Capturing Eichmann

Over the decades Israel’s infamous intelligence agency, the Mossad, has rightly earned a reputation of ruthless efficiency.  As much as the Israeli Defense Forces, the Mossad is Israel’s shield, a “necessary evil’ for a small Jewish island amidst a sea of hostile Muslim neighbors.  ‘Operation Finale,’ director/producer Chris Weitz’s first foray into serious historical drama, mined another well-known and daring Mossad exploit for fodder, the apprehension of one of the key architects of the Holocaust, SS Lieutenant Colonel Adolf Eichmann, on foreign soil.

 

Based on the memoirs of the late Mossad operative Peter Malkin (played by Oscar Isaac), ‘Operation Finale’ is a blandly procedural, by-the-book account of how a hastily assembled team of Israeli operatives put together an ad hoc plan to nab this key figure behind Hitler’s “final solution,” who managed to flee Germany during the last days of the Reich and disappear into South America, specifically Argentina.  As Eichmann, Ben Kingsley delivered yet another one of his theatrically dramatic performances, proving that he’s equally at home whether he's portraying an angel (Gandhi) or a monster (Eichmann).

 

As compelling as the true story of Eichmann’s capture in 1960 may be, ‘Operation Finale’ is hampered by a snail-like pace and an overall lack of tension and suspense that had nothing to do with the fact that we already know how the ultimate outcome is going to play out.  Even when things invariably go wrong as plans often do and the team had to think on their feet and improvise, there was little sense of peril or urgency that would keep us on the edge of our seats.  I nearly nodded off at various points throughout the movie so my only conclusion is that, as much as I hate to admit it, ‘Operation Finale’ simply became ‘Operation Boredom.’

Grade: C