Spielberg is still the master.

Rating: 10/10 (7 January 2006)

I just saw Spielberg's latest film, in a theatre that was pretty close to packed; and the audience was almost entirely older people (40+).
First of all, this is about the most un-Spielberg that Spielberg has ever been, even moreso than with Schindler's List; there are (at least, as far as I can see) none of the little moments that some people deride about SL (like the girl in the red dress, or Schindler's teary monologue near the end; personally, I didn't think they were inappropriate). There's one moment where Avner (Eric Bana) confesses to his wife (who's apparently named Daphna, but I don't recall it ever being said aloud; also, she's a total babe) that "You're the only home I've ever had." Daphna bursts out laughing at this, and remarks how corny that line was. It's almost like Spielberg is mocking his own past work.
There is way more sex and violence than I can ever recall in one of Steven's past films; the violence is especially notable: there's blood everyone, pieces of brain, you name it. In one especially disturbing scene an Israeli athlete has a whole blown through his cheeks, but is otherwise fine.
There are a lot of little moments, without any epic score or "dramatic posing", that really get to you. For example, an Israeli athlete is about to escape from the compound by jumping out a window, but, noticing a butcher's knife lying on the floor, he grabs it and wordlessly charges back in, killing a terrorist before being machine-gunned to death. Performancewise, Eric Bana should get an Oscar nomination for his work here; it's a magnificent piece of work. However, his character is a rather closed individual, so he probably won't get anything.
After this film, I'm convinced that Daniel Craig will be a particularly ruthless James Bond; his character is the only assassin who never has any real doubts about their mission.
Ayelet Zorer, who plays Daphna, is also notable (and, as I said, extremely attractive). The "loving wife" role is a bit thankless, but she is absolutely convincing. Actually, she may be my choice for this year's Best Supporting Actress.
Geoffrey Rush, Ciaran Hinds, et al. do their usual quality work. Lynn Cohen's Golda Meir is only in the film at the beginning, but she's a formidable presence (she looks more like an old grandma, but she commands the whole room effortlessly).
I give Munich 10/10.