Characters Lack Depth.

Rating: 5/10 (20 April 2016)

Munich (2005): Dir: Steven Spielberg / Cast: Eric Bana, Daniel Craig, Geoffrey Rush, Marie-Josee Croze, Ciaran Hinds: Place and time regards the aftermath of the 1972 murders of 11 Israeli athletes and the squad sent to terminate those responsible. Director Steven Spielberg succeeds in realism with a powerful setup then it becomes repetitious as the team tracks and kills its targets with various bomb devices. One flaw is its inability to involve viewers. That is not usually the case with a director such as Spielberg but this is not a high point in his career. Basically, this is no Schindler's List. Eric Bana leads the mission but the role is one note until the second half of the film where he examines the vengeance and the paranoia overlooking his life. In supporting roles are Geoffrey Rush and Daniel Craig as well as Marie-Josee Croze who are at the mercy of characters that never seem to come to life. Their roles are more observed than developed and that is a major drawback. This is unfortunate considering the talent in front and behind the camera involved and how flat the material becomes. Strong theme regarding revenge and whether it is warranted. Spielberg doesn't applaud revenge so much as address its madness and whether or not it actually resolves. The film is technically well made showcasing European photography but for Spielberg it is secondary to his masterpieces. Score: 5 / 10