September 5 (2024)

During the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich, Germany, an American sports broadcasting team must adapt to live coverage of the Israeli athletes being held hostage by a terrorist group.

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Main Cast

John Magaro

Peter Sarsgaard

Leonie Benesch

Main Crew

Directed by Tim Fehlbaum

Edited by Hansjörg Weißbrich

Cinematography by Markus Förderer

Production Desgin by Julian R. Wagner

Where To Watch

For rent on multiple services until February 24th 2025, then streaming on Paramount+

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I'm a sucker for behind-the-scenes stories. My review of Saturday Night should confirm that. I've loved Aaron Sorkin's TV if that helps you out a little more. This film was made for me. 

Aesthetically, September 5 is something to savor. The production design team used whatever they could from the minimal budget to make the film feel lived in, claustrophobic, and tactile. And how they grained the film makes it feel like we are there in time. Editing keeps the tension high and the dialogue is just as tight and edgy. 

And are we witnessing the rise of John Magaro?! I have always enjoyed his appearances in film and TV but it's time to start looking at him as a leading man... not in the Cary Grant kinda way but in the "he's a damned great actor and will make a film better" way. I also thoroughly enjoyed the performance by Leonie Benesch and her chemistry with Magaro. 

While this film doesn't have the grandeur of Munich or Argo or other thrillers of recent memory, September 5 surely holds its own against All the President's Men, The Post, or Spotlight. I can see myself watching this many times in the future.