Munich

The events were horrifying. And what made it even worse was the fact that the entire world was watching on television.

In September of 1972, the Olympics games were held in Munich. These were the first games to be held in Germany since the end of World War II and the Germans were determined that these would be the most peaceful, tranquil games in history.

But Middle Eastern politics destroyed that ideal when a group of Palestinians entered the Olympic Village and eventually murdered eleven member of the Israeli Olympic team.

Watching events from a short distance away and unable to interfere, despite offering to bring an Israeli special forces team to Munich, was a personal representative of Israeli Prime Minister, Golda Meir. He was shocked and dismayed at the way the Germans botched the situation. A short time later, this advisor helped shape Israels policy of retribution.

Golda Meir and the decision makers in Israel decided to send a Mossad team to Europe with specific instructions to find those responsible for the Munich massacre and assassinate them.

This is the background to Steven Spielbergs latest film, Munich. The film follows an Israeli agent, named Avner, as he sets up a hit team in Europe and they begin checking names of their list of Palestinian targets. Eleven names were on that list. Nine were eventually killed, as well as several targets of opportunity.

Spielbergs film offers a taunt thriller that tries to go beneath the surface of these events and presents the anxieties and moral questions faced by the individual members of the hit team. Do these revenge killings accomplish anything in the end? Or is it just an endless round of tit for tat that eventually leads to more killings and more tension in the area?

Spielberg doesnt really give a definitive answer. But he does give both the Israelis and the Palestinians the opportunity to air their views. In the end, Spielberg seems to postulate that there really is no solution to the cycle of violence.

At the same time, Spielberg does seem to say that terrorism cannot go unanswered. While retribution does not offer a real solution, there is also no room for allowing the indiscriminate murder of Jews. The history of the Jewish people is such that some deterrence is needed and this is what Avners hit team finally does achieve. As one member of the hit team succinctly puts it: Dont Fuck with the Jews!

This is an absorbing film that takes the audience behind the scenes of the Middle East conflict, and while we may not particularly like everything we see, it does give us a better understanding of the quicksand the Middle East has become.

Starring: Eric Bana, Daniel Craig, Ciaran Hinds, Mathieu Kassovitz, Hanns Zischler, Geoffrey Rush, Gila Almagor.

Video & DVD: Week of January 3, 2006

Outstasnding films for 2005

2005 has been a terrific year for DVD releases. Some outstanding films have made their DVD debut this past year, as did some interesting and quirky films.

Cinderella Man

Cinderella Man was one of the best films in 2005, although it did disappointing business at the box office, collecting only $60 million. The story was uplifting and featured some smashing performances by Russell Crowe, Renee Zellweger and Paul Giamatti. This is a film that should have grabbed the attention of the movie going public. Crowe plays James J. Braddock, a washed up boxer trying to support a wife and family during the darkest days of the Great Depression. In desperation, he returns to the boxing ring and just refuses to lose. He eventually becomes a hero to the American common man.

Beyond The Sea

This was a beautiful, even worshipful, biography of pop singer Bobby Darin. Perhaps the film was a little too innovative and adventuresome for most people, but Kevin Spacey was amazing as Bobby Darin and the film filled in a lot of holes in our knowledge of the man behind the image. And the music was wonderful.

Kinsey

Biographies seemed to dominate this years DVD releases. This film tells the amazing story behind Alfred Kinsey, the man who pioneered research on human sexual behaviour. From a timid academic, Kinsey became a leader in the movement that eventually led up to the sexual revolution of the 1960s.

Liam Neeson gives a magnificent performance.

Ray

Hotel Rwanda

If 2005 was the year of the biography, it was also the year of Rwanda. The world finally understood what happened in that country during the 1990s and this film, which tells the story of the heroism of one individual caught up in the madness, helped bring the story to the fore.

Don Cheadle plays the manager of a five-star hotel in the capital city of Rwanda. When the genocide began, this hotel was one of the few places people could escape to for sanctuary.

Shake Hands With The Devil: The Journey of Romeo Dallaire

And if you want to true facts about the Rwanda genocide, watch this documentary about General Romeo Dallaire, who headed the United Nations mission to Rwanda and was one of the few people who fully appreciated what was happening in the country and tries to stop it. Unfortunately, the western powers and the United Nations refused to heed his please for assistance.

Crash

This was one of the best dramatic films of the year, following a group of diverse people in Los Angeles as they interact in a society still filled with racial intolerance and prejudice.

The film is at times funny, but always powerful.

March of the Penguins

2005 was also the year of the documentary, with some truly great films arriving on DVD. March of the Penguins was the most popular. And who could have predicted that a movie about penguins would win the hearts of the American public and rack up over $70 million in box office receipts.

Murderball

While not as popular a film as March of the Penguins, Murderball is my choice as best documentary of the year. It has everything you could want in a film--action, excitement, sports competition and compelling characters. This film about quadriplegic wheelchair rugby players keeps you riveted to your seat from beginning to end.

Ryan

Animated documentary short that is fascinating and ground breaking at the same time, as it tells the story of Ryan Larkin, an animating pioneer who created some of the most influential animated films of his time.

This film won both the Academy Award and the Genie Award for best animated short film.