September 5 (2024)

A dramatization of the hostage crisis that took place at the 1972 Munich Olympics. Taking place entirely within a news studio control room, all of the "action" is conveyed through grainy film footage that is captured by the TV cameras. Features lots of Furrowed Brow acting as it favors authenticity over entertainment value. It doesn't appear to have any concern for the victims; it's all about the morality of the people in charge making the decisions for ratings.

On a personal note, I'm getting a little tired of every real life event being dramatized as a feature-length film. I hate movies that make me feel like I'm back in school again. Just reading the synopsis was enough for me.

2½ awards-bait movies out of 5

THE THIN RED LINE [1998]

Director Terrence Malick's adaptation of James Jones' WWII novel The Thin Red Line loosely follows the savage Battle Of Mt. Austen in the Pacific Theater.
It explores the beauty of life, earth and love and completely contrasts that with insanity, destruction and unexplainable hatred.  It shifts between startling beauty and frenzied ugliness through it's stunning photography, wonderful acting, thoughtful monologues and what I'd consider some of the best work composer Hans Zimmer has ever written.  It doesn't serve the viewer a standard story like Saving Private Ryan did the same year but instead asks the audience to search their hearts for the emotional core of the narrative.

5 flickering flames out of 5