Munich

I haven't seen Steven Spielberg's Munich yet, but I'll check it out. Early word that it's a masterpiece has been followed by (a backlash?) critics saying it's not all that great.

I'm not sure if it's the best subject for a non-documentary. The situation was both too serious and depressing to be easily fictionalized, and films so often trivialize their subjects.

In any case, thumbs up or down, I doubt much good can come of it. (Of course, you should also understand I rarely think a film can do much bad either.) And it's not because Spielberg had Tony Kushner contribute to the screenplay to give it a (likely false) sense of balance.

While art can put you in the mind of the "other" and help you understand him, I feel the real-life situation in the Middle East, particularly the central problem--the intense hatred Israel creates in the minds of its enemies--will not be nudged even by the most moving film.

A few weeks ago, the Los Angeles Times Magazine had a cover piece on the popularity of Hollywood films in the Arab world. It wasn't particularly memorable, but one thing stood out. Many are awaiting Munich, but apparently they weren't big fans of Schindler's List. Yeah, who'd want to see how much the Jews suffered? How could that teach you anything?