A brilliant exploration of the moral costs of violence.

Rating: 10/10 (21 December 2005)

"Munich" is a tremendous movie, thanks largely to Tony Kushner's brilliant screenplay, that explores the nature and moral costs of violence. As such it is necessarily an extremely graphic film in its depictions of violence.
Based on historical events that began at the 1972 Munich Olympics: the kidnapping and killing of Israeli athletes by Palestinian terrorists, and the Israeli efforts to assassinate those who planned and carried out that attack the movie centers on Avner Kaufman (Eric Bana in a wonderful performance) who leads the Israeli death squad. Bana shows Kaufman, a gentle patriot, whose work pulls him from his pregnant wife, being deeply transformed by the brutality of his work. Around this transformation we see others, mostly Israelis, and their attitudes about what has been or must be done.
With Kushner's script and Spielberg's direction the actors all around share credit for fleshing out characters that could easily be cliché and stereotype into more fully human figures. Some of the more peripheral figures even present more depth and reflection on the range of opinions and experience of Isreali Jews than do some of Kaufman's teammates.
This film is sure to raise a lot of political controversy, and anyone with an opinion will find both brilliance and flaws. From my own perspective, I was dismayed that Israeli terrorists were fully fleshed humans we were drawn to care about, and Palestinian terrorists were little more than props and targets. On the other hand, some of the Israelis articulate points that will anger fervent Zionists including acknowledgment that whatever Israel is it is land taken by force from Palestinians. While this is a very Jewish film, it accepts no easy assumptions about the Zionist state. Its criticisms will be far too mild for some, and an unconscionable betrayal according to others.
The exploration of violence, whether for or against any state, is one that is far more widely applicable. This film is not just about Jews and Israel, but a cautionary tale about those who use violence and how that feeds into an expanding destructive vortex.
Kushner's script and Bana's performance easily merit Oscar nominations, and this could even get a nod for "Best Movie." I think the political questions it raises make a nomination likely, but a win very improbable.