September 5 (15)
Directed by Tim Fehlbaum
★★★★ 

TOLD from the journalist’s point of view this edge of your seat drama reveals the moment on September 5 1972 in Munich which changed media coverage forever, giving birth to continuous live news reporting. 
 
Co-written and directed by Tim Fehlbaum, it is based on the real-life story of the kidnapping and subsequent murder of the Israeli Olympic team at the 1972 Summer Olympics. It is shown purely from the perspective of the sports reporters in the ABC studio who were covering the games live. 
 
When the attack begins they become responsible for 22 hours of live coverage switching from sporting events to geopolitics while fighting off the newsroom back in the US who want to take over this breaking news story. This was the first time an event of such magnitude was covered by a live broadcast. Seamlessly, it weaves archive footage with the dramatisation. 
 
Most of the action unfolds in the control room as the film explores the moral, ethical, professional and psychological dilemmas these journalists faced. Considering the equipment, which now seems so antiquated, they did a remarkable job. They had to be resourceful in gaining entry to the Olympic village where it was all happening, and in getting the film footage in and out.
 
Having worked in a television news control room or gallery it gave me chills — and frankly PTSD — knowing the pressures they faced. The film totally nails that thanks to an outstanding cast led by Peter Sarsgaard as the legendary TV executive Roone Arledge, John Magaro as Geoffrey Mason the young ambitious producer put in charge and Ben Chaplin as his mentor. 
 
It is nail-biting and harrowing. While it does not examine the political implications of the hostages’ deaths, best see Steven Spielberg’s Munich for that, you may question the timing of this film’s release and feel it may be garnering Israeli sympathy in the
midst of the current Israeli-Palestinian hostage exchange.

In cinemas now 

The Fire Inside (12A)
Directed by Rachel Morrison 
★★★ 

THIS is based on the inspirational true story of Claressa Shields who last week made history by becoming boxing’s first ever women’s undisputed heavy weight champion putting her hometown Flint Michigan on the map again. 
 
Directed by Rachel Morrison and written by Barry Jenkins, it follows Shields’s incredible journey to become the only American male or female boxer to win two Olympic gold medals back-to-back. The first at just 17. 
 
This gripping drama explores her childhood growing up in extreme poverty in Flint with her siblings and her dysfunctional mother and how she then trained at a young age with coach Jason Crutchfield (a terrific Brian Tyree Henry) who mentored her and was like a second father to her.  
 
Ryan Destiny delivers a knockout performance as the teenaged Shields who is determined to win an Olympic gold medal. What she discovers is that it does not revolutionise her life as there is no money in women’s boxing — go figure — so she began fighting for equal pay outside the ring. 
 
It is an incredible tale and both Destiny and this film do justice to Shields.  

In cinemas February 7

Bring Them Down (15)
Directed by Chris Andrews
★★★ 

 
 
SET against the harsh landscape of rural west Ireland this tense and brutal thriller centres on two feuding families. 
 
It is an impressive debut feature from writer-director Chris Andrews as the film explores patriarchy and toxic masculinity as it follows the ongoing conflict between Michael (Christopher Abbott, Wolf Man) with his farming rival Gary (Paul Ready) and his unpredictable son Jack (Barry Keoghan, Saltburn). As their feud escalates it stirs old tensions and grievances. 
 
The first part of the film is seen through Michael’s eyes, and then the same events are observed from Jack’s perspective.  
 
It is driven by stunning performances from Abbott and Keoghan, plus the fabulous Colm Meaney as Michael’s grumpy invalid father.

It is savage and uncompromising and not for the squeamish. There are no winners in this bleak yet riveting drama. 

In cinemas February 7

Love Hurts (15)
Directed by Jonathan Eusebio 
★★ 

 
 
Oscar winner Ke Huy Quan stars in his first major leading role as a mild-mannered estate agent who harbours a dark secret past which comes back to bite him. 
 
When he receives a crimson card on Valentine’s Day from a former partner in crime, Rose (a fabulous Ariana DeBose), it upends all the great work he has done to lead a quiet ordinary life. 
 
Quan channelling Jackie Chan is a joy to watch, and particularly in the intricate fight scenes which are great fun. He is also surrounded by quirky droll characters such as his depressed long suffering assistant played by Lio Tipton and the poet/assassin The Raven (Mustafa Shakir) whom she falls for. 
 
I cannot help thinking Quan deserved something better than this following Everything Everywhere All At Once. 

In cinemas February 7