"Every civilization finds it necessary to negotiate compromises with its own values."

So I got to go to a pair of early screenings this week for some movies that’ll be making their way to theaters in the next couple of weeks. Here’s my take….

Munich.

Spielberg’s pet project about the aftermath of the Olympic assassinations in 1972 is an uneasy affair. I went to this film with two other people. One of them was truly blown away by it, and considers it possibly the best movie he’s seen all year. The other really liked it a lot, but had a few minor issues with the pacing of the film.
I, on the other had, was really conflicted as to whether or not I liked it. When you go to a Spielberg movie, there are certain things you expect and take for granted. The film is shot beautifully, the acting is great, and the tension is top notch. All of that’s there in this film. And if it came from a no name director I would gladly applaud the film just for those qualities. But from Spielberg I want more. We all grew up with his films, and perhaps we’ve been spoiled from the likes of Jaws, Indiana Jones, Schindler’s List, Saving Private Ryan, etc. And because of that I don’t grade him on a curve like I would for someone like Michael Bay (if can tell a coherent story I give him props).
My problem with this film is a simple one. It’s too long (nearly 3 hours. If a movie is going to be 3 hours I want to see at least 1 monkey), and the flow of the story isn’t as smooth as it should be. The beginning is slow to get going, the middle works, for the most part, really well, and the ending feels clunky and without resolution.
And probably my biggest critique directly coincides with one of things that work best in the film. With every character you meet, there is no black and white. No one is a good guy, and no one is a 100% bad guy. Everything is gray. The problem is it’s so gray, that it can be hard to distinguish how everyone is related to each other, making parts of the film a little hard to follow.
I walked out of the theater giving the film a 6 on a scale of 1 to 10. But then something happened. The film stuck with me, and kept replaying itself in my head. The tragedy and emotion of everything that happens resonates and sticks with you. And after digesting it for a few days I found myself appreciating it a lot more. It’s a great movie…not something to take a date to, but worth seeing.
***1/2



Mrs. Henderson Presents.

On the flip side, I got to attend a screening of a little British comedy called “Mrs. Henderson Presents”. The film stars Bob Hoskins and Judi Dench and is directed by Stephen Frears (Dirty Pretty Things, High Fidelity, Grifters). The film tells the true story of a musical revue theater in England, during the depression that becomes the first theater in the country to show nude women on stage. This occurs on the cusp of World War II. The show becomes a hit, and when the bombings of London hit, it becomes the only Theater open in the country (and is also hugely popular with soldiers).
Having said that, it’s not really a war movie. This is really just an incredibly charming British comedy. Judi Dench and Bob Hoskins are absolutely amazing in this film. They spend most of their time butting heads and arguing about pretty much everything imaginable. I can’t recall Dench ever playing a more fun and enjoyable character.
As the film opens, her husband has just died. With in a day of the funeral, she has become completely bored with being a widow and decides to buy a shut down theater. She doesn’t actually know anything about the theater, or the poor, or anything else that doesn’t involve being a rich, spoiled wife. She knows how to get her way, and that’s about it. Pretty much any time she’s not on screen, you miss her presence.
The film also co-stars Christopher Guest (Spinal Tap) in a role that allows him to show off his quick witted humor that most comedians would kill for.
***1/2