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Munich (2005)

Starring Eric Bana, Daniel Craig, Ciarán Hinds, and Geoffrey Rush.  Cinematography by Janusz Kaminski.  Edited by Michael Kahn.  Produced by Kathleen Kennedy, Barry Mendel, Colin Wilson, Steven Spielberg.  Written by Tony Kushner and Eric Roth. Directed by Steven Spielberg.

In 1972 the “Olympics of Peace and Joy” in Munich, West Germany were violently disrupted when a group of militant Palestinian terrorists, known as “Black September”, kidnapped and killed eleven Israeli athletes, coaches, and officials.  This highly public event reverberated throughout the world and sparked a powder-keg in what was already an intense relationship between the two groups. The Mossad, the Israeli national intelligence agency, reacted with its own brutal mission referred to as “Operation Wrath of God”. 

The action was designed to silently demonstrate Israel’s fury by eliminating eleven Black September operatives.  Avner (played by Eric Bana), a young Mossad agent, was chosen to lead the small team (played by Daniel Craig, Hanns Zischler, Mathieu Kassovitz, and Ciarán Hinds). Leaving his pregnant wife (played by Ayelet Zurer), Avner submerges himself into a dark and covert world where killing and vengeance never get easy.

Like most of the world, producer Barry Mendel was deeply impacted by what transpired in these events during the fall of 1972. Both the public and concealed conclusions (at least what had been made public) troubled him for years.  As he became successful in the film industry, this morbid fascination translated itself into a potential cinematic adaptation; one that he would develop for four years. 

Word of his pet project eventually reached producer Kathleen Kennedy, who worked with Mendel on M. Night Shyamalan’s The Sixth Sense.  Kennedy has been a long time collaborator of Steven Spielberg and immediately recognized the potential the project had in the hands of the master filmmaker.

Spielberg was no stranger to epic historical films (Saving Private Ryan, Empire of the Sun, Schindler’s List, etc.), and did indeed take an interest in the project. First he wanted Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award winning playwright Tony Kushner to add his unique perspective of humanity to it. Kushner’s work literally became the catalyst for the film, inspiring the entire creative team into action.

Munich was moderately quiet in the box office, but made a respectable splash in the awards circuit.  It may not be end up being one of Spielberg’s most memorable pictures, but it is a bold and courageous one nonetheless.

Budget: $75,000,000

Total US Gross: $47,379,090

Genre: Thriller

Runtime: 164 Minutes

US Release Date: 12/23/05

Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1

Awards:
Academy Awards: 
Nominated for best original score, editing, adapted screenplay, director, and picture.

Golden Globes: 
Nominated for best screenplay and director. 

Directors Guild of America: 
Nominated for the Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Pictures.

Tagline: The World Was Watching In 1972 As 11 Israeli Athletes Were Murdered At The Munich Olympics.  This Is The Story Of What Happened Next.

Quote: “Every civilization finds it necessary to negotiate compromises with its own values.”

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