49/50

The action of the film takes place in 1972

Tale

During 1972 At the Munich Olympics, a team of American sports broadcasters are forced to cover a hostage crisis involving Israeli athletes. It was a privilege to see this great film at the AFI Film Festival.

in the ABC control room of the Olympic Games in Munich

It realistically depicts both the routine aspects of the control room during an event and, of course, the tragic event of the Black September attacks on Israeli athletes. In the control room are ABC sports president Roone Arledge (Peter Sarsgaard), young producer Geoffrey Mason (John Magaro), Olympic vice president Marvin Bader (Ben Chaplin) and German translator Marianne Gebhardt (Leonie Benesch), who do a great job .

But the most important aspect of any thriller is the writing and direction of Tim Fehlbaum, who keeps you in your seat throughout the film

their roles. The film also accurately shows how technology that was considered cutting edge back then looks ridiculously primitive today (such as giant VTR machines, competition for satellite space, manual graphics insertion, etc.).

from the Olympic Village)

The use of archival footage of Jim McKay’s reporting on the tragedy adds realism. My only minor quibble is the casting of Benjamin Walker as Peter Jennings – he doesn’t seem quite right to play the handsome and elegant anchor I remember (I probably would have cut his character and just relied on Jennings’ speaking voice).

But that joke certainly doesn’t stop me from highly recommending this great movie – it’s a must-see!