"Munich" - Not So Much

Steven Speilberg has been criticized for both making an anti-Israel movie and an anti-Palestinian movie, depending on which side of the fence your politics falls on.

I have read both critiques and was keeping a semi-open mind. I couldn't imagine Speilberg making and anti-Israel, anti-semitic movie, yet from the trailer I saw, it looked like the movie could be borderline.

Well, today I finally went to see it to find out for myself. And no, Speilberg did not make an anti-Israel, anti-semitic movie. Nor did he make an anti-Palestinian movie. Basically he kept politics pretty much out of it, as much as you can with this topic, and his message seemed to be about the pointlessness of everyone killing each other because it only breeds more hatred and more desire for revenge. A pretty good and valid message I would say.

What was not so good was the movie itself. In a word this film was BORING. Yes, boring. At one point, probably around 2 hours into the almost 3 hour movie, I was wishing someone would assassinate me so I wouldn't have to sit through anymore of this long-drawn out movie. I didn't leave because I kept hoping the movie would take a turn for the better but it never did.

It's a shame because there are some very excellent aspects of "Munich." The cinematography is wonderful, shot in such a way that the filmmakers appeared to be using 1970's technology, not 2005 technology giving the film an older looking patina.

There are also some wonderful performances my favorite being that of Michael Londsdale who played information broker "Papa." He was by far the most interesting character, selling information to whomever would pay and making millions in the process. He took what he considered the moral highground though, by refusing to work with governments. I would have loved to see a movie based around him and his family business.

Eric Bana as Avner, the Mossad agent with a conscious was very good as was the whole "Strike" team particularly Ciaran Hinds who played Carl, the cleaner. And as Avner's wife, Ayelet Zurer, made good use of her small part telling Avner she would put up with it until she didn't.

If screenwriter Tony Kushner had been a little less long-winded and Speilberg had directed his editor to be a bit more vigilante, this could have been a masterpiece. Unfortunately, it is just another movie that is trying to make a good point but goes off track and never bothers to come back again, missing a great opportunity.

Maybe Speilberg should study "Syriana" before he tries to tackle such a topic again.