For the first time on this blog, I'm going to say that this film is a must-see. For any fan of WWII films, "Valkyrie" will rank near the top for its historical accuracy and brilliant portrayals. For fans of the suspense thriller, there hasn't been a film that has your heart pounding this much in a long time. You need to see this film.
Tom Cruise, although commonly associated with all-American good looks and characters, is brilliant as Col. Claus von Stauffenberg, leader of a secret resistance of very high-up German soldiers. After failed plots to kill Hitler, they bring in a wounded but not broken von Stauffenberg to lead the team. They ultimately band together to attempt "Operation Valkyrie", a large-scale conspiracy whose aim is not only taking Hitler's life, but also control of all of Germany in order to make a truce with the Allies and end the war and its atrocities once and for all.
The most interesting part about this film is that you know the outcome - Hitler doesn't seclude himself in a bunker and commit suicide until nine months after any of this occurs. So half the suspense comes from wondering how they hatch this plan, seeing how it comes together, and finding out how it falls apart. One of the most suspenseful scenes occurs when von Stauffenberg must attend a meeting with Hitler himself and convince him to sign the amended transcript of "Operation Valkyrie" that would ultimately lead to his demise.
"Valkyrie" boasts an incredible ensemble of veteran actors - Kenneth Branagh, Bill Nighy, Tom Wilkenson, Terence Stamp, and David Bamber (who makes a frightening appearance as the dictator himself), all coming together with Cruise to create an epic war thriller that will no doubt be remembered come Oscar time. He may be a little crazy sometimes, but I have the utmost respect for Tom Cruise as an actor, an artist and a businessman. He invested a lot into this film, he's passionate about what he does, and he's a mover and a shaker who makes things happen. And it's obvious when you see the finished product. Go see this film. It's this year's holiday epic.
2 comments:
I find that an interesting review since a review I'd read previously had made the comment that Cruise was "distractingly bad" in the movie, and actually undermined any potential the movie had.
Perhaps it is worth an attempt to get passed Cruise to watch. But I'm thinking not at movie theatre prices.
Distractingly bad? Interesting... I didn't think he was distracting at all. And I've never really disliked Cruise as an actor on the whole. This was an intense movie, and he had an intense role that he delivered accordingly.
But I hear ya about the movie prices.
Post a Comment