“There is widespread disgust in the officer corps toward the crimes committed by the Nazis – the murder of civilians, the torture and starvation of prisoners, the mass execution of Jews. My duty as an officer is no longer to save my country, but to save human lives.” This is the motivation for director Bryan Singer (“The Usual Suspects”, “X-Men”, “Superman Returns”), writers Christopher McQuarrie (“The Usual Suspects”), Nathan Alexander, and starring actor Tom Cruise who portrays Colonel Claus von Stauffenberg in the World War II suspense film “Valkyrie”. The film also stars an acclaimed cast including Kenneth Branagh, Bill Nighy, Tom Wilkinson, Carice van Houten, Thomas Kretschmann, Eddie Izzard, Christian Berkel and Terence Stamp.
Based on a true story, “Valkyrie” chronicles the actions of several high-ranking German officers in their daring plot to assassinate Adolf Hitler, and seize power of the military command by using his own emergency plan to maintain order in case of a revolt against the Nazi government (code name: Operation Valkyrie). Clocking in at exactly 120 minutes “Valkyrie” frantically hurries along through a failed assassination attempt, an allied attack, a farewell to family members, an expedient overview of a very complex plan, and more failed assassination attempts during a period of time from March 13, 1943 to July 20, 1944.
Cinematically this film echos the moody beauty and intensity of classic films of the 1940s thanks to the production design work of Lilly Kilvert (“The Last Samurai”, “Strange Days”, “Ghosts of Mississippi”), Patrick Lumb (“Flight of the Phoenix”, “Batman Begins”, “Behind Enemy Lines”), and director of photograhpy Newton Thomas Sigel (“X-Men”, “X-Men 2”, “Superman Returns”) while also creating the pace and tempo of a modern action-thriller. Additionally, the film’s editor and composer John Ottman (“Hide and Seek”, “Gothika”, “Fantastic Four”) greatly exceeds his expectations in creating the high levels of anxiety felt in almost every scene.
However, there are a few intentional problems that folks should be aware of before entering the theatre as these rough spots may serve as a distraction away from the story being told. The first of which is the obvious morphing of languages from German to English in the opening minutes of the film, and the director’s mandate of allowing the international cast to use his or her own accent. Also, character development on the key individuals featured is almost non-existant which is a shame as the levels of sacrifice each conspirator chose to lose was much deeper than could be portrayed within the time allowed.
Overall, “Valkyrie” is as a dynamic suspense thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat all the way through, and even have you wondering how the film will end. Does it end in 1945 as history claims, or will it end in 1944 in an artistic turn of events? Well, there is only one way to know for sure. See this movie before your friends accidentally give away the ending.
—————————
For More Information
—————————
