Valkyrie

Director:Bryan Singer
Writers (WGA):Christopher McQuarrie (written by) &Nathan Alexander (written by)
Release Date:23 January 2009 (UK) more
Genre:Drama History Thriller War more

Tagline:Many saw evil. They dared to stop it.
Plot:Based on actual events, a plot to assassinate Hitler is unfurled during the height of WWII.

Viewed: 23/01/09
Score: 2/6

Given the many fine films set in Nazi Germany and occupied territories, I was intrigued by one based around a historical plot to assassinate Hitler. This movie had a lot of things going for it; a fine cast including Kenneth Branagh and Bill Nighy, plus director Bryan Singer at the helm. Most of all, the storyline is a cracker. Protagonist Claus von Stauffenberg is a disillusioned German Colonel who, after being badly injured, joins a cadre of dissident officers and politicians planning to kill Hitler and overthrow his Nazi regime as the tide of war turns against Germany. Stakes, both personal and national, could not have been higher.

Sadly, even with an open goal mouth, the film fails to score. Tom Cruise is woefully miscast in the lead, looking, sounding and acting completely out of place with his fellow cast members and plot material. Even more damaging, the movie relies a lot on dialogue, but this is delivered in such awkward, stilted and disjointed fashion that the impact of even the most profound statements is completely lost. Characters are wooden and one dimensional, with the exception of Tom Wilkinson as the cowardly and indecisive General Friedrich Fromm.

In fact, it is so hard to care about any of the characters that when the plot fails and the ‘traitors’ are executed, I just thought ‘Oh well, wonder if I’ve got any messages on my phone’. The one plus was the interest of learning about how the attempted coup was planned and staged.
Hopefully one day another writer, director and cast will give the material the treatment it deserves.