SEPTEMBER 5: A Tragic Event From A Unique Perspective

SEPTEMBER 5 (Blu-ray)

2024 / 94 min

From Paramount

Review by Stinky the Destroyer😺

Being of a certain age, I have a (very) vague recollection of the Munich Massacre casting a dark shadow over the 1972 Olympics. But at the time, I was too young to comprehend that these events were unfolding live on television…and simply because ABC happened to be there for sports coverage. 

For those unaware, on September 5, the terrorist organization known as Black September entered the Olympic village, taking several Israeli athletes and coaches hostage and demanding the release of hundreds of Palestine prisoners. During the course of that day, there were negotiations and failed rescue attempts, and ultimately, everything ended with the deaths of all 11 hostages.

The tragedy has been the subject of numerous movies and television shows before (most notably, Steven Spielberg’s Munich), but September 5 is cut from different cloth. Less focused on the particulars of the terror attack itself, the film is a dramatic reenactment of ABC’s coverage behind the scenes. As such, it brilliantly achieves an urgent, chaotic tone not unlike United 93, exacerbated by superior editing that should’ve gotten an Oscar nomination. 

"You're asking for a raise now?"

As depicted here, coverage begins with ABC Sports president Roone Arledge (Peter Sarsgaard) refusing to turn the developing story over to the network’s more experienced news division, stating his team is already on location and able to broadcast live. We feel like a fly on the wall, watching barely controlled chaos as the coverage is often complicated by conflict, miscommunication, ethically questionable decisions and occasional overreaching ambition. 

Being the most recognizable member of the cast, I suppose Sarsgaard could be considered the de facto main character. But really, September 5 is an ensemble piece, its primary players being ambitious control room leader Geoffrey Mason (John Magaro), German translator Marriane Gebhardt (Leonie Benesch) and head-of-operations Marvin Bader (Ben Chaplin), the last of whom sort-of serves as the film’s moral compass, sharply contrasting Arledge and Mason’s competitive drive for exclusive coverage. We may not always condone some of these characters’ attitudes or actions, but we certainly understand them and they’re undeniably compelling

The film is mostly devoid of onscreen antagonists (the terrorists are only seen from a distance). The entire narrative is from the point-of-view of those doing the broadcast, with the ongoing event itself presented primarily through archival broadcast footage. With his sci-fi/horror background, director/co-writer Tim Fehlbaum has seemingly come out of nowhere to put together a tense, fast-paced thriller that presents a tragic event from a unique perspective. Though nominated for a Best Screenplay Oscar, how September 5 was largely ignored by the Academy while Emelia Perez racked up 13 nominations is a complete mystery.

12 STRONG (4K): Heroes on Horsies!

12 STRONG (4K UHD)

2018 / 130 min

FROM WARNER BROS.

Available at www.MovieZyng.com

Review by Mr. Bonnie, the Bulldozer😼

12 Strong is another modern war movie based on true events. In this case, it’s an elite squad of Green Berets deployed to cripple the Taliban shortly after the 9/11 attacks. It’s a story that is certainly conducive to a gripping, intense action film, but while one isn’t likely to regret seeing it, they’re equally unlikely to give it much thought afterwards.

Following the attacks, Captain Mitch Nelson (Chris Hemsworth) demands to leave his desk assignment and lead his former team into Uzbekistan, where they’ll work with the Northern Alliance, a band of militia lead by General Dostum (Navid Negahban), who has no love for the Taliban. It’s an uneasy partnership at first, but over the course of three weeks, they make their way (on horses!) toward the city of Mazar-i-Sharif, an Al-Qaeda/Taliban stronghold, engaging in numerous skirmishes along the way.

From a technical standpoint, there’s a lot to like about 12 Strong. The film boasts plenty of intense action sequences, explosions and fire-fights, punctuated by dialogue and strategic exposition that feels authentic. If nothing else, the viewer is well-aware of the logistics of the mission and what’s at stake. But while the film’s earnestness and reverence for its subjects is never in question, the narrative itself is largely unremarkable. The action is big, loud and well-executed, but there’s an overall sameness to everything that threatens to become rote.

"Gas her up when you bring her back."

Not helping matters is an overall lack of interesting characters. They may all be based on real people, but beyond their names, we don’t learn much about them other than a few who have families waiting back home. They’re essentially just a batch of gung-ho soldiers blasting their way from one fight to the next. For a movie showcasing real-life American heroism, it’s almost ironic that the most interesting character is General Dostum. Still, the cast - which also includes Michael Shannon, Michael Peña and Trevante Rhodes - does a commendable job with the roles they’ve been given.

At 130 minutes, 12 Strong is too long for a movie that has relatively little to say about the men or the mission. It remains watchable and looks great in 4K, but for a movie depicting what’s supposedly a pivotal event in the war on terror, it isn’t particularly memorable.

EXTRA KIBBLES

FEATURETTES - 12 Strong: The Making of an Impossible Mission; Monumental Effort: Building America’s Response Monument.