Valkyrie (C or 2/4 stars)
Germany, 1943: A group of high-ranking German officers hatched a plot (the 15th) to assassinate their Fuhrer, Adolf Hitler. If successful, they'd seize power of the military command; thus ending the war. This plan/operation was codenamed 'Valkyrie' (the title of this film, directed by Bryan Singer). It was an emergency plan meant to be used in case of a revolt against the stoic Nazi government. Modified by its conspirators, this plan aimed for success ... but we all know it couldn't have worked as Hitler committed suicide in 1945. But 'Valkyrie' does well to show us how they 'almost' pulled it off. It's too neglected a piece of history to not warrant a motion picture about it. It's more suspenseful than expected (considering the foregone conclusion of its central plot). But too much of the rest of the movie is mediocre; with stock action sequences & standard back-room meetings where men-in-suits sit around smoking & talking. It's just an OK movie.
'Valkyrie' covers 1.5 yrs. from 1943 to the day Hitler ended his life. Though this film is based on a true story, it takes creative licenses here & there (to 'some' good effect). After having suffered serious wounds in North Africa with the 10th Panzer Division, Colonel Claus von Stauffenberg (Tom Cruise) is recruited into the Nazi resistance by its leader, Gen. von Tresckow (Kenneth Branagh) & his compatriot, Gen. Olbricht (elastic-faced Bill Nighy). Von Stauffenberg accepts because he feels that preserving Germany's honor would mean to kill off its tyrannical leader, Hitler. He's introduced to a plethora of other members of the resistance, including would-be Chancellor, Carl Goerdeler (Kevin McNally) & former Gen. Beck (good 'ole Terrence Stamp).
The assass. plot is highly complex & requires not only the precise detonation of a bomb (under Hitler's nose), but to create a devastating ripple-effect where the resistance group could take charge of the government before Hitler's S.S. could find a replacement. They aim to immediately arrest the S.S. WHILE supplanting Carl Goerdeler as Chancellor. Therefore, 'Operation Valkyrie' is the emergency mobilization of the reserve army to provide backing for a coup. Of course, complications arise when the head of the reserves, Gen. Fromm (scene-chewing Tom Wilkinson) must be convinced to cooperate, but strays because results of the operation may not be in his best interests. Still, von Stauffenberg initiates the plan, & mayhem ensues {wink}.
The best aspect of the film are its high-tension scenes. 1) Stauffenberg persuades Hitler to unknowingly sign-off on 'his' revised version of Operation Valkyrie. 2) The sequence when the bomb is placed & detonated. And 3) the mad rush to arrest the S.S. & secure Berlin so that the Nazi regime would be finished for good. Other than these 3 fantastic/interesting sequences, much of the rest of the film is quite ordinary. I mean, the German settings are glorious. The sets & costumes are beautiful. And Tom Cruise is, in my opinion, quite good here. He brings some dimension to his role. And I'm so pleased for HIM that he's rebounded with a decent-enough film that appears to be a nice moneymaker; after what's been a string of disappointments.
I did not care for many of the supporting roles. No one stands-out. All of the portrayals are paper-thin; especially that of von Stauffenberg's wife (played by Carice von Houten of Black Book). Her talent is completely wasted here. None of these portrayals convinced me of their ideologies; their reasons for being; their fight to preserve sacred Germany. It's hard to invest in them. As a 'historical war thriller', it almost passes the test, but not quite. It's historically inaccurate, at times. The war scenes are too fleeting. And it's not THAT thriller-ish, either (except for the actual assassination attempt gone awry). 'Valkyrie' is another ok WWII film (probably the 20th in recent years). I enjoyed it for its wonderful production values, great sound mixing (in air raids/planes/bombs going off), & Cruise's stellar performance. But it takes a while to get going. It's a very literal (in every sense of the word) adaptation. And I'm just a tad too underwhelmed to heap praise.
'Valkyrie' covers 1.5 yrs. from 1943 to the day Hitler ended his life. Though this film is based on a true story, it takes creative licenses here & there (to 'some' good effect). After having suffered serious wounds in North Africa with the 10th Panzer Division, Colonel Claus von Stauffenberg (Tom Cruise) is recruited into the Nazi resistance by its leader, Gen. von Tresckow (Kenneth Branagh) & his compatriot, Gen. Olbricht (elastic-faced Bill Nighy). Von Stauffenberg accepts because he feels that preserving Germany's honor would mean to kill off its tyrannical leader, Hitler. He's introduced to a plethora of other members of the resistance, including would-be Chancellor, Carl Goerdeler (Kevin McNally) & former Gen. Beck (good 'ole Terrence Stamp).
The assass. plot is highly complex & requires not only the precise detonation of a bomb (under Hitler's nose), but to create a devastating ripple-effect where the resistance group could take charge of the government before Hitler's S.S. could find a replacement. They aim to immediately arrest the S.S. WHILE supplanting Carl Goerdeler as Chancellor. Therefore, 'Operation Valkyrie' is the emergency mobilization of the reserve army to provide backing for a coup. Of course, complications arise when the head of the reserves, Gen. Fromm (scene-chewing Tom Wilkinson) must be convinced to cooperate, but strays because results of the operation may not be in his best interests. Still, von Stauffenberg initiates the plan, & mayhem ensues {wink}.
The best aspect of the film are its high-tension scenes. 1) Stauffenberg persuades Hitler to unknowingly sign-off on 'his' revised version of Operation Valkyrie. 2) The sequence when the bomb is placed & detonated. And 3) the mad rush to arrest the S.S. & secure Berlin so that the Nazi regime would be finished for good. Other than these 3 fantastic/interesting sequences, much of the rest of the film is quite ordinary. I mean, the German settings are glorious. The sets & costumes are beautiful. And Tom Cruise is, in my opinion, quite good here. He brings some dimension to his role. And I'm so pleased for HIM that he's rebounded with a decent-enough film that appears to be a nice moneymaker; after what's been a string of disappointments.
I did not care for many of the supporting roles. No one stands-out. All of the portrayals are paper-thin; especially that of von Stauffenberg's wife (played by Carice von Houten of Black Book). Her talent is completely wasted here. None of these portrayals convinced me of their ideologies; their reasons for being; their fight to preserve sacred Germany. It's hard to invest in them. As a 'historical war thriller', it almost passes the test, but not quite. It's historically inaccurate, at times. The war scenes are too fleeting. And it's not THAT thriller-ish, either (except for the actual assassination attempt gone awry). 'Valkyrie' is another ok WWII film (probably the 20th in recent years). I enjoyed it for its wonderful production values, great sound mixing (in air raids/planes/bombs going off), & Cruise's stellar performance. But it takes a while to get going. It's a very literal (in every sense of the word) adaptation. And I'm just a tad too underwhelmed to heap praise.