Honestly I knew about the hijacking and the rescue of the passengers at Entebbe, Although I didn’t know that there were two German people involved in the take over of the plane, or that the Israeli Government was so conflicted about their course of action to get back their people. During the 80’s there were a number of films that had a similar story to the true tale of the capture of the flight, with some being very dramatic and others being strange and featuring Chuck Norris. I also have to point out that I know nothing of the politics of the Israel and Palestine conflict, I barely know what’s going on in my house, and that political minefield is enough to drive me up the wall.
The film starts off with one of the strangest openings to any film that I’ve seen in a while, a dance number, which I’m sure is meant to signify something about what is going on in the middle east, although it’s just really off-putting. Then we join the terrorists in their planning of taking over the plane. Meanwhile in the Israeli Government they are discussing the budget and how military spending is more than health and education. Daniel Bruhl and Rosamund Pike are basically wanting to prove their idealistic morals by joining the Palestinian terrorists. Bruhl is his own steady self here as the film goes on he’s conflicted between the results that he’s hoping for and not wanting to be seen as the German who is killing Jews. Rosamund Pike, following up from Gone Girl, has a strange performance on her hands as she’s trying to be tough but can’t help helping the hostages, but then redeems her performance with this one phone call towards the climax of the film.
As the Israeli Government finally start to plan a rescue of their citizens the terrorists start to question their mission, especially the two Germans, and the hostages begin to break down. What should have been an epic ramping up to the rescue by the Israeli special forces is dragged down a little and the end of the film flops down as a damp towel on the floor. Ultimately this version of events did little to further the knowledge that the viewer has on the hijacking or the reasons for the terrorism. There is enough entertainment that makes you keep watching to the end, but then you feel cheated that the over use of the dance scenes, and the lack of character development of any of the terrorists other than Pike and Bruhl leave you non caring about a lot of the people on the screen. Would I watch this again? I would, but at home, if it were on TV. Is it a film that you should rush out to see in the cinema? Well only if you’re following James Cameron and have Avengers fatigue.
[yasr_overall_rating size=”large”]
Director: José Padilha
Writer: Gregory Burke (screenplay by)
Stars: Daniel Brühl, Rosamund Pike, Eddie Marsan | See full cast & crew
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