Munich

I saw Munich on the opening weekend and can confirm that Speilberg has hit the jackpot with this sensational revenge movie. My advice to the Academy would be start polishing the Oscar because Munich is the worthy winner. Despite all the hoo-hah and 'social importance' about Brokeback Mountain it will have to be ignored in favour of the fantastic Munich. A film, which due to the current political climate and it's topic alone make it a far more important film in todays society.

Munich starts in powerful fashion, with the murder of the Israel athletes at the Munich Olympic games by the Palestinians. Speilberg mixes drama with real life here as he uses news bulletins and footage from 1972 in order to help tell this part of the story. It certainly works and is a more than effective medium to help build the foundations of the plot.

This film is story of the revenge mission that the Israelis carry out to avenge the Palestinian attack. The man charged with taking out the 'men behind Munich' is Avner played by Eric Bana. Avner takes his orders from Geoffrey Rush's character - Ephraim, who is the handler for Avner's team. It is Avner's job to lead the assault on the Palestinians responsible for Munich and he is assisted by a small and quirky team of assassins in order to help him do the job effectively.

Avner and his team are of course employed by the Israeli government, however it is made clear that they are working off the record and should they get caught they'll be on their own.

The film takes all over Europe as Avner and his team seek to destroy those responsible for Munich. The styling is superb and the scenery and backdrops are perfect - you feel you are really in the 1970's and I think Daniel Craig may have started a new trend with some very cool seventies style polo shirts.

Each killing is expertly handled with the right amount of tension - one of them being down to Speilberg at his brilliant best - you'll know the scene when you see it, but the tension is off the charts.

The great thing about this movie is that it shows how the killings effect the Israeli hit-squad. The deep paranoia that begins to engulf Avner when he realises that the hunter can become the hunted at any time is breathtaking.

Munich's plot is smooth and runs nicely, with the inclusion of a mysterious yet somehow menacing French 'middle-man' adding some intriguing elements to the film.

The acting is also superb. Bana should have been up for an Oscar with his intense performance of Avner. He isn't alone though as Geoffrey Rush turns in a great showing as shifty handler Ephraim. Daniel Craig is also brilliant as a trigger happy South African getaway driver, whilst Ciar n Hinds impresses as meticulous clean-up man Carl.

This films 'message' has been a hot topic, with Speilberg accused of being pro-Israel due to his Jewish heritage. I wouldn't buy such arguments, I think Speilberg handles the material very impartially and the message I took from this film is that the violence, though politically necessary, is ultimately fruitless.

A great film and a definite 10 out of 10.

Steven Spielberg is at it again with Munich. I highly recommend that you see this movie.