Review: Munich

Munich opened on December 23, 2005 in limited release. The film was directed by Steven Spielberg.Synopsis:

Munich is based on the true story of five men who look for revenge against the ones responsible for the 11 Israeli athletes that were murdered at the 1972 Munich Olympics. They embark on a violent mission of vigilante justice that begins to eat away at each of their humanity. The men become fearful for their own lives as they become hunted for their actions.

Positives:

• Munich is one of Spielberg’s darkest films. His willingness to be brutally honest with the material allows the film to be incredibly effective. A lot of the violent imagery is haunting and impossible to forget.

• Spielberg is able to keep the level of tension high from beginning to end. He does an excellent job of balancing the messages he wants to deliver with the thriller component of the film. Munich is nearly 3 hours long, but it feels much shorter because of how well balanced it is.
• Munich never feels too preachy, but you definitely will think about its significance after it ends. The script avoids an abundance of sentiment. Munich is more subjective than the other Steven Spielberg historical dramas.

Negatives:

• There are a few scenes where the message and symbolism Spielberg wants to deliver gets too heavy handed. Some things in the film feel forced.

In Closing:

Munich is easily one of Spielberg’s darkest and most morally complex films. It brings up relevant questions about the nature of revenge and retaliation. Munich could of easily felt like a lesson in morality, but Spielberg does a masterful job of providing thrills that keep you invested during the entirety of the films long runtime. Munich is one of Spielberg’s most powerful films.

Rating: A