A One Mann’s Movies review of “Munich: The Edge of War” (2022).
“Munich: The Edge of War” is a fictionalised account of the run up to World War II, albeit based on real historical events. It’s available to watch on Netflix.
Bob the Movie Man Rating:
Plot Summary:
Friends Hugh (George MacKay), Paul (Christian Schwochow) and Lenya (Liv Lisa Fries) are close friends at Oxford University. After graduating, Paul and Lenya return to Germany as a couple while Hugh takes up a job as one of the Prime Minister’s secretarial staff in Downing Street. As 1937 brings the threat of war ever closer, Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain (Jeremy Irons) tries to broker a truce with Hitler. But Paul, no fan of the Nazi regime, has an inside track that all is not how it is painted to be.
Certification:
Talent:
Starring: George MacKay, Jeremy Irons, Jannis Niewöhner, Liv Lisa Fries.
Directed by: Christian Schwochow.
Written by: Ben Power (from the novel by Robert Harris).
Twitter Handle: #MunichTheEdgeOfWar.
“Munich: The Edge of War” Review:
Positives:
- There’s an ironic parallel with the events depicted in Munich and the current events in Moscow over Ukraine. The news brings a much deeper resonance with the movie as foreign powers pander to an evil dictator who has plans significantly ahead of his immediately stated objectives.
- I found Jeremy Irons’ portrayal of Chamberlain absolutely spot on. I was personally a bit disappointed with his recent turn in “House of Gucci“. But here he really seemed to inhabit the man, right down to the mannerisms evident in newsreel footage.
- The film manages to generate some tension and excitement, even though its depicting events you know well! As demonstrated through the horror of Ukraine, the big scale of events is important but it is the drama at individual level that leaves the biggest impression. So here, understanding the fate of the fictionalised characters of Hugh and Paul is what keeps you locked in the story.
Negatives:
- The movie does a curious job of repainting Chamberlain’s record. In general, my understanding was that he was played for a fool by Hitler. This movie treatment seems to suggest that he realised that all along, and was just ‘buying time’ for better war preparations.
- I’ve was a big fan of MacKay in “1917” and in “Sunshine on Leith” before that. But here, I’m afraid I found the performance a little monotone and underwhelming. He seems to adopt a “worried of Whitehall” expression that remains fixed in just about every scene he’s in.
Summary Thoughts on “Munich: The Edge of War”
This is a historical drama I was looking forward to watching, and I wasn’t disappointed. I think this one will best please an over 60’s audience, who will have a closer resonance with the events of the time. (It’s worth considering that when I was a kid, WWII was the equivalent of 9/11 today to my parents!). I’m not sure this will be a very memorable watch in a few months time, but it passed an evening very pleasantly.
Trailer for “Munich: The Edge of War”
The trailer is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AQ7x8odi-OU .
