In response to every Clint Eastwood story of vigilante justice, Steven Spielberg humbly presents his latest film, Munich. The fictionalized account of the Israeli response to the infamous massacre of 12 Israeli athletes at the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich, the movie functions both as a thriller and as a study in psychology for the Israeli agents chosen for the mission.

The Story
The movie begins with the infiltration of the Olympic Village in Munich by the would-be assassins, and then mixes archival footage with simulated footage to rapidly tell the tale of the tragic event that transpired. On the heels of the massacre of the 12 Israeli Olympic athletes, Golda Meir, played by Lynn Cohen, orders a retaliation to be carried out in secret by a group of specially chosen Jewish agents. The group, led by Eric Bana's Avner, proceed with the help of a list of contacts and funding from the Israeli government. One by one, they begin to exact revenge on those they are told are responsible for the killings in Munich.

On one level, it is a political thriller and story of revenge. On another, it is about the agents involved. Avner accepts the assignment despite the fact that his wife is pregnant and he will likely miss the birth of his child. Steve, played by Daniel Craig, is a gung ho pro-Israel Jew who cares little for anyone not of his kind. Carl, played by Ciarán Hinds, is a veteran whose years have given him a more circumspect perspective on the issue. Along the way they are tested by the assignment, by each other, and by the growing fear that perhaps they are being used more as political tools than as instruments of justice.

The Acting
As one would expect from a Spielberg movie, the acting is first rate. Though admittedly not a film with prominent female roles, upon seeing it one might be surprised that none of the men were recognized for their brilliance. There are no weak links, and indeed this may be the reason that the movie has snagged no Oscar nominees for the acting categories: no one stands out. Geoffrey Rush, Eric Bana, Daniel Craig, Ciarán Hinds, Hans Zischler, Mathieu Kassovitz and the rest are so perfect in their roles that perhaps it is easier to think of the ensemble brilliance than to try and decide which one or two are more deserving of praise than the rest.