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

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 12/5/05 at 3:02pm

This film was touted to win Best Picture before filming even began. Dreamworks has been keeping the film carefully under wraps, but it's now screening.

First informal review here:

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/pages/rosnerBlog.jhtml?itemNo=653593&contrassID=25&subContrassID=0&sbSubContrassID=1&listSrc=Y&art=1

I have a friend who also saw this screening and didn't like it either.

I personally can't wait!
Updated On: 12/5/05 at 03:02 PM

[MargoChanning]

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

[Borstalboy]

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.

[RentBoy86]

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.

[FOAnatic]

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.

[BlueWizard]

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.

[broadway86]

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.

[Plum]

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.

[Michael Bennett]

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.

[Plum]

Posted: 12/5/05 at 8:18pm

I assume it means "big ideas, not so well executed", as opposed to "big ideas, movingly presented".

[BlueWizard]

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.

[Rentaholic2]

Posted: 12/6/05 at 2:18am

dito

[DAME]

Posted: 12/6/05 at 2:40am

DITO

[pab]

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.

[touchmeinthemorning]

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?

[ErikJ972]

Posted: 12/6/05 at 10:19am

Dito?

[Borstalboy]

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.

[touchmeinthemorning]

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.

[Plum]

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.

[Borstalboy]

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.

[popcultureboy]

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.

[MargoChanning]

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!

[BlueWizard]

Posted: 12/6/05 at 12:06pm

Is that a pun, Margo? Just in "Time"?

[Plum]

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.

[touchmeinthemorning]

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.