Operation Finale

As origens e o curso da operação parecem simplistas para um assunto político-criminal tão sério como este. Simplista no sentido de um retrato das personagens de género e demasiado propositado para tornar o tema num filme recompensador para o público. Dramático e arrepiante, como deveria ser principalmente, mas não é muito. Ganha o afeto do espetador através duma beleza formal e de um elenco agradável em vez de uma experiência dramática envolvente. Os highlights do filme são os diálogos íntimos entre Oscar Isaac e Ben Kingsley, ambos interpretando bem, mas nenhum dos dois deixa uma marca significativa no espetador. Ainda assim, gostei de o ver, à espera de ver se algo mais ousado e enérgico surgiria. (30/10/2018)

Adolf Eichmann seems to be an attractive topic for films, as I’ve already watched an eponymous movie about him. But I must say that this one is superior in terms of acting performances. Oscar Isaac, Ben Kingsley and Mélanie Laurent are a good casting incentive for you to watch a story of a monster whose brain was wired very differently from normal people, and make you think about what Eichmann said or did. He is comparable, in my opinion, for example to the person of Breivik. Plus, Ben Kingsley can add another period flick to his filmography. I’m bowing down before him. (21/05/2020)

If this substance got into Steven Spielberg's hands, it could have been a second Munich however, this doesn't mean Operation Finale is a bad film. Not at all. The story has something to say, it's very well shot and helps itself with great music by Alexander Desplat, and the acting cast is ruled by Ben Kingsley and Oscar Isaac, although the others - lesser known actors - are not bad at all, and they were fine in their small roles. We still need to be reminded of some things and this is a good reminder... whether they stick to the facts or not. (16/03/2019)

The film tackles a well-worn subject, so it’s tough for the creators to bring anything new to the table. They tried adding fiction and suspense to give the familiar story a fresh twist, but for me, it didn’t quite work. I get that a subtitled movie might flop in the U.S., but the English dialogue felt out of place and affected the film’s authenticity. Another major issue for me was Ben Kingsley. I like him a lot and think he's a fantastic actor, but I just couldn’t buy him as Adolf Eichmann. He’s nailed roles like Mahatma Gandhi and Itzhak Stern, but Eichmann? Not so much. I would’ve preferred a different actor in this key role. On the plus side, at least they didn’t cast an Irish Heydrich — that would’ve been worse. Ultimately, the biggest letdown was that the film didn’t leave much of an impact. It just sort of breezed by, which is a shame because this daring Mossad operation deserved a more compelling portrayal. / Lesson learned: It’s great when trains run on schedule, but sometimes it’s worth thinking about where they’re actually heading. (04/05/2024)

Operation Finale ultimately surprised me. I expected a mediocre viewing experience that wouldn’t captivate me, and I was worried that the budget might be extremely low. But all those concerns faded over time. Essentially, it’s an intimate drama that portrays Adolf Eichmann, played by Ben Kingsley (and he does it superbly). And most importantly, Oscar Isaac plays the lead role. I’ve grown to greatly appreciate this actor over the past few years; he always delivers a convincing performance and exudes charm at every turn. Of course, I find it hard to believe that the operation unfolded exactly as depicted in the film; dramaturgically, a lot of things were probably added or adjusted to enhance the viewer's experience. But I’m not complaining... wherever the film could, it offered a tense atmosphere full of brilliant dialogue. It’s a rather unassuming movie that any film enthusiast should definitely not miss under any circumstances. I’d give it 80%. (04/07/2020)