Munich
I saw Munich last Monday. And I m writing this blog 6 days after that - on Sunday. And thank God for that. For if I had written it immediately after watching the film, the feedback would have been quite different. Why? Let me explain.
Thanks to final year, I have missed quite a few good movies (the last movie before it was RDB). Plus, it was a Spielberg film, and on a subject which I (like most of us) am quite interested. So, I was obviously looking forward to it. But the movie didn’t quite turn out as expected. Firstly, let me tell you that Munich is no ‘Jewish’ film. So don’t expect another Schindler’s list. Secondly, its not a spy-thriller either. In fact, this is where Spielberg botches it up a bit. He tries to give the viewer a bit of Ludlum and Puzo along with Leon Uris.
So then, what is Munich all about? And why do I still want everyone to watch it? Munich is basically a story on terrorism, of what goes through the minds of the terrorists, and more importantly, how there is no black and white in such situations; its all grey. Its about how a man sets about to avenge the Munich massacre, how this normal family man becomes an assassin, how he starts killing people on the list provided to him by Mossad, and their replacements, and their acquaintances, and how he slowly realizes that he himself has become one like them; that this entire business is a vicious circle which has no end or purpose; that for every one killed by him, there will be one killed by them and one replacement sent by them.
There are some movies which are impact films; you come out of the theater all heated up (RDB) or all dehydrated with your tears (Black). There are others which are meant to enjoy and forget (most movies). But there are a few films which have a subtle message hidden in them which somehow penetrates your subconscious without you knowing it; you will think more and more about them in the days to follow even though you may not enjoy the 3 hours in the theatre itself. Swades was one such film for me. Munich is another. Which is why it is so slow. Because the message has to seep into the viewer’s mind, and not get hammered in.
The best dialogue of the movie undoubtedly is that of a PLO terrorist arguing with Eric Bana. When Bana tells him that the Palestinians will never succeed in getting Palestine and they should quit the fight, the PLO guy says that the Jews, of all people, should understand the need of having a land they can call their own. And that when the Jews didn’t quit their fight for their homeland for so many centuries, how can they expect the Palestinians to quit. A really touching scene which says all that the movie is about.
The worst thing about the film?! That’s easy. Daniel Craig (although the ‘climax’ in the end gives him a good fight)!
PS: As far as quality goes, the movie is not first rate. Acting’s strictly OK, the Munich episode itself very shoddily shown, and the thriller part of it is non-existent. As I said, you will like it only later, once you forget all these and start remembering the feel and the message of the movie.
Thanks to final year, I have missed quite a few good movies (the last movie before it was RDB). Plus, it was a Spielberg film, and on a subject which I (like most of us) am quite interested. So, I was obviously looking forward to it. But the movie didn’t quite turn out as expected. Firstly, let me tell you that Munich is no ‘Jewish’ film. So don’t expect another Schindler’s list. Secondly, its not a spy-thriller either. In fact, this is where Spielberg botches it up a bit. He tries to give the viewer a bit of Ludlum and Puzo along with Leon Uris.
So then, what is Munich all about? And why do I still want everyone to watch it? Munich is basically a story on terrorism, of what goes through the minds of the terrorists, and more importantly, how there is no black and white in such situations; its all grey. Its about how a man sets about to avenge the Munich massacre, how this normal family man becomes an assassin, how he starts killing people on the list provided to him by Mossad, and their replacements, and their acquaintances, and how he slowly realizes that he himself has become one like them; that this entire business is a vicious circle which has no end or purpose; that for every one killed by him, there will be one killed by them and one replacement sent by them.
There are some movies which are impact films; you come out of the theater all heated up (RDB) or all dehydrated with your tears (Black). There are others which are meant to enjoy and forget (most movies). But there are a few films which have a subtle message hidden in them which somehow penetrates your subconscious without you knowing it; you will think more and more about them in the days to follow even though you may not enjoy the 3 hours in the theatre itself. Swades was one such film for me. Munich is another. Which is why it is so slow. Because the message has to seep into the viewer’s mind, and not get hammered in.
The best dialogue of the movie undoubtedly is that of a PLO terrorist arguing with Eric Bana. When Bana tells him that the Palestinians will never succeed in getting Palestine and they should quit the fight, the PLO guy says that the Jews, of all people, should understand the need of having a land they can call their own. And that when the Jews didn’t quit their fight for their homeland for so many centuries, how can they expect the Palestinians to quit. A really touching scene which says all that the movie is about.
The worst thing about the film?! That’s easy. Daniel Craig (although the ‘climax’ in the end gives him a good fight)!
PS: As far as quality goes, the movie is not first rate. Acting’s strictly OK, the Munich episode itself very shoddily shown, and the thriller part of it is non-existent. As I said, you will like it only later, once you forget all these and start remembering the feel and the message of the movie.
posted by Akshay at 1:26 PM
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