Benishay.com

MUNICH

This movie barely works as a thriller. It claims to be based on historical facts. However, it is neither faithful to the facts nor is it a well-put together thriller.

This movie is viewed as excellent by some viewers and reviewers and as very bad by others. Thus, it is difficult to predict the response of any particular viewer to the main theme of the movie. The movie poses a question. Which is worse on moral grounds? The murder of eleven (11) Israeli athletes, or the assassination of the Palestinians who committed the murders? Spielberg’s direction of the movie tells the story in such a way as to make the two sets of murders morally equivalent. This reviewer disagrees with Spielberg’s point of view.

Main actors:

Eric Bana as Avner Kaufman, head of the Israeli squad

Geoffrey Rush as Ephraim, case officer

Daniel Craig as Steve

Matthew Kassovitz as Robert

Hanns Zischiler as Hans

Ciaran Hinds as Carl

Mathieu Amaeric as Louis, who locates criminals for a fee

Michael Lonsdale as Papa, father of Louis

Lynn Cohen as Golda Meir, prime minister of Israel

Ayelet Zurer as Daphna, Avner’s wife

Steven Spielberg: Director

Tony Kushner: Writer

George Jones: Writer of a book on which the movie is partially based

It is the summer of 1972. The Olympics take place in Munich, Germany. Palestinian gunmen gain access to the apartment of Israeli athletes, capture the Israelis and kill them.

The Israeli government authorizes a team of special operations men to pursue and kill the Palestinian killers of the murdered Israeli athletes. The team pursues the Palestinian killers and disposes of several of them. The movie suggests that Avner, the Israeli team leader, is wracked with pangs of guilt which lead him to leave his formerly beloved Israel.

Rating: 5 out of 10 (2 out of 4)

Haskel “Ben” Benishay