September 5 - The Day Terror Went Live

September 5 is a gripping documentary, but many analysts believed that the 1972 Munich Olympics attack set a precedent for modern terrorism.

The world watched in real-time as the crisis unfolded, and Black September achieved exactly what they wanted: maximum publicity. This was one of the first instances where a terrorist attack was staged with the global media in mind, creating a model that has since been replicated.

The media's role in amplifying terrorism is complex. On one hand, coverage is necessary to inform the public, expose security failures, and hold governments accountable. On the other, the relentless focus on the perpetrators can sometimes grant them the notoriety they seek. This has led to ongoing ethical debates about how journalists should report on terrorism without unintentionally promoting it.

By revisiting September 5, the film not only honors the victims but also forces viewers to confront the enduring complexities of terrorism, security failures, and international politics that remain relevant today.

I love authentic historic dramas. Especially, in eras in which I have lived. This seems authentic. It's a story of which I am familiar and have seen told in various formats of film through the years.

As stated in the above title, I found this telling most interesting of all.

I saw Spielberg's Munich in the theater years ago and I remember still feeling that it was a bit overlong and bloated. Even boring, I hate to say. And metaphorical to a fault.

This version of the facts is more taut, the run time for this film is shorter, and the clock is ticking in the movie, and the lives at stake.

Also, airtime. You are in the control room of ABC's Wide World of Sports when the tragic terrorist events occur during the Olympics in Germany in 1972.

Cigarettes are smoked. Rotary dial telephones are used for communication.

And there is a major crisis unfolding in the Olympic village.

It's a good history lesson for Gen-Z.

Even appropriate for grade level history in classrooms, middle school and up, I would think but it's rated R, so no.

But history is hardly ever pretty.

John Magaro and Ben Chaplin shine most brightly with their stellar performances.

This is worth a trip to the cinema.

It wouldn't be a terrible idea to bring your high school aged child to the theater with you for this one.

They could stand to learn a little history.

They'll walk out with you afterwards and say, Did that really happen?

September 5 will continue to make our eyes widen. By exploring themes such as tragedy, morality, humanity, and consequences. This film depicts a terrible tragedy that occurred in 1972 from the perspective of a sports broadcasting crew. A very well written and intense drama that will keep us opening our eyes and curious about the storyline. The way they build a tense atmosphere is also very solid, it is done slowly at the beginning and the tension will continue to increase as the film progresses. However, personally, the emotions are there, but still seem to be kinda lacking. There is no introduction or depth to the characters, there is quite a lot of character focus too, but the development is quite okay. With a short duration, they were able to control the pacing and tempo of the film very well. The cinematography is good enough, there are many scenes where the camera is a bit shaky, but that actually makes the film feel more crowded and intense. The scoring here also makes the film even more tense. The acting of the actors looks so natural, John Magaro's acting here is quite interesting. Overall, this is an underrated film in 2024.

I'll keep this review simple because this film deals with a tragic situation that I won't be able to do justice with words. It deserved a Best Picture nomination over "Emilia Pérez," that's for sure, and I don't think I'd mind it winning the Best Original Screenplay Oscar.

Going off that, Alex David, Moritz Binder, and Tim Fehlbaum's screenplay are excellent. It creates an intense atmosphere and compelling narrative against the backdrop of the 1972 Munich Olympics, even though the primary focus is on the ABC News team covering the story. Said atmosphere, which is also claustrophobic, almost rarely ceases to intrigue. While I don't think it's as strong as "Anora" or "The Substance," and its other competitors I either haven't seen ("The Brutalist") or don't think will win ("A Real Pain"), the screenplay stands as a remarkable accomplishment.

It helps that all the actors delivered strong performances as their respective characters. John Magaro, Peter Sarsgaard, and Lorine Benesch were especially memorable as Geoffrey Mason, Roone Arledge, and Marianne Gebhardt. I appreciate that the rest of the cast makes their characters equally believable. A film that mainly revolves around dialogue needs the talent to make it work, and I'm happy to say that's where this film succeeds.

Additionally, I was amazed at how the film portrayed the ABC News crew. Aside from a few members, the entire crew focused on covering the story first. I know that it's their job, but something just felt off. It seemed like their primary focus was to be the first to broadcast the events to further advance the station without thinking about the consequences of their actions.

For the last positive, Markus Förderer's cinematography is wildly stellar. Förderer's work contributes to the tense environment while making the film feel like it's one from when it takes place. The film looks like one shot on 35mm, and it's all the better because of it.

However, one thing stopping me from calling it one of 2024's (it was on limited release on December 13) best films is some stretches drag more than I thought. It never ceased to be vital, but I didn't entirely feel the suspense. I expected to be fully immersed and gripped by its story and the horrific events that happened during it, but I wasn't 100% invested. Don't get me wrong, it's still investing and doesn't ruin the film, but I wish I engaged more with the experience.

Overall, I enjoyed "September 5." Some pacing issues aside, it's a unique, mostly enthralling film that, if you're interested in seeing a different perspective on the events of September 5, 1972, it's definitely worth your time.

Technically, the acting, directing, cinematography, and Oscar-nominated screenplay make for an easy 10/10 technical score.

Now for the enjoyment score: despite some pacing issues, it was a great suspense film, making for a 10/10 enjoyment score. It may not be one of the best 10s for 2024 releases because of said stretches, but they're not enough to destroy the remaining eighty minutes of genius storytelling. Be sure to give it a watch!

Performances all believable, comedy in the right places, and a pacing and runtime that doesn't leave you peeking towards the exit before the credits.

For someone who didn't really know the story, the details of what went down truly interested me. They did a solid job of not telegraphing the plot points.

Some may find the lack of change of scenery tiring, but I think it worked in this case. I think they wanted you to feel like the control room is your world, and to feel as they did on this eventful day.

They touched on the political and emotional elements nicely. Making you think, without preaching.

Mixing in footage from the actual event, including broadcast footage as well, definitely draws you more into the experience. A nice touch.

While it's not a movie I really intend on rewatching over and over, it is a very well done piece that I'd recommend to friends who enjoy movies like this.