MUNICH -- first reviews of Speilberg's new Oscarbait...
#2

Posted: 12/5/05 at 3:13pm

Time Magazine cover story on Munich:
http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1137679,00.html
"What a story........ everything but the bloodhounds snappin' at her rear end." -- Birdie
[http://margochanning.broadwayworld.com/]
"The Devil Be Hittin' Me" -- Whitney
#3
Posted: 12/5/05 at 4:04pm
It sounds like the reviewer really wanted it to be hardcore pro-Israel.....also, no mention of performances, anything? It wouldn't surprise me if the film is muddled...Spielberg doesn't know which foot to stand on these days.
"Impossible is just a big word thrown around by small men who find it easier to live in the world they've been given than to explore the power they have to change it. Impossible is not a fact. It's an opinion. Impossible is not a declaration. It's a dare. Impossible is potential. Impossible is temporary. Impossible is nothing.”
~ Muhammad Ali
#4
Posted: 12/5/05 at 5:40pm
Dunno how this is Broadway related...but anyways, I hope ppl don't go into this expecting War of the Worlds.
#5
Posted: 12/5/05 at 7:22pm
The screenplay is by Tony Kushner, of ANGELS IN AMERICA and CAROLINE, OR CHANGE fame.
Pretty Broadway related.
Pretty Broadway related.
"I love talking about nothing. It is the only thing I know anything about." - Oscar Wilde
#6
Posted: 12/5/05 at 7:31pm
Although I'm rooting for BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN, I still see MUNICH taking the big prize, due to the Spielberg name and the Dreamworks marketing machine.
BlueWizard's blog: The Rambling Corner
HEDWIG: "The road is my home. In reflecting upon the people whom I have come upon in my travels, I cannot help but think of the people who have come upon me."
#7
Posted: 12/5/05 at 7:40pm
Spielberg doesn't know which foot to stand on these days.
I have to disagree. Aside from The Terminal, I haven't been disappointed by anything he's done in a while.
I have to disagree. Aside from The Terminal, I haven't been disappointed by anything he's done in a while.
#8
Posted: 12/5/05 at 7:47pm
This movie really, really worries me. But at least it'll be proof frickin' positive of the old "2 Jews, 3 opinions" aphorism. Whoever thinks we're a unified people really has their head in the sand.
#9
Posted: 12/5/05 at 8:05pm
It "looks" like an Oscar winner for sure, but I think it will prove too controversial. People are so got up in the Hollywood pedigree bling of the creative team they aren't thinking about how the politics displayed in the film are going to polorize audiences and critics.
I think it will make the controversy surrounding BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN look like Sesame Street in comparison.
My friend who saw the film said its beautifully made and royally boring. He said it was more AI then SCHINDLERS LIST - whatever that means.
I think it will make the controversy surrounding BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN look like Sesame Street in comparison.
My friend who saw the film said its beautifully made and royally boring. He said it was more AI then SCHINDLERS LIST - whatever that means.
#10
Posted: 12/5/05 at 8:18pm
I assume it means "big ideas, not so well executed", as opposed to "big ideas, movingly presented".
#11
Posted: 12/5/05 at 11:11pm
My friend who saw the film said its beautifully made and royally boring. He said it was more AI then SCHINDLERS LIST - whatever that means.
Yikes. If it's more like AI, then I'm scratching it off my "must-see" list.
Yikes. If it's more like AI, then I'm scratching it off my "must-see" list.
BlueWizard's blog: The Rambling Corner
HEDWIG: "The road is my home. In reflecting upon the people whom I have come upon in my travels, I cannot help but think of the people who have come upon me."
#13
Posted: 12/6/05 at 2:40am
DITO
HUSSY POWER!
------ HUSSY POWER!
#14
Posted: 12/6/05 at 2:44am
"I have to disagree. Aside from The Terminal, I haven't been disappointed by anything he's done in a while."
I have. War of the Worlds.
I have. War of the Worlds.
"Smart! And into all those exotic mystiques -- The Kama Sutra and Chinese techniques. I hear she knows more than seventy-five. Call me tomorrow if you're still alive!"
#15
Posted: 12/6/05 at 9:34am
I think that this film's reviews are already decided: those who agree with the premise of combatting intransigence and those who do not. It will be another one of those films that has reviews at either an F or an A with very few in between. What I don't understand are the moralists who claim filmmakers shouldn't be dealing in political terms. What else does film do?
"Fundamentalism means never having to say 'I'm wrong.'"
-- unknown
#17
Posted: 12/6/05 at 10:54am
A.I.---Didn't know whether it wanted to be Spielberg or Kubrick
CATCH ME IF YOU CAN--Is it supposed to be ironic or inspiring?
WAR OF THE WORLDS--Woo-hoo sci fi entertainment or dreary 9/11 porn?
THE TERMINAL--Commentary on American attitude towards foreigners or patriotic Capra-esque sweetness?
That's what I mean by not knowing what foot to stand on.
CATCH ME IF YOU CAN--Is it supposed to be ironic or inspiring?
WAR OF THE WORLDS--Woo-hoo sci fi entertainment or dreary 9/11 porn?
THE TERMINAL--Commentary on American attitude towards foreigners or patriotic Capra-esque sweetness?
That's what I mean by not knowing what foot to stand on.
"Impossible is just a big word thrown around by small men who find it easier to live in the world they've been given than to explore the power they have to change it. Impossible is not a fact. It's an opinion. Impossible is not a declaration. It's a dare. Impossible is potential. Impossible is temporary. Impossible is nothing.”
~ Muhammad Ali
#18
Posted: 12/6/05 at 11:05am
I think, borstalboy, that with the exception of War of the Worlds, this tension betwen themes is part of what makes these films interesting, and it is not unintentional.
"Fundamentalism means never having to say 'I'm wrong.'"
-- unknown
#19
Posted: 12/6/05 at 11:08am
Right, that's like saying A History of Violence stinks because it can't decide whether to glorify violence or puke in reaction to it.
And puh-lease to all those dingbats who think filmmakers shouldn't get political. All art is political in the end, whether the artist is delibrately working towards that end or not.
And puh-lease to all those dingbats who think filmmakers shouldn't get political. All art is political in the end, whether the artist is delibrately working towards that end or not.
#20
Posted: 12/6/05 at 11:12am
Oh, I have no problem with filmmakers getting politcal...I just think Spielberg hasn't found a happy medium yet.
"Impossible is just a big word thrown around by small men who find it easier to live in the world they've been given than to explore the power they have to change it. Impossible is not a fact. It's an opinion. Impossible is not a declaration. It's a dare. Impossible is potential. Impossible is temporary. Impossible is nothing.”
~ Muhammad Ali
#21
Posted: 12/6/05 at 11:20am
There was a much longer trailer for this before the new Maggie Smith movie here in the UK and it looks amazing. But given that I have hated Spielberg's output for some time now, I honestly have no idea what I will make of it.
Nothing precious, plain to see, don't make a fuss over me. Not loud, not soft, but somewhere inbetween. Say sorry, just let it be the word you mean.
#22
Posted: 12/6/05 at 12:05pm
I wonder to what extent the film's success both artistically and financially is going to depend on how well it addresses the "baggage" (for lack of a better term) so many people bring to the subject of Israeli-Palestinian relations? Will it be possible to dislike this film as art without being accused of reacting negatively to an opposing political agenda?
Seems like there might be quite a bit of controversy around it ...... and JUST IN TIME for the Holidays!
Seems like there might be quite a bit of controversy around it ...... and JUST IN TIME for the Holidays!
"What a story........ everything but the bloodhounds snappin' at her rear end." -- Birdie
[http://margochanning.broadwayworld.com/]
"The Devil Be Hittin' Me" -- Whitney
#23
Posted: 12/6/05 at 12:06pm
Is that a pun, Margo? Just in "Time"?
BlueWizard's blog: The Rambling Corner
HEDWIG: "The road is my home. In reflecting upon the people whom I have come upon in my travels, I cannot help but think of the people who have come upon me."
#24
Posted: 12/6/05 at 12:06pm
Will it be possible to dislike this film as art without being accused of reacting negatively to an opposing political agenda?
In a word, no. This is a magical area where being anti-terorrism makes you racist and being anti-occupation makes you anti-Semitic. Fat chance you can say this is a bad movie without coming off as one or the other.
In a word, no. This is a magical area where being anti-terorrism makes you racist and being anti-occupation makes you anti-Semitic. Fat chance you can say this is a bad movie without coming off as one or the other.
#25
Posted: 12/6/05 at 12:36pm
Of course it is possible. But, my guess is that with Steve S. directing and Tony K. writing, it won't lack art. So, all that will be left to dislike is the politic.
"Fundamentalism means never having to say 'I'm wrong.'"
-- unknown
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