Munich (2005)

User Rating:

7.8/10   

Director:

Steven Spielberg

Writers (WGA):

Tony Kushner (screenplay) and
Eric Roth (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

6 January 2006 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | History | Thriller

Tagline:

The world was watching in 1972 as 11 Israeli athletes were murdered at the Munich Olympics. This is the story of what happened next.

Plot:

Based on the true story of the Black September aftermath, about the five men chosen to eliminate the ones responsible for that fateful day.

Plot Keywords:

Munich | Mossad | Olympics | Munich Olympics | Palestinian

Awards:

Nominated for 5 Oscars. Another 7 wins & 21 nominations

Cast

Eric Bana	...	Avner
Daniel Craig	...	Steve
Ciarán Hinds	...	Carl
Mathieu Kassovitz	...	Robert
Hanns Zischler	...	Hans
Ayelet Zurer	...	Daphna
Geoffrey Rush	...	Ephraim
Gila Almagor	...	Avner's Mother
Michael Lonsdale	...	Papa
Mathieu Amalric	...	Louis
Moritz Bleibtreu	...	Andreas
Valeria Bruni Tedeschi	...	Sylvie
Meret Becker	...	Yvonne
Marie-Josée Croze	...	Jeanette the Dutch Assassin
Yvan Attal	...	Tony - Andreas' Friend

Also Known As:

Munich (Canada: French title) (France)
Steven Spielberg's Munich (Australia)
Untitled 1972 Munich Olympics Project (USA) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated R for strong graphic violence, some sexual content, nudity and language.

Runtime:

164 min | Philippines:163 min (cut)

Country:

USA | Canada | France

Language:

English | German | French | Hebrew | Arabic

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS-ES | Dolby Digital EX | SDDS

Certification:

Ireland:15A | Australia:MA | Czech Republic:12 | UK:15 | Singapore:M18 | Switzerland:14 (canton of Vaud) | Switzerland:14 (canton of Geneva) | Finland:K-15 | Netherlands:16 | Norway:15 | Argentina:16 | Portugal:M/16 | Germany:16 | Hong Kong:IIB | Spain:18 | Philippines:R-13 | Sweden:15 | Iceland:16 | Malaysia:18PL | Malaysia:U (heavily cut) | Hungary:16 | New Zealand:R16 | South Korea:15 | Japan:PG-12 | Brazil:16 | Peru:14 | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Canada:14A (Ontario) | Denmark:15 | South Africa:16 | Canada:18A (Alberta/British Columbia/Manitoba) | USA:R (certificate #42321) | France:U (with warning) | Australia:M (TV rating) | India:A (cinema release)

Filming Locations:

Bir-Hakeim Bridge, Paris, France

Company:

DreamWorks SKG

Trivia:

When Geoffrey Rush and Eric Bana are walking on the sea-front, they pass an old man with a hat twice. That man is the Maltese actor Joe Quattromani.

Goofs:

Factual errors: In the film, the German snipers at the airport were using rifles with telescopic sights. In reality, the Germans were criticized for their lack of preparation, including the fact that none of the snipers had telescopic or infrared sights.

Quotes:

[first lines]
American Athlete: Hey! Oh! Shame, shame! Closing down the beer garden. 100 meter dash powered by knackwurst and lager.
American Athlete: Where are you guys from?
American Athlete: What is your event?

Movie Connections:

Featured in Munich: Memories of the Event (2006) (V)

Soundtrack:

Clowns

Justice or Vengeance?

Gandhi said, "An eye for an eye only makes the whole world blind." What distinguishes justice from vengeance? This echoes throughout Steven Spielberg's "Munich". "Munich" is powerful and perhaps Spielberg's most compelling and thought provoking work. He weaves a tapestry of political and social threads focusing on terrorism and the cost of violence. "Munich" is truly amazing in balancing linear storytelling and horrific acts of violence, demonstrating the impact of the aftermath. Spielberg's "Munich" seen through the eyes of Eric Bana's Avner is a powerful allegory that even in the most just and noble fights against terror we eventually become that which we despise. "Munich" really serves as a reminder. Mossad team leader Avner played by Eric Bana is absolutely riveting as the man who begins this righteous cause only to find that the cost is his soul. Anver asks, "When does it ever end?"

At the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich, Palestinian terrorists brutally murdered the Israeli wrestling team. This political statement was seen around the world and depicted in gory detail by Director Spielberg. Based on the book "Vengeance" by George Jones, the screenplay by Tony Kushner and Eric Roth tells the story of the aftermath of this tragedy. A great Lynn Cohen who plays Prime Minister Golda Meir says, "Every civilization finds it necessary to negotiate compromises with its own values." Poetic words for what follows are a search and destroy mission. The Mossad assembles a team lead by Avner (Bana) to track down and kill with extreme prejudice all those involved in the terrorist action in Munich. 11 names are identified for execution. These executions are also intended to serve as statements. Anver though an inexperienced operative and not an assassin is selected for the covert mission by Ephriam (the great Geoffrey Rush) for being a strong and effective leader of men. The assassin team is composed of Steve (Daniel Craig—the next James Bond), Carl (Ciaran Hinds), Robert (Mathieu Kassovitz), and Hans (Hanns Zischler). They are dissociated from the Mossad, i.e. they technically don't exist.

In accepting the lead, Avner must leave his beautiful and pregnant wife Daphna (a very strong Ayelet Zorer) for what could be a number of years. Carl has his doubts about Avner, telling him that he was chosen because he is a "good soldier". Soon Carl respects Avner for his quiet force and conscience. Attack of conscience and paranoia soon engulf the team as they become entrenched in the world of underground intelligence for hire. Avner pays large sums of money for information on the whereabouts of his targets from Louis (wonderfully shady Mathiew Amalric) and his wealthy Papa (weary and noble Michael Lonsdale). Avner soon finds that whomever he kills is eventually replaced, and that he and potentially his family is now a target for the terrorists he was assigned to hunt down and kill. The realization is that it truly never ends. Bana is amazing as a trapped animal in the scene in his thrashed apartment—searching for weapons of his demise. Paranoia sets in, and the path of justice and vengeance become blurred. In a poignant scene Robert pleads to Avner, "When I lose my righteousness, I lose everything…"

Nothing about "Munich" is easy, though it is simple. I believe that is Steven Spielberg's intention. "Munich" could be tighter in spots, though this does not diminish the movie's power and impact. Eric Bana emerges as the noble hero battling to salvage his own humanity and his very soul. "When does it ever end?" Perhaps even in the current context there is no real answer—maybe what Spielberg is getting at. It is a reminder of our humanity, that even the most righteous cause may cost our souls. "Munich" is truly a powerful movie worth seeing.