Friday, August 14, 2009

Valkyrie


Here is another film that I have been delaying watching for only one single reason: Tom Cruise, as I believe he’s an acceptable action movie star but when it comes to dramatic performances he is on the bad side of the spectrum. Still, I knew I was going to watch this movie because the casting was great and well, I was right as performances by Kenneth Branagh, Bill Nighy, Tom Wilkinson, Terence Stamp, Carice van Houten (remember her in the great also WWII Black Book?), and Eddie Izzard were good, so good that made Cruise’s performance look really mediocre.

If you know your World History you will be familiar with the story about one (of fifteen) failed attempt to kill Hitler and the coup d’état that almost was but was not. So the value of this film for many will not be the “History lesson” and will be watching good actors performing and hopefully a director developing a thriller film that entertain viewers.

In my opinion the first three quarters of the movie are not that thrilling, but you will enjoy the actor’s performances (sans Cruise). Is only in the last quarter where the movie becomes exciting and thrilling even if you know the outcome, as the director was able to up the tempo and “finally” engage viewers into the action and story.

I imagine that if you are not familiar with this piece of History you will probably enjoy the movie a little bit more as the story has not many “entertaining” creative licenses and tells History as best as a Hollywood studio movie can.

If you’re in the mood for a WWII story about those that did not agree with what Hitler’s government was doing, then perhaps you should give it a try especially if you enjoy watching good performances by great European actors.

Enjoy!

Watch trailer @ Movie On Companion

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