“September 5” is one of the absolute best movies of 2024. This is based on the true story of ABC Sports’ groundbreaking live coverage of Palestinian terrorists holding Israeli athletes and coaches hostage at the 1972 Summer Olympic Games in Munich. In the control room, broadcasting to the world, are Roone Alredge (played by Peter Sarsgaard), Geoffrey Mason (John Magaro from “Past Lives”), Marvin Bader (Ben Chaplin) and Marianne Gebhardt (Leonie Benesch, star of last year’s memorable “The Teachers’ Lounge”). All four actors deliver outstanding performances.
This is a thrilling film. The way anchor Jim McKay’s real footage is inserted, with the cuts to the control room, is seamless and flawless. (No wonder “September 5” is already a Film Independent Spirit Awards nominee for Best Editing.) There’s a ticking clock of intensity, not just with the music but with the pressure everyone is facing. They want to make what they feel are the right decisions, and it turns out that’s not always the case.
I love seeing the old technology — how the graphics were incorporated into live television in the ’70s. The use of rotary phones. How they brought the large studio camera outside to try to get live shots, which had really never been done before. It’s up close and personal, ‘The ABC Way’, as we see in a promo early on in the movie.
I’ve been immersed in TV — and especially Live TV — for my entire life. “September 5” is quite an experience. The direction and accuracy / attention to detail from director Tim Fehlbaum (who I’m sure did a lot of research into this topic and period of time) is fantastic. “September 5” opens in select theaters on Dec. 13 and expands nationwide on the day of the Oscar nominations, Jan. 17. I hope it’s on the Best Picture ballot.
LCJ GRADE: A
Running Time: 94 min.