The Attack (2013) Review

3.5/5

There were two people in the back of the theater I was in who felt the need to narrate the film, and it is a testament to this film that those people did not take away from the tension I felt in the scene playing out. They were shushed, but like the film, they did not let off the gas and continued their jabbering as the movie played out and increased it's tense moments in both weight and payoff.
I did not love this film, but I really liked it. I thought it built up moments really well and, after my heart was done racing, the filmmakers seemed to say "take a moment" and they gave us time to recoup, but it was too much time. If it was a little tighter, a little more like a series of punches one after another, it would have been a far more effective thriller. It seemed like it wanted to be a thriller, and there thrilling moments. But just moments.
The cinematography is outstanding, and for a moment I thought the focus was off until I realized that they purposely highlight the setting behind the characters for two reasons I believe: to show that the state of mind of the characters are out of focus themselves, and that the place in which this story is set is instrumental to the plot.
Set in Israel and Palestine, the conflict is an underlying tone throughout the film, adding a constant layer of suspense to the events of the screen and prompting thought internally. This presents a problem, though: should I be focused on the characters' dilemmas, or the dilemmas of the world? It is something I think the film wrestles with, and we wrestle with it. It isn't completely aware of its own implications.
The acting is very good, with lighting that highlights their emotive and often heartbreaking expressions. The direction is well-done, as it never feels forced or coerced in any way. It feels natural, if not totally confident.
Unfortunately, there were five glaring subtitle issues (i.e. "anwers" instead of "answers") and a thing like that pulls you right out of the film for that split second. Luckily, I was too involved to be completely perturbed. This is worth the price of admission, if not the best film you see all year.