Movie Review: Valkyrie
Jan. 1st, 2009 09:47 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
qosI'm not a Tom Cruise fan.
I've never liked his smirking, smug personna.
When I list the actors I like, he's never on the list.
But damn it -- when I go to his movies I end up impressed.
(Please note: I haven't seen any of the Mission Impossible series.)
(Okay, and I turned off Jerry McGuire)
Wolfling and I went to see Valkyrie tonight, and I was riveted. In fact, I spent the last half hour or so with my hands tightly clasped up near my lips as the consequences of plans, chance, and decisions began to play out. I ended up caring deeply about von Stauffenberg and his allies.
I thought the production design was excellent, the performances quite good overall, and the pacing excellent. I was swept up in the drama and probably would have sat through the credits just to absorb it all if Wolfling hadn't been so ready to leave. (She thought it was quite good as well, but it didn't move her as deeply as it did me -- and she usually gets bored with straight drama.)
I strongly recommend this movie if you like conspiracy stories, history, or edge of your seat drama. There is only a little bit of violence (the opening scenes include an airstrike against ground troops), almost no bad langage, and no nudity or sexual situations. It's a fascinating story about men who risked everything to liberate their country not just from the madness of Hitler, but to redeem its honor in the eyes of the world.
I've never liked his smirking, smug personna.
When I list the actors I like, he's never on the list.
But damn it -- when I go to his movies I end up impressed.
(Please note: I haven't seen any of the Mission Impossible series.)
(Okay, and I turned off Jerry McGuire)
Wolfling and I went to see Valkyrie tonight, and I was riveted. In fact, I spent the last half hour or so with my hands tightly clasped up near my lips as the consequences of plans, chance, and decisions began to play out. I ended up caring deeply about von Stauffenberg and his allies.
I thought the production design was excellent, the performances quite good overall, and the pacing excellent. I was swept up in the drama and probably would have sat through the credits just to absorb it all if Wolfling hadn't been so ready to leave. (She thought it was quite good as well, but it didn't move her as deeply as it did me -- and she usually gets bored with straight drama.)
I strongly recommend this movie if you like conspiracy stories, history, or edge of your seat drama. There is only a little bit of violence (the opening scenes include an airstrike against ground troops), almost no bad langage, and no nudity or sexual situations. It's a fascinating story about men who risked everything to liberate their country not just from the madness of Hitler, but to redeem its honor in the eyes of the world.
