Munich

Starring Eric Bana, Geoffrey Rush, Daniel Craig, Ciaran Hinds, Mathieu Kassovitz, Hanns Zischler

Rated R

Directed by Steven Spielberg

            “Munich,” the best film of the year, is unlike any movie put out in theaters during 2005. Steven Spielberg has made his best movie since “Schindler’s List,” although this new film is somehow even more haunting and brutal than Oskar Schindler’s story. Controversy has surrounded “Munich” since the beginning, but once viewing the film, it is apparent Spielberg is not attempting to take sides.

            Eric Bana stars as Avner, a Mossad agent who is hired to hunt down and kill 11 Israeli terrorists who planned the murder of athletes at the 1972 Olympics in Munich. The mission is top-secret – he is told by his government that technically he ‘does not exist’ and ‘works for no one.’ His main contact, Ephraim (Geoffrey Rush), puts together a team of four other assassins of which Avner is in control, including Steve (Daniel Craig), Carl (Ciaran Hinds), Robert (Mathieu Kassovitz), and Hans (Hanns Zischler.) The team tracks down each name and kills the specific terrorist, one by one.

            Avner and his men soon begin to doubt the purpose of this vengeance, sometimes questioning whether or not their targets were even involved with the Munich killings in the first place - especially since Ephraim refuses to give documental evidence. As they slowly murder each name on the list – usually with explosives, to make a point – the less vindicated the men feel.

            “Munich” explores how vengeance affects both the predator and the prey equally, and has a wonderful lead performance by Bana. When the 2006 Oscars come around, Spielberg’s masterpiece deserves to be rewarded with the highest honor: Best Picture. 

Return to Archive List