September 5 is a tense and briskly paced thriller that skillfully retells the events of the hostage crisis during the 1972 Summer Olympics from the point of view of the sports news team that broke the events to the world, that even though the world knows the devastating outcome of that day, through the exceptional writing and talented ensemble cast, recreates the events that shocked the world and will leave audiences rattled from one exceptional cinematic experience. 

 

The events that unfolded at the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich, Germany shook the world as they were witnessed by over 900 millions viewers live. The acts of violence committed by Black September against the Israeli Olympic Team was an unprecedented act of terrorism displayed on the world stage during an event that has always been seen as uniting the world through sport, but it is not the first time the story has been told on screen. Covered in various films and documentaries, but most notably by Steven Spielberg in 2005’s Academy Award nominated film Munich, the latest dramatization takes the audience in the newsroom alongside the ABC Olympics Sports news team that caught the events on camera and broadcast it to the world. With a riveting screenplay and a great ensemble cast, September 5 marks the biggest film of Tim Fehlbaum’s career to date, and not only is it an excellent film focused on journalism and its importance during some of history’s darkest moments, it is a truly incredible film that should generate some serious awards consideration going into this year’s Oscars.

 

Films based on true events in Hollywood have a tendency to over-dramatize key moments to truly invest the audience in the events being recreated on screen, but September 5 does the opposite while covering the hostage crisis of the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich, Germany. Retelling the events of the first ever act of terrorism being broadcast live around the world, the entire film is framed from inside the ABC Studios a mere hundred meters away from where the hostage situation unfolded. Utilizing archival footage of the actual broadcast, director and co-writer Tim Fehlbaum does not restage the actual hostage taking, but instead has the audience experience the event as the ABC Olympic Sports news team did from their studio on that day. Through eye witness reports, unconfirmed information and police radar channels, the hostage crisis plays out as the ABC Olympic Sports team fights for control of the satellite broadcast to bring the events of that day to the world. Woven into the crisis are themes of journalistic integrity, the importance of the press and its ability to convey unbiased information to the world, making for a riveting narrative that never for a second wastes a single second of its ninety-four minute runtime. It’s an immersive experience with the story playing out in almost real time, that despite knowing the tragic ending of the hostage crisis, is told in a manner that immediately hooks the audience and creates one nerve wracking watch as each development in the situation is relayed. 

 

With such important subject matter, the storyline is the driving force of September 5, but that doesn’t mean that the rest of the film isn’t impeccably put together. The visual grainy style of the film echoes that of an old film reel, signalling the historical nature of the story while displaying it in the same quality that viewers around the world would have seen the events unfold in back in 1972. Clocking in at just over the ninety minute mark, the editing is great, keeping the film moving and the intensity building as the events of that day unfold. It’s all directed excellently by Fehlbaum who ensures that the gravity of the situation is never lost nor the respectful tone for all those individuals who were lost is sacrificed in the name of entertainment, signalling great things ahead for him as he moves from smaller science fiction films into more prestige cinema. 

 

Given the ensemble nature of the screenplay and the focus on paying tribute to the lives lost that day, there are no particular standout moments for the cast. But that is no matter, as the entire cast is terrific, each capturing the individual’s role in those hours at the ABC news office in Munich. Without a doubt, it is Peter Sarsgaard and John Magaro who are the most impressive of the cast in the more prominent roles of Roone Arledge and Geoffrey Mason respectively. Sarsgaard is steadfast and resolute as Arledge, the executive on the ground trying to get their footage broadcast, while Magaro brings a humanity and compassion as the executive producer in charge coordinating the footage, capturing the heartbreak in his memorable final minutes of the film and grappling with the pressures of journalistic integrity as the events unfold. Ben Chaplin, Leonie Benesch, Corey Johnson, Benjamin Walker, Daniel Adeosun, Marcus Rutherford, Georgina Rich and Zinedine Soualem round out the ensemble cast portraying the ABC Sports news team, all of who give great performances, ensuring that not only is this ensemble cast is one of the year’s best, but that the intensity of the story and its captivating hold over the audience is never lost for a second.

Following in the footsteps of great journalism dramas dealing with important historical events like Spotlight, The Post, and All the President’s Men, September 5 makes for one compelling exploration of the hostage crisis at the 1972 Summer Olympic Games in Munich, Germany that makes for a great companion film alongside Steven Spielberg’s Munich. Playing out as the fateful events of September 5, 1972 unfolded at the Munich Olympic Games, Tim Fehlbaum has crafted a riveting thriller that champions the news team that broadcast these tragic events to the world that not only highlights the importance of true journalism in humanity’s darkness moments, but an all around terrific film with a talented ensemble cast led by Peter Sarsgaard and John Magaro that makes for one of the most captivating films of the year.