Here’s a tip for bad guys: Don’t mess with the Israelis !
That’s what a pair Palestinian and German radicals found out the hard way in 1976 when they hijacked an Air France jet en route from Tel Aviv to Paris via a stop in Athens.
The plane’s diverted destination: Entebbe, Uganda where its dictator Idi Amin welcomed the hostages to his kingdom while the hijackers made their demands of $5 million for the jet and hostage passengers.
Big mistake!
The Israel government doesn’t believe in negotiating with terrorists and will do whatever it takes to resolve an incident—at just about any cost.
So what we’ve got with 7 DAYS IN ENTEBBE is a week long back and forth as an increasingly uglier situation unfolds with the airport held hostages and Israeli government debating on how to resolve the situation with the least possible loss of life.
How the Israelis eventually stage the counter-terrorist hostage operation is surprisingly clever and makes for one of the most daring rescue missions ever undertaken.
That said, the film itself unfortunately plays rather flat and has the feel of a made for TV movie. Add in some so-called surreal elements inserted throughout the production and one wonders about the appeal of the film with the general movie-going public.
(It will probably play better overseas.)
Heading an international cast are Rosamund Pike and Daniel Bruehl.
And while I am not gushing here and already knew the outcome from the real events, I’ll be honest and tell you that the film did hold my interest.
7 DAYS IN ENTEBBE grades a: C
‘Jack Goes To The Movies’ Friday mornings during Kansas City’s Morning News on 98.1 FM, KMBZ.
I don’t think I’ve ever seen a bad Daniel Bruehl movie, and he’s certainly prolific (I think he’s had a role in a movie every year since 2000….And he has an awesome TV series, The Alienist, going on now).
I’m putting this on my “go see” list…
Sounds better than lame ‘Tomb Raider”