another wonderful film by Spielberg

Rating: 8/10 (25 January 2006)

At the 1972 Munich Olympics, eleven Israeli Athletes were taken hostage by a Palestinia terrorist group called Black September. The Palestinia group want prisoners of war released that are held by the Israelits. The whole situation grows horribly wrong, with all eleven hostages killed. Three surviving kidnappers were set free and taken out of Germany. The Israeli government sets up a small team of assassins, to target the people involved and constructed this attack; eleven in total. Heading the five member team is Avner, who's wife is currently pregnant. Avner, employed under Mossad head Ephraim, becomes a shadow; he doesn't work for anyone and doesn't exist. One by one Avner and his team track down the involved people across the European landscape.
The incident of the Munich Olpymics is vividly recreated by Steven Spielberg, the 1970's is meticulously detailed against the rich backdrop of the European cities. Munich is a great, thrilling political drama on the terrorist attack, blending fact and fiction. Spielberg has captured the coldness that surrounds the situation, and the retaliation taken by the Israeli government. During the scenes of the assassinations, the tension is so taunt and of such a high caliber. Its unnerving that we are shown the detail and precision of the attacks; how they construct the bombs and contraptions, and the set up to place them. It really shows the commitment they are taking to complete their task. The attacks are more unnerving and realistic with the graphic violence.
Holding Munich back from reaching a brilliant thriller is the length. It has a drawn out pace with the story. The tension doesn't keep an even pace, due to the pacing of the film. When there should have been rapid fire tense scene after one another with little breathing space, we're given to much breathing space, letting the tense atmosphere slip. Munich starts to fall towards the end, leaving the political tension for family drama. Yet there is much paranoia captured in Avner, trying to keep his family safe.
While this could have been a one sided story, we are shown both sides, hearing both the Israelis and Palestinias. We hear their argument and the commitment they hold for their beliefs. While Avner is shown as a noble man, committing deplorable acts, while we can sympathise with him, we still aren't meant to accept what he's doing.
In a career defining role, Eric Bana gives his best performance to date. He perfectly embodies Avner, showing the eternal conflict he has, yet the commitment for the task. Daniel Craig seems miss casted as Steve, though does a good performance. Geoffrey Rush shows another strong job in the minimal role of Ephraim. Completing the assassin team; Ciarn Hinds, Mathieu Kassovitz and Hanns Zischler all give gripping performances. Steven Speilbergs direction is wonderful. We are taken head first into the story, yet Spielberg's direction isn't intrusive, letting the story come out.
Though it may be drawn out to much, Munich still is a gripping thriller, on the retaliation taken out on this tragic event.