Operation Finale provides a suspenseful experience filled with fantastic performances; however, its intricate plot can feel tedious at times.
In Operation Finale, Israeli Mossad agents track down Nazi SS Lt. Col Adolf Eichmann (Ben Kingsley), architect of the final solution of the Holocaust, and bring him to trial in Israel. There are many compelling elements in Operation Finale that make this a worthwhile and exciting film. However, the film feels too conscious of trying to be award season bait. Operation Finale feels very methodical and consequently lacks soul.
Operation Finale seems to be a weak, attempted imitation of some of Steven Spielberg’s remarkable historical films. It feels as if it were attempting to combine the thrilling action of Munich and the tense character-study of Bridge of Spies. This combination is not a complete failure in Operation Finale; however, the film is juggling so much that it never fully attains a sense of depth.
The characters in Operation Finale feel more like puzzle pieces than actual people. The film introduces about eight Mossad agents and a handful of Buenos Aires residents, including Nazi sympathizers. This story is highly detailed with every character having a very specific role to play in constructing the plot. Because there are so many significant details, it is sometimes easy to lose track of each character’s importance.
The core of Operation Finale is a standoff between Oscar Isaac’s Mossad agent, Peter Malkin, and Ben Kingley’s Eichmann. However, an immense amount of set-up is required to reach these critical scenes. Unfortunately, many strong elements in the set-up do not have a place in the rest of the film and are tossed to the side.
One such element is the story of Sylvia (Haley Lu Richardson), who not only discovers that Eichmann is hiding in Argentina, but also discovers important information about her own identity. Once the Mossad agents receive the information about Eichmann’s location, there is no longer a need for Richardson’s character. This is unfortunate because despite her brief screen time, Richardson gives an impactful performance through a character that has a fascinating internal struggle.
It is also disappointing that Nick Kroll and Mélanie Laurent have relatively minor roles as their respective Mossad agents Rafi and Hanna. One of the most welcome surprises of this film is that there is a significant amount of comic relief. Many historical films seem to have a handful of dry jokes; however, there is a fairly steady stream of witty banter in Operation Finale. Some of the standout humorous scenes are between Isaac and Kroll, and as a whole, the comedy in the film helps to humanize the characters and their situation.
Unfortunately, Laurent’s Hanna exists mostly to develop Isaac’s Peter. Laurent does an excellent job with what she is given, but there is not much to the character. There are some incredibly interesting details about Hanna, yet she typically only appears to guide Peter’s decisions.
As mentioned, Operation Finale builds to a confrontation between Malkin and Eichmann. The film has numerous suspenseful and exciting scenes when the Mossad agents try to extract Eichmann. However, Operation Finale has the most tension during the quiet conversations between Malkin and Eichmann. The film goes to great lengths to humanize Kingsley’s Eichmann, which only makes him more monstrous.
The performances of Kingsley and Isaac are truly remarkable and make up for the fumbled character development. Operation Finale struggles with subtlety and often makes it too obvious what details will have importance later in the film. This occurs often with Isaac’s Malkin, as the film often highlights his arc in such a way that it feels insincere.
While the film struggles with pacing at times due to its crowded plot, it still manages to remain consistently compelling, aided by the dynamic, although sometimes intrusive, score by Alexandre Desplat. Operation Finale is by no means an innovative film. However, it does tell an important story that is strengthened by its fantastic cast.
Grade: B