The story of the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich and the hostage crisis has been the subject of many films over the years. But it’s never been done quite like it’s done in September 5, director Tim Fehlbaum’s gripping new thriller that takes us inside the sports TV studio as the horrific situation unfolds.
September 5 stars Peter Sarsgaard as ABC Sports chief Roone Arledge, with John Magaro as producer Geoff Mason, both possible awards contenders for their performances. Also in the cast are Ben Chaplin, Leonie Benesch, Zinedine Soualem, Corey Johnson, Georgina Rich, and Benjamin Walker.
As seen in the trailer, the film follows the ABC sports broadcasting team, most of them inexperienced at reporting on this kind of deadly crisis, as they make decisions in real-time that will be seen in front of millions watching on TV.
I saw this a few weeks ago and can tell you it’s one of my favorites of the year. Watch for my review soon.
Paramount Pictures releases September 5 in theaters on December 13th before expanding nationwide on January 17th, 2025.
SYNOPSIS: September 5 unveils the decisive moment that forever changed media coverage and continues to impact live news today. Set during the 1972 Munich Summer Olympics, the film follows the ABC Sports broadcasting team who quickly shifted from sports reporting to live coverage of the Israeli athletes taken hostage. Through this lens, September 5 provides an important perspective on the live broadcast seen globally by millions of people at the time. At the heart of the story is Geoff (John Magaro), a young and ambitious producer striving to prove himself to his boss, the legendary TV executive Roone Arledge (Peter Sarsgaard). Together with German interpreter Marianne (Leonie Benesch) and his mentor Marvin Bader (Ben Chaplin), the story focuses on the intricate details of the high-tech broadcast capabilities of the time, juxtaposed against the many lives at stake and the moral decisions that needed to be made against an impossible ticking clock.
