44/47
The action of the film takes place in 1972
Scenario
During the 1972 Munich Olympics, a team of American sportscasters is 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 at the Munich Olympics
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. Working 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).
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 then considered cutting edge seems laughably primitive today (such as giant VTR machines, competition for satellite space, manual insertion of graphics, etc.).
The use of archive footage from 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 suited to playing the handsome, dapper anchorman I remember (I probably would have cut his character and just relied on Jennings’ voice from the Olympic Village). But that joke doesn’t stop me from highly recommending this great film – it’s a must see!