Actors: Tom Cruise, Kenneth Branagh, Bill Nighy, Carice van Houten, Eddie Izzard, Terence Stamp, Tom Wilkinson
Runtime: 120 min
Budget: $90 million
Year: 2008
During World War II, German Colonel Claus von Stauffenberg (Tom Cruise) gets injured in South Africa and returns to Germany. Together with a group of senior German officers, he is developing a plan to topple the Nazi regime before the nation is crushed in a near-inevitable defeat. Operation "Valkyrie" is the internal emergency measure, which Stauffenberg is to change to enable his fellows to seize control of Berlin after the assassination of the Fuhrer. However, even as the plan is put into action, a combination of bad luck and human failings conspire on their own to create a tragedy of all Europe.
The movie is based on the last of fifteen known attempts on the life of Adolf Hitler. History, perhaps, doesn't know one more man who experieced so many assassination attempts. This movie is the first film probably that presents German People as human beings trapped in the wheels of a spinning war machine, and not merely monsters responsible for all WWII atrocities. In an effort to be accurate the Jews are never mention because in fact the attempt to assassinate Hitler had nothing to do with that. The real reason? The war had turned against the Germans, it was clear that they were entering a down spiral and Hitler's madness was at the center of that.
But Americans, who in general don't really have much understanding of history, fail to show that organizing a conspiracy meant risking not only your life, but the life of everyone even remotely associated with you. This is where this movie falls a little short, because it shows Stauffenberg and others simply talking freely about their plans and their convictions. The movie doesn't give the audience a real picture of how daring this operation was and how nerve wracking this must have been. No dout, the principle message of the film is to cleanse Germany of its sins. But what for? We know that not all Germans supported Hitler's regime. Nevertheless, this movie will help teenagers to realize that the World is little more complex than "Black & White" or "Good & Bad".
This is a serious movie, not entertainment. Indeed this mission was impossible. Claus von Stauffenberg was someone who realized that he had to take the steps that ultimately cost him his life... He recognized what was at stake. You'd hardly be able to find right words to reveal your respect and admiration to such incredible strength, iron will, energy and certanty of what he does. He was devoted to his idea based on true love for the country.
Definitely, you'll be impressed with the scene of execution when adjutant closes his Colonel with his own body although he knows this will prolong Stauffenberg's life only for seconds. He knows it, he knows he will die but does it anyway. This is an example of devotion, an example of real human relationships, faith in your leader and his ideas, it's a real case of patriotism which is so uncommon nowadays.
Some critics find Cruise as "unconvincing", some even pan him for "a surprisingly low-key performance that fails to convey the charisma with which Stauffenberg inspired fellow plotters". May be. But that is the aim of the director. Cruise does not grandstand in this movie, fading in with the rest of the cast, rather than trying to stand above them like you'd probably expect, given his past films. In Valkyrie Tom Cruise is being a good team player, not trying to steal any glory, and never once does he overact the part. You can almost forget that he's in the movie and can appreciate the performances of Bill Nighy, Kenneth Branagh, Terence Stamp, and other actors who play the chief conspirators.
It is a beautifully made historical thriller with a remarkable attention to details. The locations, battle scenes, costumes/uniforms, staging/settings, the vintage automobiles and aircrafts make this film have a distinct authentic flair that few other war films have. Like the performance by Tom Cruise, filmmakers don't try to overpower the audience with special effects, they simply let the characters slip into the realistic settings.
Though the film was designed as a thriller it is lacking in the requisite tension and suspense. It is smooth and compelling, it is a very enjoyable dramatization of a true event, but not a historical thriller. Anyway, the idea is certainly worth two hours of your time.
