Today's two films are gripping history that recounts the news coverage of the 1972 Olympics hostage-taking and a comedy horror written by and starring Nick Frost. 

September 5 - This film has been included in some of the Award-giving shows of the year; if not as Best Picture Drama, then for its screenplay. Led by a cast that includes Peter Saarsgard, John Magaro, Leonie Benesch, Ben Chaplin, and Zinedine Soualem; and directed by Tim Fehlbaum, who co-writes and co-produces, it’s clear what would have been the problem in marketing the film. It tackles the news coverage of the 1972 Munich Olympics by the ABC crew from the USA. Actors portray real life figures like Roone Arledge and Peter Jennings, and extensive footage showing anchor Jim McKay is likewise employed. But if you go down the roster from the Swiss Director to the competent but relatively unknown actors, the film doesn’t carry a big enough Hollywood stamp to give it a real chance at making a buzz.

And that is a shame as the film is brilliantly conceived and executed. As is mentioned by the protagonists, when the Arab terrorists infiltrated the Athlete’s Village and took hostage several Israeli athletes and coaches, it was effectively a watershed event. It was the first time that terrorism was being beamed Live by satellite into American living rooms. While it was happening, while the fate of the lives of the hostages, and terrorists, were in the balance, America was watching - and it was a rude awakening that most likely reached its terminal point decades later with the events of 9/11. There was a loss of innocence that can be traced back to this telecast. Kudos to the Director and Screenplay - even if most of us know what transpired that day, there’s genuine suspense in how the film is executed, and we are kept at the edge of our seats. 

Get Away - Nick Frost will probably be best known for being the sparring partner and sidekick of Simon Pegg in Edgar Wright’s Cornetto Trilogy. That trilogy would be Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz, and World’s End - so for those who followed and loved those masterpieces of light comedy, you’ll now be able to place Nick Frost and enthusiastically remember his acting. Beyond some Limited series on the streaming platforms, Nick has stayed busy, and this film is an example of how he has created a niche for himself. It’s a high-concept comedy that prides itself on erring on the side of being risque and naughty but never quite crossing the line - although the toes could be called for ‘touching the line’ during several instances of this film. The rough concept is a family holiday for an English family, with a Dad, Mum, one daughter, and one son, to the Swedish island of Svalta. 

Of course, they’re called the Smiths, as it’s a joke that they’re a typical English family. Father seems quite henpecked and disrespected by the kids. And the Mom appears to be more in control. They arrive at Svalta in the middle of an annual event that recalls how the island was quarantined unjustly by the English in centuries past, leading to cannibalism, and a winnowing of the island’s gene pool. That’s the set up for this horror comedy, and trust me when I say that this film works in straddling the two distinct genres. It’s not a film you’ll write to Mom about, and there are adult themes and perversions, fetishes, and strange goings on aplenty. But to Frost’s eternal credit, he manages to keep things from going overboard, even when he comes very close. When the big reveal comes, you’ll understand why this project got the green light, and Frost is perfect for the role. Minor fun!