"Sehnt sich heiliges Lebhaftdeutschland" [Long live sacred Germany!]
"Feuer!"
As these quotations, or something like them, were drowned out by the roar of a firing squad on the night of July 20th, 1944, the life of Col. Claus von Stauffenberg, along with his plot to kill Adolph Hitler, were snuffed out.
'Valkyrie,' United Artist's newest release, and Tom Cruise's latest starring role, tells the story of Stauffenberg's involvement with the Resistance movement, his re-writing of the "Walküre" orders(from whence comes the film's title), and finally, the coup d'etat he and his colleagues launched against Hitler and the Nazi government in the Summer of 1944. It fulfills its mission with a surprising adherence to the true story.
With sterling performances from Cruise, Bill Nighy, Jamie Parker, Eddie Izzard, Terence Stamp and Carice van Houten, among others, edge-of-your-seat editing and score by John Ottman, solid directing by Bryan Singer, and a great screenplay by Christopher McQuarrie and Nathan Alexander, 'Valkyrie' is both an impressive piece of filmmaking and a powerful and moving story that makes you think.
Rated PG-13 for 'violence and brief strong language,' the film has more in the way of the former than the latter, however, due to the mostly bloodless violence that this film sports, the language may be more of a deterrent.
In tense moments, a few characters utter curses - a use or two each of "H---" and "D---," as well as one 'f' word, and God's name is interjected a few times. As far as language goes, if you can watch Secondhand Lions, you'll be able to handle Valkyrie.
As far as violence is concerned, in an early scene, Stauffenberg's division is attacked by Allied aircraft, during which Stauffenberg is wounded, (causing him the loss of his right hand, the third and fourth fingers from his left, and his left eye, as we later find out.) In the scene, explosions and machine-gun fire scatter troops and destroy tanks and trucks. The general with whom Stauffenberg has only just finished talking is seen lying dead. The scene ends with Stauffenberg lying in the sand after the truck he is attempting to flee in is shot up by a plane.
An air raid forces Stauffenberg and his family to retreat into other shelter.
A character cuts himself while shaving. Later, he asks to change and shows the man his collar which has a spot of blood on it.
Hitler and those with him at the briefing are subjected to a powerful explosion. One man is hurled out the window of the briefing hut by the blast.
Later, as the coup falls apart, and the orders that started it are terminated, the ringleaders are rounded up. Stauffenberg is hit in the arm during a brief shoot-out in a hall. One man asks for a pistol, "for personal reasons," he says. The preparations for these purposes are played out, though the actual shot is heard only as the camera cuts away. A man is hung. Another, (it's implied,) uses a grenade to kill himself. Still another is manhandled and dragged away by soldiers.
Four characters are shot by a firing squad.
All of the violence is, for the most part, bloodless. A lot of it is more implied than actually shown. An exception would be when Stauffenberg is hit in the arm, blood is shown dripping from the end of his sleeve.
Stauffenberg and his wife kiss several times, and in one scene, several women at the officer's club wear low-cut dresses.
A lot of characters smoke in the course of the film, and in a few scenes, strong drinks appear to be drunk by characters.
Let me level with you, this is not a feel good movie. You won't find many warm fluffies here. What you will find is a pretty solid and well-done portrayal of a little known true story. Although a thriller, this is not exactly an action movie, so it's very character- and dialog-driven. Even so, the film is never boring, and clips along at a fairly even pace. The characters are believable (beyond the fact that all the actors bear strong resemblances to the historical figures they play.)
In conclusion, I have to say that I liked this film, despite its tragic ending.
The end result is to ponder: what would you do in the same circumstances, whether the approach adopted by the July 20th plotters was really the correct approach, and why God spared Hitler's life so many times from assassination attempts? (There are said to have been at least 50 or more attempts on Hitler's life.)
"Feuer!"
As these quotations, or something like them, were drowned out by the roar of a firing squad on the night of July 20th, 1944, the life of Col. Claus von Stauffenberg, along with his plot to kill Adolph Hitler, were snuffed out.
'Valkyrie,' United Artist's newest release, and Tom Cruise's latest starring role, tells the story of Stauffenberg's involvement with the Resistance movement, his re-writing of the "Walküre" orders(from whence comes the film's title), and finally, the coup d'etat he and his colleagues launched against Hitler and the Nazi government in the Summer of 1944. It fulfills its mission with a surprising adherence to the true story.
With sterling performances from Cruise, Bill Nighy, Jamie Parker, Eddie Izzard, Terence Stamp and Carice van Houten, among others, edge-of-your-seat editing and score by John Ottman, solid directing by Bryan Singer, and a great screenplay by Christopher McQuarrie and Nathan Alexander, 'Valkyrie' is both an impressive piece of filmmaking and a powerful and moving story that makes you think.
Rated PG-13 for 'violence and brief strong language,' the film has more in the way of the former than the latter, however, due to the mostly bloodless violence that this film sports, the language may be more of a deterrent.
In tense moments, a few characters utter curses - a use or two each of "H---" and "D---," as well as one 'f' word, and God's name is interjected a few times. As far as language goes, if you can watch Secondhand Lions, you'll be able to handle Valkyrie.
As far as violence is concerned, in an early scene, Stauffenberg's division is attacked by Allied aircraft, during which Stauffenberg is wounded, (causing him the loss of his right hand, the third and fourth fingers from his left, and his left eye, as we later find out.) In the scene, explosions and machine-gun fire scatter troops and destroy tanks and trucks. The general with whom Stauffenberg has only just finished talking is seen lying dead. The scene ends with Stauffenberg lying in the sand after the truck he is attempting to flee in is shot up by a plane.
An air raid forces Stauffenberg and his family to retreat into other shelter.
A character cuts himself while shaving. Later, he asks to change and shows the man his collar which has a spot of blood on it.
Hitler and those with him at the briefing are subjected to a powerful explosion. One man is hurled out the window of the briefing hut by the blast.
Later, as the coup falls apart, and the orders that started it are terminated, the ringleaders are rounded up. Stauffenberg is hit in the arm during a brief shoot-out in a hall. One man asks for a pistol, "for personal reasons," he says. The preparations for these purposes are played out, though the actual shot is heard only as the camera cuts away. A man is hung. Another, (it's implied,) uses a grenade to kill himself. Still another is manhandled and dragged away by soldiers.
Four characters are shot by a firing squad.
All of the violence is, for the most part, bloodless. A lot of it is more implied than actually shown. An exception would be when Stauffenberg is hit in the arm, blood is shown dripping from the end of his sleeve.
Stauffenberg and his wife kiss several times, and in one scene, several women at the officer's club wear low-cut dresses.
A lot of characters smoke in the course of the film, and in a few scenes, strong drinks appear to be drunk by characters.
Let me level with you, this is not a feel good movie. You won't find many warm fluffies here. What you will find is a pretty solid and well-done portrayal of a little known true story. Although a thriller, this is not exactly an action movie, so it's very character- and dialog-driven. Even so, the film is never boring, and clips along at a fairly even pace. The characters are believable (beyond the fact that all the actors bear strong resemblances to the historical figures they play.)
In conclusion, I have to say that I liked this film, despite its tragic ending.
The end result is to ponder: what would you do in the same circumstances, whether the approach adopted by the July 20th plotters was really the correct approach, and why God spared Hitler's life so many times from assassination attempts? (There are said to have been at least 50 or more attempts on Hitler's life.)
2 comments:
Hi 2nd to One! It's johobbit from NarniaWeb. Just wanted to say how much I appreciate your review on Valkyrie. A couple of members from my family have seen it and found it to be excellent. Not an easy film to watch, to be sure. I still want to see it, and your review has encouraged me even more to do so.
Jo-Anna/johobbit :)
Thanks, Jo!
It was a great film, very well done as well as historically accurate for the most part. Knowing the story ahead of time makes it all the more tragic. I would say it's definitely worth watching, though.
Thanks for visitingm y blog!
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