Operation Finale

Operation Finale is a 2018 American historical drama film directed by Chris Weitz, from a screenplay by Matthew Orton. The film stars Oscar Isaac (who also produced), Ben Kingsley, Lior Raz, Mélanie Laurent, Nick Kroll, and Haley Lu Richardson, and follows the efforts of Israeli Mossad officers to capture former SS officer Adolf Eichmann in 1960. Several source materials, including Eichmann in My Hands, a memoir by Israeli officer Peter Malkin, provided the basis for the story.[3] Principal photography began in Argentina in October 2017. The film was theatrically released in the United States on August 29, 2018 by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer through their joint venture with Annapurna Pictures (now called United Artists Releasing) and received mixed reviews from critics.

Operation Finale
Theatrical release poster
Directed byChris Weitz
Produced by
Written byMatthew Orton
Starring
Music byAlexandre Desplat
CinematographyJavier Aguirresarobe
Edited byPamela Martin
Production
company
Automatik Entertainment
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Distributed by
Release date
  • August 29, 2018 (2018-08-29) (United States)
Running time
122 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$20–24 million[1][2]
Box office$17.6 million[2]

Operation Finale has been nominated by Cinema for Peace for the Justice Award in 2019

Plot

After World War II ends, Holocaust mastermind Adolf Eichmann (Kingsley) disappears and escapes trial.

Ten years later, Mossad agent Peter Malkin (Oscar Isaac) mistakenly kills the wrong person while hunting a Nazi war criminal in Austria.

Later, Adolf Eichmann speaks to a group of supporters, justifying his actions during the war.

In Buenos Aires, Sylvia Hermann (Haley Lu Richardson) unknowingly begins courting the son of Adolf Eichmann, Klaus (Joe Alwyn). Klaus meets her German-Jewish father, Lothar (Peter Strauss), who grows suspicious and passes this intelligence along, eventually reaching Mossad in Tel Aviv. Field agent Zvi Aharoni (Michael Aronov) is dispatched in Buenos Aires to begin reconnaissance.

Working in coordination with Mossad, Sylvia meets the Eichmann family at their home. Adolf Eichmann is subsequently photographed and intelligence of the exchange is relayed back to Israel. Malkin is briefed while an operation to capture Eichmann is developed to bring him to Israel to stand trial for war crimes. After medical doctor Hanna (Mélanie Laurent) is convinced to join the team, they are dispatched to Buenos Aires.

The capture team completes surveillance. The plan is executed, capturing Eichmann outside his home. Klaus investigates after the team flees and realizes Sylvia or her father may have been involved.

While holding up at a safehouse, Malkin attempts to bond with Eichmann to persuade him to sign an agreement.

As Klaus investigates further, pressure grows against the capture team with police searching for Eichmann. Malkin finally persuades Eichmann to sign the agreement. With the safehouse location compromised and authorities closing in, Eichmann is transferred to the airport and boards a plane. The flight comes under suspicion and is delayed. With local police en route to stop the flight, Malkin stays behind to ensure approval and the plane departs successfully.

Adolf Eichmann is visited by his wife while in prison in Israel. Klaus flies the flag of Nazi Germany over their home in protest. Footage of Nazi war crimes is played during the trial.

Historical trial footage and images are overlaid with details of Eichmann's execution, trial impact and aftermath.

Cast

Production

On November 16, 2015, it was announced that Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer had bought an untitled spec script from Matthew Orton, about the team who found and captured Adolf Eichmann. Brian Kavanaugh-Jones co-produced the film through his production company Automatik.[4] On February 24, 2016, Chris Weitz was reported as being in talks to direct the film.[5]

A deal was struck in March 2017 that saw Oscar Isaac co-produce and star in the film, taking on the role of Peter Malkin. Chris Weitz was set as director.[6] In June, Ben Kingsley was cast as Adolf Eichmann.[7] In August, Lior Raz joined the production,[8] and in September, Mélanie Laurent, Nick Kroll, Joe Alwyn, Michael Aronov, and Haley Lu Richardson were cast, with filming to begin in Argentina on October 1.[9][10][11][12] The cast was rounded out on October 12, and filming was underway in Argentina.[13] Peter Strauss also joined the cast, on November 30.[14][15]

A clip from the 1959 Douglas Sirk film Imitation of Life featuring actress Susan Kohner is featured near the beginning of this film. Kohner is the mother of this film’s director Chris Weitz.[16]

Release

Operation Finale was originally scheduled to be released on September 14, 2018. However, in July 2018, the film was moved up to August 29, 2018, in the U.S., due to high test screening scores, and to avoid the crowded September field.[17]

The film was released outside of the United States on October 3, 2018, by Netflix.[18]

The film was released on Blu-ray and Digital HD on December 4, 2018 by Universal Pictures Home Entertainment, under a new home video distribution deal with MGM.[19]

Reception

Box office

In the United States, Operation Finale was projected to gross $8–10 million from 1,810 theaters during its four-day Labor Day opening weekend.[1] The film made $1 million on its first day and $725,891 on its second. It went on to gross $6 million over Friday to Sunday, for a four-day weekend total of $7.8 million, and a six-day total of $9.5 million, finishing fifth at the box office.[20] In its second weekend, the film dropped 50% to $3 million, finishing eighth.[21]

Critical response

On review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 60% based on 123 reviews, with an average rating of 6/10. The website's critical consensus reads, "Operation Finale is well-intentioned, well-acted, and overall entertaining, even if the depth and complexity of the real-life events depicted can get a little lost in their dramatization."[22] On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 58 out of 100, based on 33 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews".[23] Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of "A–" on an A+ to F scale, while PostTrak reported filmgoers gave it an 86% positive score and a 65% "definite recommend".[20]

In his review for The Hollywood Reporter, John DeFore called the film "a lively historical thriller" and wrote, "Though not likely to enter the pantheon as either a true-life caper (Argo's people-smuggling was more exciting; Munich's tale of vengeance more affecting) or as a showcase for face-the-past mind games, the drama benefits from a strong cast and can easily replace 1996's The Man Who Captured Eichmann as the go-to dramatization of this episode."[24]

The New York Times' A. O. Scott gave the film a positive review, "It’s a story very worth telling, told pretty well, with self-evident virtues and obvious limitations. Viewers who see it out of a sense of duty will find some pleasure in the bargain. Call it the banality of good." [15]

See also

References
  1. Rubin, Rebecca (August 28, 2018). "Box Office: 'Crazy Rich Asians' Looks to Lead Slow Labor Day Weekend". Variety. Retrieved August 28, 2018./
  2. "Operation Finale (2018)". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved November 30, 2018.
  3. "How true is 'Operation Finale'? Director Chris Weitz talks us through the required changes". Metro US. August 30, 2018. Retrieved August 31, 2018.
  4. Fleming, Mike Jr. (November 16, 2015). "MGM Acquires Thriller Spec Script On The Hunt And Capture Of Holocaust Architect Adolf Eichmann". Deadline Hollywood. Penske Business Media. Retrieved February 24, 2016.
  5. Fleming, Mike Jr. (February 24, 2016). "Chris Weitz In Talks To Helm MGM Film On The Hunt For Nazi War Criminal Adolph Eichmann". Deadline Hollywood. Penske Business Media. Retrieved February 24, 2016.
  6. Busch, Anita (March 29, 2017). "Oscar Isaac In Final Negotiations To Star And Produce MGM's 'Operation Finale' For Director Chris Weitz". Deadline Hollywood. Penske Business Media. Retrieved August 24, 2018.
  7. Fleming, Mike Jr. (June 16, 2017). "Ben Kingsley To Play Adolf Eichmann In 'Operation Finale'; Oscar Isaac Is Mossad Op Who Catches Notorious Nazi". Deadline Hollywood. Penske Business Media. Retrieved August 24, 2018.
  8. Kit, Borys (August 30, 2017). "'Fauda' Star Lior Raz Joins Oscar Isaac in Nazi Thriller 'Operation Finale' (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved August 24, 2018.
  9. Fleming, Mike Jr. (September 6, 2017). "Melanie Laurent & Nick Kroll Hunt Eichmann In MGM's 'Operation Finale'". Deadline Hollywood. Penske Business Media. Retrieved August 24, 2018.
  10. Kroll, Justin (September 8, 2017). "'Billy Lynn' Star Joe Alwyn Joins Russell Crowe in 'Boy Erased,' Oscar Isaac in 'Operation Finale' (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Penske Business Media. Retrieved August 24, 2018.
  11. Gerard, Jeremy (September 14, 2017). "'Oslo' Tony Winner Michael Aronov Joins Cast Of Eichmann Film 'Operation Finale'". Deadline Hollywood. Penske Business Media. Retrieved August 24, 2018.
  12. Kit, Borys (September 14, 2017). "'Split' Actress Haley Lu Richardson Joins Oscar Isaac in Nazi Thriller 'Operation Finale' (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Prometheus Global Media.
  13. N'Duka, Amanda (October 12, 2017). "MGM Rounds Out Cast Of Oscar Isaac-Starring Thriller 'Operation Finale'". Deadline Hollywood. Penske Business Media. Retrieved August 24, 2018.
  14. N'Duka, Amanda (November 30, 2017). "Iqbal Theba Joins 'Green Book'; Michael Beach Cast In 'Foster Boy'; Peter Strauss Boards 'Operation Finale'". Deadline Hollywood. Penske Business Media. Retrieved August 24, 2018.
  15. Scott, A.O. (August 28, 2018). "'Review: In 'Operation Finale,' the Agonizing Hunt for a Nazi'". The New York Times. Retrieved May 25, 2019.
  16. Sauer, Patrick (August 28, 2018). "The True Story of "Operation Finale"". Smithsonian Magazine. Retrieved April 10, 2020.
  17. D'Alessandro, Anthony (July 16, 2018). "Mossad Spy Thriller 'Operation Finale' Moves Up To Labor Day Weekend". Deadline Hollywood. Penske Business Media. Retrieved July 16, 2018.
  18. "Operation Finale". Netflix Media Center. Retrieved October 3, 2018.
  19. "Operation Finale Blu-ray" – via www.blu-ray.com.
  20. D'Alessandro, Anthony (September 2, 2018). "'Crazy Rich Asians' Raises Box Office Bank Account To $117M – Labor Day Weekend Recap". Deadline Hollywood. Penske Business Media. Retrieved September 2, 2018.
  21. D'Alessandro, Anthony (September 9, 2018). "'The Nun' Hits The Hallelujah With $54M Opening, Best Ever In 'Conjuring' Universe – Sunday AM Update". Deadline Hollywood. Penske Business Media. Retrieved September 9, 2018.
  22. "Operation Finale (2018)". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved September 26, 2018.
  23. "Operation Finale Reviews". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Retrieved September 3, 2018.
  24. DeFore, John (August 22, 2018). "'Operation Finale': Film Review". The Hollywood Reporter. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved August 22, 2018.
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