
Munich
3.5
(439)
Drama
Action
History
Thriller
2005
164 min
R
During the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich, eleven Israeli athletes are taken hostage and murdered by a Palestinian terrorist group known as Black September. In retaliation, the Israeli government recruits a group of Mossad agents to track down and execute those responsible for the attack.
Starring:
Drama
Thriller
Action
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"This is a rewatch, having seen it once over a decade ago on TV. An extraordinarily film, using the spy revenge thriller genre as a backdrop to explore a political topic that is without a doubt contentious regardless of which side of the fence you fall on. This is a phenomenal risk-taking (and well-focused) endeavor with a stellar screenplay that dares to ask extremely nuanced questions about consequences of revenge and cycles of violence (on top of refusing to take sides and show both perspectives of this issue), with superb visual storytelling to match it. Great camera work and editing as well, not to mention a John Williams score that is unlike anything he has done. Great performances by the entire cast too (especially by Eric Bana (who does a great job conveying the inner conflict between getting revenge and the consequences of pursuing such a goal too far so well) as well as Mathieu Amalric) (special mention to the late Lynn Cohen as Golda Meir as well). This is such a huge stylistic and tonal departure for Steven Spielberg that works shockingly well here. Top 2 best Spielberg film IMO (only E. T. ranks higher for me), and one of the boldest political films ever made too.
With all due respect to the debate regarding which movie deserved the Best Picture Oscar between CRASH and BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN, I personally now feel that this is the film that should’ve hands down won both Picture and Director that year instead.
Side Note: I find it amazing that Steven Spielberg pulled off WAR OF THE WORLDS and this film in the same year (2005), and these two movies collectively are so bleak tonally, not to mention also served as unique ways for him to address the post-9/11 society. Spielberg really went for it that year in a way I’ve never seen him go before."
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Aditya