- Film Review
- Reviewed By Alan Jones
-
3 out of 5
In 1944 a group of disillusioned German officers led by the aristocratic Claus von Stauffenberg hatched a plot to assassinate Adolf Hitler and forge a truce with the Allies. X-Men's Bryan Singer (working again with The Usual Suspects writer Christopher McQuarrie) turns this footnote in German history into a predictable wartime drama, which is somewhat overwhelmed by the sheer star power of Tom Cruise and by Singer's breakneck direction. Cruise is supported by the cream of British acting talent (including Kenneth Branagh, Terence Stamp and a top-notch Bill Nighy) as his co-conspirators. However, we learn nothing significant about Cruise's eye-patched hero, and character shading and subtlety is largely sacrificed in an attempt to ratchet up the suspense and keep the action epic. But if you can ignore the dodgy German-accented English (and the fact that the outcome is already known) and accept it as a straightforward B-movie assassination thriller, then Valkyrie is a reasonably satisfying effort.
Plot Summary
Second World War drama based on a true story, starring Tom Cruise. As Germany continues to fight a seemingly unwinnable war, dissent begins to grow against Hitler among his senior politicians and high-ranking military officers. It falls to decorated hero Colonel Claus von Stauffenberg to lead a plot to kill the Führer and seize control of Berlin.
Cast and crew
Cast
- Claus von Stauffenberg
- Tom Cruise
- Henning von Tresckow
- Kenneth Branagh
- Friedrich Olbricht
- Bill Nighy
- Friedrich Fromm
- Tom Wilkinson
- Nina von Stauffenberg
- Carice van Houten
- Otto Ernst Remer
- Thomas Kretschmann
- Ludwig Beck
- Terence Stamp
- Erich Fellgiebel
- Eddie Izzard
- Adolf Hitler
- David Bamber
- Dr Carl Goerdeler
- Kevin McNally
- Erwin von Witzleben
- David Schofield
Crew
- Director
- Bryan Singer
- Share this episode
-