Valkyrie

Tom Cruise used to be a universally adored global superstar. He was Hollywood’s golden leading man. Unfortunately, in recent years that image has been tarnished by bizarre behaviour and his highly publicised association with the Church of Scientology. Perhaps in an effort to recapture his former popularity, Cruise’s latest film finds him fighting against the most despised of all history’s evils, the Nazis.

Directed by ‘X-men’ and ‘the Usual Suspects’ wonder-kid Bryan Singer, ‘Valkyrie’ is a film about the last of many attempts by Germans to assassinate Adolf Hitler during World War II. It’s an important story to be told, but one rarely seen on American screens. It’s too often forgotten that even at the height of Hitler’s power there were many German people who risked and ultimately gave their lives fighting against him. Whether or not it’s a subject more suited to documentary than dramatisation is a matter of debate.

Cruise remains a compelling leading man and he’s surrounded here by a cast of skilled (mostly British) character actors. However, even this laudable ensemble cast can’t breathe tension into a film which is fundamentally misconceived as a suspense thriller. The problem is that anyone with the most basic knowledge of world history knows that Hitler was not assassinated. With absolute historic certainty we know that their plans must fail. ‘Will they, won’t they’ excitement is instead replaced by a grim inevitability which makes the film difficult to watch at times. As an audience it’s hard to allow yourself to emotionally invest in characters doomed to failure and death.

‘Valkyrie’ is lucky to be able to rely on actors like Bill Nighy , Tom Wilkinson and Cruise to bring a credible intensity to its drama. It won’t bother global audiences, but British viewers may find it a little odd to see former transvestite comedian Eddy Izzard manning Hitler’s telephone switchboard. However, having worked to established himself as actor for some time, it’s easier to accept him amongst a sombre cast than you may think. Bryan Singer could not have hoped for a better collection of acting talent to demand respect and attention from an audience.

Playing Colonel Claus Von Stauffenberg in ‘Valkyrie’ was actually a brave and surprising choice for Tom Cruise. His personal life may have affected audiences’ willingness to accept him as a hero, but this role is a very different type of challenge. From the Indiana Jones trilogy to Tarantino’s latest film ‘Inglourious Basterds’ , Nazi Germany has been relentlessly and justifiably demonized on the big screen. Portraying these German officers as men capable of honour and compassion sits a little uncomfortably with the reassuringly simple depiction of evil we’re used to. It’s simply impossible to see a man in a Nazi Uniform and ignore the horrific legacy it represents to mankind. This is yet another major hurdle to the film’s success.

There is a clear limit to how entertaining a film about such serious and tragic subject matter can be. However, any attempt to glamorize the story to fit the usual Hollywood action movie stereotypes would have been unwise. The film can’t hide from ugly truths and harsh realities, but at least it can aspire to educate its audience about them. Having taken $200 million at the box office it appears audiences do have an appetite for such an education. ‘Valkyrie’ is out on DVD and Blu-Ray now for those that still do...