Operation Finale

It might not be smart to use Operation Finale to cheat on your history test, although this historical drama offers some compelling post-World War II intrigue.

Despite some embellished details, this well-acted and capably assembled low-key thriller yields some suspense even for those already familiar with the ultimate fate of former Nazi officer Adolf Eichmann.

It takes place in 1960, when Israeli intelligence suspects that Eichmann (Ben Kingsley) — the highest ranking member of the Third Reich still alive at the time — is living under an assumed name in Argentina, amid a wave of anti-Semitism there.

Their primary tip comes from a young Buenos Aires woman (Haley Lu Richardson) with Jewish roots whose new boyfriend (Joe Alwyn) might be Eichmann’s son. So Israel sends a team of operatives to South America, determined to round up Eichmann and bring him back to Jerusalem to stand trial for his war crimes, even all these years later.

The team includes young Mossad agent Peter Malkin (Oscar Isaac) whose pursuit of the target draws his eyes away from an alluring doctor (Melanie Laurent). Meanwhile, the operation becomes complicated with the realization they must capture Eichmann, but also secure a confession in order to ensure transport back home.

As directed by Chris Weitz (About a Boy), the underlying suspense shines through during the film’s depiction of Malkin’s audacious plan and its immediate aftermath.

Rookie screenwriter Matthew Orton benefits from some absorbing true-life source material, even if he relies too heavily on melodrama and tends to oversimplify some of the sociopolitical complexities. Still, the film skillfully finds ways to lighten the mood, considering the subject matter, in part by depicting the Israeli spies as a band of mischievous rogues.

Isaac and Kingsley each bring depth and gravity to their performances, with the latter portraying Eichmann as more than just a one-dimensional monster — introducing a shred of sympathy and humanity for a man forced to live every day looking over his shoulder.

Operation Finale awkwardly transitions from a revenge thriller into a more character-driven drama in the second hour. However, it works best in its quieter and more intimate moments that put a human face on both the survivors and perpetrators of such a widespread and far-reaching tragedy.

Rated PG-13, 123 minutes.