Munich

When I saw Munich and got to thinking about it, I realized how unsatisfied I was with the film. That’s when it dawned on me that that was the point, that the film itself and the characters involved lived in a world where no one could ever be fully satisfied. Based on the manhunt for those responsible for the 1972 murders of eleven Israeli Olympians, Munich captures the never-ending cycle of vengeance. For me, the film focuses more on the human realities of warfare and the guilt-ridden consciences that accompany the combat. On the surface, Munich is a riveting thriller that kicks in right at the start with explosions and gunfire and a few all-too-real and unsettling scenes. Paranoia also sets in, especially with Eric Bana’s Avner, leader of the Israeli assassination team, as he starts to fear for his family’s safety as he ironically disrupts the lives of Palestinian families. Bana gives a heartfelt performance particularly in the single moment when he hears his daughter speak for the first time half a world away. With powerful and gut-wrenching moments throughout, Munich is a solid film, although I felt it all started very suddenly and became very complicated with political talk. The world, however, is indeed a complicated place full of ignorance, appreciation, love, and hate as Munich forcefully displays.

Starring: Eric Bana, Daniel Craig, Geoffrey Rush, Ayelet Zoyer
Director: Steven Spielberg
Runtime: 164 minutes