Many saw evil. They dared to stop it.
In Nazi Germany during World War II, as the tide turned in favor of The Allies, a cadre of senior German officers and politicians desperately plot to topple the Nazi regime before the nation is crushed in a near-inevitable defeat. To this end, Colonel Claus von Stauffenberg, an Army officer convinced he must save Germany from Hitler, is recruited to mastermind a real plan. To do so, he arranges for the internal emergency measure, Operation: Valkyrie, to be changed 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 that would prolong the greater one gripping Europe.
Genre(s): Drama, History, Thriller, War
Runtime: 121 minutes
Rating: 7.3/10 (40,269 votes)
Release Date: 25 December 2008
Country: USA, Germany
Languages: English, German
Company: United Artists
Sound: DTS, Dolby Digital, SDDS
MPAA: Rated PG-13 for violence and brief strong language.
Director(s): Bryan Singer
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Producer(s):
Gilbert Adler - producer
Nathan Alexander - co-producer
Chris Brock - line producer
Tom Cruise - executive producer
Christoph Fisser - co-producer
Ken Kamins - executive producer
Chris Lee - executive producer
Oliver Lüer - line producer
Christopher McQuarrie - producer
Henning Molfenter - co-producer
John Ottman - executive producer
Robert F. Phillips - line producer: additional photography, U.S.
Dwight C. Schar - executive producer
Mark Shapiro - executive producer
Bryan Singer - producer
Daniel M. Snyder - executive producer
Paula Wagner - executive producer
Jeffrey Wetzel - co-producer
Charlie Woebcken - co-producer
Writer(s):
Christopher McQuarrie - (written by) &
Nathan Alexander - (written by)
Cast:
Tom Cruise - Colonel Claus von Stauffenberg
Kenneth Branagh - Major-General Henning von Tresckow
Bill Nighy - General Friedrich Olbricht
Tom Wilkinson - General Friedrich Fromm
Carice van Houten - Nina von Stauffenberg
Thomas Kretschmann - Major Otto Ernst Remer
Terence Stamp - Ludwig Beck
Eddie Izzard - General Erich Fellgiebel
Kevin McNally - Dr. Carl Goerdeler (as Kevin R. McNally)
Christian Berkel - Colonel Mertz von Quirnheim
Music: John Ottman
Gilbert Adler - producer
Nathan Alexander - co-producer
Chris Brock - line producer
Tom Cruise - executive producer
Christoph Fisser - co-producer
Ken Kamins - executive producer
Chris Lee - executive producer
Oliver Lüer - line producer
Christopher McQuarrie - producer
Henning Molfenter - co-producer
John Ottman - executive producer
Robert F. Phillips - line producer: additional photography, U.S.
Dwight C. Schar - executive producer
Mark Shapiro - executive producer
Bryan Singer - producer
Daniel M. Snyder - executive producer
Paula Wagner - executive producer
Jeffrey Wetzel - co-producer
Charlie Woebcken - co-producer
Writer(s):
Christopher McQuarrie - (written by) &
Nathan Alexander - (written by)
Cast:
Tom Cruise - Colonel Claus von Stauffenberg
Kenneth Branagh - Major-General Henning von Tresckow
Bill Nighy - General Friedrich Olbricht
Tom Wilkinson - General Friedrich Fromm
Carice van Houten - Nina von Stauffenberg
Thomas Kretschmann - Major Otto Ernst Remer
Terence Stamp - Ludwig Beck
Eddie Izzard - General Erich Fellgiebel
Kevin McNally - Dr. Carl Goerdeler (as Kevin R. McNally)
Christian Berkel - Colonel Mertz von Quirnheim
Music: John Ottman
Posted on: December 6, 2008
August 9th, 2009
Valkyrie, starring Tom Cruise, is the true story of World War II Germanarmy officer, Colonel Claus Von Stauffenberg, one of many German armyofficers who saw that Hitler's war was not only a suicidal one, but onethat could ultimately bring about the destruction of the whole ofEurope. Von Stauffenberg, like many of his fellow conspirators,believed that if Hitler could be assassinated, the Allies could benegotiated with and perhaps Germany could be saved from defeat andhopefully, untold destruction.
It is 1943 and the German army is taking a pounding from all sides;losses of life and machinery are piling up and the Allies are showingno signs of weakening. Stauffenberg is in cahoots with severalofficers, Major-General Henning Von Tresckow(Kenneth Branagh), GeneralFriedrich Olbricht(Bill Nighy), and the nervous, reluctant GeneralErich Fellgiebel (Eddie Izzard), along with retired General Ludwig Beck(Terrance Stamp) and The hopefully soon-to-be new leader of Germany,Dr. Carl Goerdeler (Kevin McNally). The plan is to sneak a bomb intoone of Hitler's high-level meetings, kill the Fuhrer, round up the SSwith the troops serving as the reserve guard, and with any luck, put anew government in place before anyone knows what has happened. It wouldbe a very risky coup' and everything had to fall into place in orderfor it to be a success. One major stumbling block is General FriedrichFromm(Tom Wilkinson), who is the man that would have to give the orderto put Operation Valkyrie into effect, essentially mobilizing thein-country reserves and taking control of the government and the armedforces. He is aware of the plan but is quite on the fence about thewhole matter. There is a scene where he tells Von Stauffenberg andGeneral Olbricht in no uncertain terms, that he will stand on whateverside the victors are on. He will not sacrifice life, limb or hisposition unless the deal has already gone down and the conspirators aresuccessful. This puts the pressure on the entire rest of the plan goingoff without a hitch, and most notably, Von Staffenberg's ability tomakes sure Hitler is in fact dead.
It goes without saying that the plot failed in the end, but that doesnot diminish the tension of the story and even though we know howthings come out, the sheer fact of the risks these men were willing totake, makes for a riveting film. These men are, and should be,remembered as heroes; men who were far more loyal to the nation ofGermany than to the chain of command that of course ended with Hitlerat the top. They were true patriots that believed that the fate of thefatherland was doomed if Hitler remained in control, and were intent onstopping a madman from taking everyone down with him. Von Stauffenberghas been a loyal soldier, even losing an eye, his right hand andseveral fingers of his left hand in battle, but he knows all too wellthat if his children are to ever know peace in their lifetimes, Hitlermust not be allowed to continue his self-destructive rampage intooblivion.
Valkyrie is a well made film, focusing on the mechanics of the plot andthe passion of the conspirators. These are men that have an abidinglove of their country and know that if they fail, they will allcertainly be executed and their families would be in peril as well.Cruise, while not my favorite actor, does two things very well inmovies: he does cocky well and he does intense well. Here he isrequired to be intense and pulls it off well. Cruise plays VonStauffenberg as a man who cares deeply about his family and the futureof his country. He is a man that has given a lot to his country,including bits of his body. The one thing he will not part with,however, is his soul. He knows that in the grand scheme of things, hislife is a small price to pay to bring his beloved Germany back from thebrink. Cruise plays Von Stauffenberg as a cool customer; professionaland reserved and determined.
Branagh's Von Tresckow is seen on periodically throughout the film, buthe is one of the key conspirators. Branagh plays Von Tresckow as aconfident, thoughtful man, who like Von Stauffenberg, is close enoughto Hitler's inner circle to see his insanity and to fear it. Afterplacing a bomb concealed in a drink bottle on Hitler's plane (a bombthat does not go off), he calmly retrieves the bomb from one ofHitler's aides, saying it was given to him by mistake. Not knowing ifanyone was wise to him, he plays it as smoothly as if he were in nodanger at all.
Bill Nighy's General Olbricht is scared right out of his wits about thewhole plot, but bravely pushes forward, showing that he is a man ofhonor, but still just a man.
The sets are as much of a character as any of the actors and everythinglooks stately and grand, just as it did in the 'glory' days of theThird Reich. This is a very authentic looking film, and the uniformslook more like uniforms than costumes, something you don't always getto see in movies. Also, David Bamber did a chillingly creepy version ofAdolf Hitler, maintaining the presence of a complicated, detachedmadman.
Director Bryan Singer has portrayed these men in a very honorable,ethical manner and has done real justice to their memories. The plotunfolds with time line titles and clear direction. We collectively holdour breaths watching the events unfold, understanding what is at stakeand what is to come. These truly were honorable men, and although theyfailed, history would bear them out to be the heroes that they were.
August 10th, 2009
Under the direction of Bryan Singer Valkyrie is a well-made andnail-biting affair.
Starring an altogether British cast including Kenneth Brannagh and TomWilkinson the film is able to provide a fluent, and as far as I amaware rather accurate depiction of events in the attemptedassassination of Hitler.
Tom Cruise produces a workmanlike performance as General VonStaffenburg and although we see his drive and determination to succeedwe never get a rounded character. The only real disappointment withValkyrie is the rather easy-nature that Staffenburg is able to recruitnew conspirators without much ado, and whilst Valkyrie makes aconcerted effort to balance action with discourse it felt as though itlacked a certain weightiness.
Valkyrie is a good film and is executed in a suspenseful fashion, whichmust be applauded as we know the outcome prior to the opening of thefilm. The running time is well managed and will drive you to seekfurther information on the plot and people involved.
August 11th, 2009
I enjoy War-type movies because they usually are based on true wars orstories and I am definitely into action. This movie was absolutelyamazing, the only thing I might have changed was have all their accentsthe same – However,I like how it started out with Tom Cruise(ColonelClaus Von Stauffenberg) speaking German and then it shifting intoEnglish (like the Red October).
It was amazing how this movie got to not only me, but the people in thetheater as well. You know from the start that they would die, sinceunfortunately no assassination attempts against Hitler prevailed, butit just gets to you every time when they are executed as "traitors" toGermany. It is astonishing how much courage these men had to stand upto Hitler and the Nazis, knowing death was basically it if they failed.And yet, when they were taken to be killed they all died honorably.When Haeften turned his back to the squad as an act of defiance and toshow his respect for Stauffenberg, the audience in the theater I was inreacted emotionally. When you see a movie, you need something that willimpact the audience and Valkyrie did. But when Colonel Stauffenbergcried "Long live Sacred Germany" before he was shot, I liked how hiswords got to the firing squad. His last act of defiance was tellingthem that it was not Hitler's Germany.
August 14th, 2009
First off, I would like to say in the thriller, Valkyrie, Tom Cruise isthe worst casting decision in years. He is laughably bad, and makes itso the film is simply not thrilling. Second off, this is so, so, soboring. The whole cast just stand there looking bored. I think I sawsome of the cast members looking at their watches to see when they cango home so they don't have to be bored anymore. This is the story ofColonel Claus von Stauffenberg (Tom Cruise), a man determined on takingdown Hitler. He has a trusty crew of army men by his side. As thrillingas this all sounds, it is extremely boring, and laughably bad. It'salso extremely clichéd. Yet another Hitler's evil movie. We all knowHitler is evil, we don't need yet another movie to remind us of that.Tom Cruise should have been buried alive before taking this role, andyet, the one actor no one, and I mean no one takes seriously, theyinstead decide to cast as a man bent on taking down Hitler. This is noteven mildly satisfying. There is nothing going on in here, it's justsimply boring, nothing else.
August 15th, 2009
Well, this movie was a bit of a disappointment. It had all of the rightingredients in it needed to make a great and interesting movie with butyet it really wasn't one. It had Tom Cruise, Bryan Singer as director,a fascinating and a based on true events story but the movie just madesome wrong choices in the process.
The movie really isn't handling its story very well. Instead of tellingthe story honest and with respect it tells it spectacular andoverblown. The movie is too Hollywood-like for its story and the realstory and characters deserved a better treatment.
But even so, the movie is trying to be Hollywood-like, it yet doesn'teven fully succeed in this neither. The movie just isn't spectacularenough to watch for this. There aren't any big shoot-outs or aspectacular ending in which everything reaches a conclusion. Thereoften is more talking than action, so I actually have no clue at whichaudiences they were aiming. Singer made the same mistake before with"Superman Returns".
The movie also made a bad choice with its casting. Nothing wrong withTom Cruise in his role, even though its also far from his mostmemorable one but casting some very British actors in some very Germanroles was simply a horrible choice. The accents did really bother andit was often quite laughable hearing a high placed German commandertalking with a very thick British accent. Especially Hitler's voicereally bothered me. Sure, the actor that played him (David Bamber)looked well enough like him but he sounded absolutely nothing like himat all. For all I cared they should had called in something to dub hisvoice but they didn't even bothered with it. It's a shame that mostactors feel so out of place within this movie, since the movie doescertainly feature some great actors in it, such as of course Tom Cruisebut also Bill Nighy, Kenneth Branagh, Tom Wilkinson, Terence Stamp andThomas Kretschmann, among many others.
It's of course a good looking movie and it's also put togetherprofessionally with its directing, editing, cinematography, music andsuch and it also certainly wasn't a cheap movie to make but this simplydoes not make the movie better or more interesting to watch. It justprevents it from being a total disaster to watch and gives the moviemore than enough to still consider this simply a watchable one.
6/10
August 18th, 2009
Phil's Quick Capsule Review: Teaming Singer & Cruise should always haveled to something special and whilst Valkyrie isn't quite that, it ispretty damn good, even if you know the ending before you even put yourDVD in the machine. Don't believe the haters this is worth a watch….
IMDb Rating: 7/10
Best Bit: Blowing up Hitler
Buy, Rent or Borrow: Rent
If you liked this try: Usual Suspects (9/10); Schindler's List (9/10);Great Escape (9/10)
Phil Hobden For more reviews like this check out:
http://www.mod-life.net/modlife/index_ugly.htm