Review - Munich

Munich, the latest offering by director Steven Spielberg narrates the aftermath of the dreaded 1972 Munich Olympic Games massacre of 11 Israeli atheletes (popularly known as the Black Septemer). It talks about five Mossad agents and their orders to kill the Palestine terrorists responsile for the massacre. Led by Avner (played by Eric Bana), the five rag-tag ensemble proceed to track their targets and avenge their countrymen.

Spielberg has masterfully weaved the story enfolding their actions. Even though the description sounds pro-Israeli and a normal thriller intially, Munich grows to be a thought-provoking movie asking the basic question "When will the violence end?". As the agents track and kill their targets, they begin to question the morality of their actions. Avner understands, through a conversation, that the terrorists blame Israel Government for their troubles and realises that they have left their family, just like him, to carry out their cause (again, just like him). The movie shows both the Mossad agents and the Arab terrorists in the same light, to re-inforce the idea that both are equally wrong in their doings and that someone needs to stop exacting revenge, in order for PEACE to prevail.

The direction is masterful in the manner in which every scene is presented. Screenplay by Eric Roth and Tony Kushner brings out the emotions and thoughts perfectly. However, the one thing that pulls down the movie is the pitiful acting of Eric Bana. No offense to his fans, but this guy cannot act :) . Even the emotional climax looks ruined because of uninspired acting by Bana. To-be James Bond Daniel Craig is just mediocre in his role as the second Mossad agent (I have no hope for this guy too). Geoffrey Rush, as the Mossadi contact of the agents, acts as the saviour for the acting department. Overall not a great movie but a good watch, ending with a heavy dose of moral questions.