ReelBob: ‘Operation Finale’ ★★½

By Bob Bloom

“Operation Finale” could have been a compelling drama, but the story is told in such a cut-and-dried, matter-of-fact manner that it undercuts any suspense the film tries to create.

The movie retells the capture of Adolf Eichmann, Hitler’s “architect of the Holocaust,” who, after World War II, fled with his family to Argentina.

“Operation Finale” details how Israeli officials learned of his whereabouts, set in motion a plan to kidnap him and bring him to Israel to stand trial for war crimes against the Jewish people and, finally, carried out their scheme.

What the film lacks is passion. Some of the agents involved want revenge for murdered family members and itch to put a bullet in Eichmann’s head. After his capture, they abhor being around him.

What the movie needs is the fiery display of moral outrage that the audience should feel when Eichmann is on the screen.

The Israelis are professionals, trained to put the mission ahead of their emotions and personal feelings. Yet, even when they talk among themselves about their hatred of Eichmann, they mostly do so in cold and clinical terms that undercut the rawness and the exposed nerves being in his presence create.

For many Holocaust survivors in Israel — and around the world — the capture and trial of Eichmann was an affirmation that the murder of 6 million Jews was not a hoax or some fabrication, but a fact.

Eichmann was the face of that genocide.

The Israeli agents’ initial idea was a quick, snatch-and-grab job, but complications force the team to hold Eichmann in a safe house for 10 days, during which time they must compel the former Nazi to sign a document stating he is voluntarily going to Israel to stand trial.

Thus begins a cat-and-mouse game in which Eichmann continually insists that he was simply a paper-pushing bureaucrat following orders.

As portrayed by Ben Kingsley, Eichmann is astute and sly, probing and studying his captors, looking for weaknesses to gain a psychological upper hand.

When discussing the Holocaust, he insists he was trying to find humane ways to follow the orders of his superiors — going so far as to insist he even saved several Jews from extermination.

Kingsley manipulates the movie audience as well. You almost believe his protestations and the sincerity in his voice. Yet, his mannerisms betray his words — as if he had rehearsed this scenario sometime in his past.

The core of the movie is the exchanges between Eichmann and team leader Peter Malkin (Oscar Isaac), who tries to convince his captive to sign the necessary document.

They play a mental chess game, each seeking an advantage. Malkin removes Eichmann’s covered goggles when in his presence so they can see eye-to-eye and speak man-to-man. Malkin allows Eichmann to explain himself.

Isaac gives a finely controlled performance. Like the others, he would rather put a bullet between Eichmann’s eyes, but follows orders so the world can watch Israeli justice in action.

Director Chris Weitz, though, undercuts these moments, with cliched sequences of other former hidden Nazis and sympathetic Argentine police searching for Eichmann.

These moments are too melodramatic and feature stock and stereotypical characters who are more plot devices than people.

“Operation Finale” is too low key and slow. It features too much talk and too little action. It fails to ignite your anger and disgust because, like its Israeli protagonists, the film holds its emotions in check.

That is “Operation Finale’s” blessing — as well as its curse.

I am a member of the Indiana Film Journalists Association. My reviews appear at ReelBob (reelbob.com) and Rottentomatoes (www.rottentomatoes.com). I also review Blu-rays and DVDs. I can be reached by email at bobbloomjc@gmail.com or on Twitter @ReelBobBloom. Links to my reviews can be found on Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and LinkedIn.

OPERATION FINALE
2½ stars out of 4
(PG-13), disturbing and violent images, language