Valkyrie

Starring: Tom Cruise, Tom Wilkinson, Kenneth Branagh, Bill Nighy, Terence Stamp, Eddie Izzard
Directed by: Bryan Singer
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Drama, Thriller
2008

Times Seen:
Tim: 1

Summary: A group of Germans, led by Claus von Stauffenberg (Tom Cruise) plan to overthrow and kill Adolf Hitler during World War II.

Review:

Tim: The problem with movies about well known historical events is that it is difficult to maintain the excitement and suspense when most of the audience already knows what happens (or what doesn't happen). This can be done successfully- Apollo 13 is a perfect example of a movie where everyone knows how it ends, but still manages to be unbelievably thrilling. Unfortunately, this movie is not in that vein. I couldn't get very interested or excited about the movie, because I already knew the ending. That is a major flaw in this movie.

The film does feature an impressive cast, although they don't all give great performances. Tom Cruise is decent as von Stauffenberg, but I had a hard time buying him in the role. He never seemed believable as a German officer. Tom Wilkinson had far too little to do, but I enjoyed him on screen. Kenneth Branagh likewise was surprisingly underutilized, which is a shame. Bill Nighy and Eddie Izzard added good performances. The cast looks impressive on paper, but no one manages to really make a powerful or lasting impact. I am surprised that director Bryan Singer didn't get more out of his cast.

The biggest problem with this movie is that it feels completely pointless. I am not sure we needed another forgettable World War II movie, even if it does tell a different story than most of those other films. This film is only marginally exciting and entertaining. It does just enough to keep your attention, but little else. I never really got invested in any of the characters, the action, or the ramifications of the events unfolding on screen. That is a shame, because this movie had every reason to at least be memorable.

Valkyrie is not a terrible movie. It tells a truly interesting story that far too many people know about. It certainly has a few great moments, even if these are too few and far between. This might not be a very good movie, but it is at least watchable. That is more than can be said about many of the films rolling out of Hollywood these days.

Rating 1-10
Tim's Rating: 6.5



If You Enjoyed This Movie, We Recommend: The Usual Suspects, X-Men, All Quiet on the Western Front, The Great Escape, Far and Away