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Based on a true story, “Valkyrie” focuses on those
in the German military during World War II that dared to
try and assassinate Hitler. Unhappy with Hitler’s leadership
during the war, a inspired a conspiracy within the military
to try and take out Hitler with a suitcase bomb. Well made
but certainly not up to the standards that we’ve come to
expect from director Bryan Singer (“X-Men”, “Apt Pupil”,
“The Usual Suspects” and “Superman Returns” among other
films), “Valkyrie has its moments and star Tom Cruise who
suffered from rapidly diminishing credibility in the aftermath
of attacking those critical of Scientology and his sofa
gymnastics does a solid job in the lead role reminding us
that even if Cruise can be an idiot he can be an entertaining
one. ***
Cruise plays Colonel Claus Von Stauffenberg who after
being wounded in Africa returns to Germany and is recruited
by a team of military leaders (Kenneth Branagh, Bill Nighy,
Terence Stamp and Tom Wilkinson) to try and kill the Fuhrer.
A sharp man Von Stauffenberg recognizes the short comings
of their plan to assassinate Hitler and in a bit of irony
adapts one of Hitler’s own plans to stabilize the German
government should anything happen to him—Operation Valkyrie
to help the conspirators take control of the German government
and seek peace with the Allies. Von Stauffenberg recognizes
that assassinating the Fuhrer may be a one-way trip so he
plans an exit strategy of his own to help increase the odds
he will come back alive and to his family after the Fuhrer
is dead. ***
One of the disadvantages of basing a story on a historical
event involving well known figures is that we know the outcome
of the film. Singer excels at creating suspense in “Valkyrie”
by withholding information even though we know the results
of the assassination attempt much like a chess master might
elongate a game to keep viewers in suspense during a match.
Singer’s strategy works for the most part but problem with
the script and film is what occurs after Hitler is “assassinated”
because it’s a foregone conclusion. What would interest
viewers more is the reaction of those involved AFTER they
learn Hitler isn’t dead and while we do see some of that
we don’t see enough of it. Singer should have focused more
on the attempts to escape Hitler as much on the aftermath
of Operation Valkyrie as he does on the events leading up
to and the activation of the operation. Even with these
shortcomings, Singer manages to make a visually involving
and often stunning looking film. ***
The other disadvantage of “Valkyrie” is that it is wedded
to history without acknowledging the past of the main characters.
For example anyone that is aware of the Von Stauffenberg
was a much more complex and conflicted person than the character
portrayed by Cruise in the film because of his religious
background and personal beliefs. These are briefly acknowledged
in the film but there had to be some way to incorporate
them into further exposition or action in the film. Regardless
of these flaws, “Valkyrie” manages to be both engaging and
entertaining something that word of mouth suggested wasn’t
the case when the film was released last winter. ---
Image & Sound:
“Valkyrie” looks extremely good in its Blu-ray presentation.
Colors are solid throughout, film grain is kept intact without
too much application of the DNR sheen that erases textures
and fine detail. The film looks solid throughout. *** Audio
sounds extremely good with a nice use of ambient sounds.
Dialogue is clear as is the often riveting music score.
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