Tom Cruise as Colonel Claus Schenk von Stauffenberg,
a member of the German Resistance in the plot to assassinate Adolf Hitler in "Valkyrie",
directed by Bryan Singer. (Photo: United Artists)
THE POPCORN REEL FILM REVIEW/"Valkyrie"
Within Germany, A War Of The Worlds, With Hitler As The Bullseye
By
Omar P.L. Moore/December
25, 2008
Bryan Singer's "Valkyrie" achieves big screen success on such a small-scale and
economy that it is fascinating to see just how simplistic the film's heartbeat
is. That may sound strange, but the anything but simple real-life July 20,
1944 plot (one of about 20 such plots) to assassinate Nazi Germany leader Adolf
Hitler during World War Two is directed as a film in such an economical way that
it resembles an old-fashioned and perfunctory drama. During its initial
hour "Valkyrie" is slow to build momentum but when the second hour commences it
has picked up the pace, becoming an intriguing and suspenseful thriller as the
plot engineered by 36-year-old Colonel Claus Schenk von Stauffenberg, Chief of
Staff of Germany's Reserve Army and a group of other cohorts within the German
Nazi Resistance ultimately fails. The end result however, isn't Mr.
Singer's focus, it is the process of the plot to assassinate Hitler that lies
front and center, and this is from which "Valkyrie" ultimately draws its
strength.
Tom Cruise plays Von Stauffenberg with such a tightly wound intensity, precision
and methodic manner that at times he reminds one of his prior characters Ethan
Hunt from the "Mission: Impossible" films. That's not to say that Mr.
Cruise doesn't do a good job in a difficult role (he does), it's simply that his
top-lining performance is sublimated somewhat by the strong supporting acting by
Bill Nighy, Tom Wilkinson and Eddie Izzard, three British actors who are
sensational here, and that's by design. Mr. Cruise's impact on the screen
is arguably greater in this way. Colonel Von Stauffenberg was said to be a
charismatic but fierce leader, and that defines the acting that Mr. Cruise, who
this year celebrated 27 years as a big screen Hollywood actor, delivers here.
It is remarkable how a megastar like Mr. Cruise completely blends in with the
talented (and mostly British) supporting players in his lead role, but he does.
Years ago he may have dominated the screen with his mere presence in a film, but
for a long time now he has seamlessly been woven into a balanced fabric of an
ensemble of different characters who have made their impact. In the
present case, while "Valkyrie" is about the plot led by Von Stauffenberg, it is
not necessarily solely about him, even though we get occasional brief glimpses
of the one-eyed, one-handed colonel's family including his wife (played by
Carice Van Houten of
"Black Book").
Mr. Singer (who has directed
"Superman Returns",
"X-Men" and "The Usual Suspects") brings a depth and vision that fits "Valkyrie"
both in the attempt to tell its story and to cover a powerful and intricate
story without making the film grandiose and bigger than it needs to be.
(Another film that opened today, "The Spirit", needed to learn this lesson.)
Sometimes John Ottman's music score is a little more obtrusive than necessary ("Miracle
At St. Anna" fell into this trap), but it otherwise fits the
spirit and mood of the film. Mr. Ottman also executive produces and edits
the film and does well. The production design is also well rendered (by
Lily Kilvert, Patrick Lumb and Tom Meyer) and the cinematography by Newton
Thomas Siegel is a fine example of a choreography of images that are both bold
and subtle. There is a neatness and order to everything we see -- even
when things in the assassination plot go awry. It is the consistency of
all the film's collaborators that makes "Valkyrie", which the
assassination operation was code named, a steady and impressive film, especially
in its second half.
With: Thomas Kretschmann and Terence Stamp. Written by Christopher
McQuarrie ("The Usual Suspects") & Nathan Alexander.
"Valkyrie", which opened today, Christmas Day, is rated PG-13 by the Motion
Picture Association Of America for violence and brief strong language. The
film's running time is two hours, but it goes by much faster than that.
Copyright The Popcorn Reel. PopcornReel.com. 2008. All Rights Reserved.