It’s always difficult to review movies that have a very emotional subject, especially those that are historical in nature. It is definitely so for the movie “Munich”. No one can dispute the tragedy of those events surrounding the Israeli Olympic team. So, by giving the movie a poor review, it makes one almost feel guilty about those events. Perhaps even giving less credence to the events than they deserve.
I went into this movie knowing very little about the 1972 Munich Olympics and while this movie is mostly about the after effects of those vents, it plays a very important role in the film. If nothing else, the movie is very intense. Yet, I never really felt attached to the characters. At parts, it was too slow and others it was not detailed enough. The pain that must have been felt by the Israeli squad who were sent to kill those responsible for the Olympic events never really translated onto the screen. After all, these were not assassins. They were regular men who were taken from their lives and turned into creatures of death. It wasn’t as if they didn’t try to show this, but I never quite got it, although I could tell what they wanted me to feel.
Steven Spielberg is a great movie maker, but this is not one of his best efforts. I know I’m going against the majority of critics here, but this movie is just above mediocre. Yet, at the same time, it is an interesting subject matter and worth watching.
Director – B+
Acting – B-
Cinematography – B-
Writing – C+
Overall, this is a decent rental. I give it a B-.
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