War from two interesting perspectives. Spielberg's latest Oscar-nominated film on this list looks at another memorable event; the massacre at the Munich Olympics, and the resulting retaliation operation against the Palestine Liberation Organisation.
The opening scene depicts, in quite graphic detail, the Munich massacre itself and the ensuing media storm that ensued. We then meet our lead protagonist; Mossad agent Avner Kauffman; who is tasked with heading up a band of mercenaries to track down those responsible for the attacks. Spielberg's film then takes up an episodic approach as the gang travel around the globe attempting to assassinate the members of the PLO one-by-one. One of the best things about Tony Kushner and Eric Roth's script is the fact that these men are rather unlikely assassins. Therefore the conversations between hits ring true as the group ponder the moral consequences of their actions and whether they're ultimately doing any good. Avner's contact, shadowy Frenchman Louis; is another intriguing character as he appears to be helping out the group purely for monetary gain. It's then up to the audience whether or not he's playing a game and helping out both sides in return for more money. Where Munich fell down for me slightly was in its pacing and I felt that, at two and half hours the film was far too long. This is especially true of the final half hour, where Avner is looking back at the mission and wondering whether any of the men he killed were actually part of the massacre in the first place. Although there is a neat sequence in which Avner's memories play out while he's making love to his wife; his post-traumatic stress disorder is played out for far too long.
One thing that you can always count on in terms of a Spielberg movie are several explosive moments and in terms of Munich the explosions are quite literal. One of Munich's strengths are its well-punctuated scenes in which bombs are set off in houses and hotels to rather shocking effect. One of these set pieces that stays in the mind is the assassination of Mahmoud Hamshari which is briefly halted when the group learn that his daughter in this house. Similarly memorable is the explosion in a hotel in which Avner himself is caught up with. However, not all of the set pieces hit the mark and in particular I felt uncomfortable after Avner and driver Steve slaughter a Dutch female agent who has killed one of their own. Of the cast, I felt that Eric Bana was perfect as the Israeli every man, dedicating his cause to a wife and new born child that he may never see again. A pre-James Bond Daniel Craig was also perfectly used as rough and ready South African Steve whilst Geoffrey Rush was brilliant in his brief role as Avner's handler Ephraim. I also really liked Mathieu Amalric as the shadowy amoral Louis. At the same time I don't think any of the cast members really gave stand out performances and that's perhaps why none of them were nominated for acting Oscars. Ultimately I feel that, even though its only ten years old, Munich is already one of Spielberg's forgotten films and I can sort of see why. At times powerful, at others frankly dull, Munich has its moments but is overall fairly inconsistent.
Next time, two films that peer beyond the picket fence and look at the seedy side of suburban America.
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