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"Valkyrie" Review

by Jane Boursaw on December 31st, 2008

I liked everything about "Valkyrie" except Tom Cruise’s performance. That’s not good since he was the main character, but I kept thinking what a great movie this would have been with someone else in the lead role. I don’t know, someone like Philip Seymour Hoffman … you know, who can act.

Ok, that’s harsh, because I really enjoyed Tom Cruise as the overweight, balding agent in "Tropic Thunder." He really sent it home in that role! But in "Valkyrie," he just seems like Tom Cruise playing dress-up. And speaking of that, I really loved all the German costumes and little details, like the old cars and phones and furniture and such. That was cool.

Based on a real-life attempt to assassinate Adolf Hitler, the movie follows Col. Claus von Stauffenberg (Cruise), who heads up a secret operation known as "Valkyrie" that will effectively kill Hitler. Not all the Germans obeyed him like a dog on a leash. Some were disenchanted with the course of action Germany was taking, and wanted to do the right thing.

Ok, before I continue, more on Cruise’s ineptness in this role. He’s playing a German officer, and he doesn’t even try to have a German accent. It’s just Tom Cruise talking in his normal voice. Doesn’t that seem weird? It does to me.

Back to the story: So von Stauffenberg is put in charge of this operation, and even delivers a bomb in a suitcase to a meeting with Hitler and his minions. There’s a little bit of tension here, because you’re not sure how this is all going to play out (well, I didn’t because I’m not up on my German history). If you’re not either, I won’t give away the ending.

There some fine pedigree involved in this film: director Bryan Singer and screenwriter Christopher McQuarrie, along with actors Tom Wilkinson, Kenneth Branagh, Terence Stamp, Bill Nighy and Eddie Izzard. It’s too bad they weren’t given more to do, because that’s where the movie’s strength lies.

Still, even with its pitfalls, "Valkyrie" is interesting and my history-buff 14-year-old son really liked it. Otherwise, you could probably wait for the DVD. 

Image: Valkyrie, United Artists, 2008

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