Haunting, gutsy and brilliant.

Rating: 9/10 (6 March 2006)

Absolutely the most haunting and memorable film of 2005, if not of this century. I agree with Roger Ebert that Spielberg has very carefully and courageously placed our sympathies in this film between Israel and Palestine. However, I also feel that Spielberg simultaneously reminds us that our current "War on Terror" is not only unwinnable but also just part of a mankind's historical and hopeless cycle of pride, envy, murder and revenge. The latter task is a tricky one for Spielberg to pull off, but he does it so heart-wrenchingly in Munich without being terribly preachy about it. As in so many of his best films, here the action speaks so much louder than words.
Munich should have received every one of the Oscars for which it was nominated, and I would also like to have seen Eric Bana nominated for Best Actor and at least Geoffrey Rush nominated for Best Supporting Actor. It's hard, in retrospect, to imagine anyone else playing these roles so convincingly. Maybe Hollywood could someday add an ensemble category (as the Golden Globes do) for acting? Avner's team, like all the other characters, were so well cast in this film.
History may most remember Spielberg for Schindler's List, but our future is arguably more tied to Munich. What an incredible film to finally open up a dialogue upon such a crucial topic and to such a universal scale! Bravo, Mr. Spielberg! ;-)