History is a study of questions from the archive of mankind, and thus deserves complete unquestioned respect. I’ve seen a lot being written about “Valkyrie’ and so before I delve further, a little brief on the subject might help to set up the right note . As a researcher of WW-II History, I feel it’s a must. After all , the movie itself is based on these Historical facts-- the real life story of a few ’real’ men. Yes such men do appear at the watersheds of civilization
1942-44: Nazi Germany is in a precarious state. The Russian campaign is taxing the German armed forces brutally-- the Wehrmacht is collapsing at every theater. Spite of wise counsel from his Generals, Adolf Hitler commits one strategic blunder after another, thus pushing the nation to the brink of disaster. In the best interests of their country, several leading German officers and elites form a secret resistance network named the Kreisau Circle.Their mission is simple: Remove Hitler, call for truce, and save the German nation from catastrophe.
It was an elaborate and daring plan, painstakingly put in place over a couple of years and involved eliminating Hitler along with his key functionaries.The impetus was to cut off the brain of the system. Then simultaneously take control of the state machinery with the support of the reserve army. The operation was to act under the guise of a secret Directive issued by Hitler.
This Directive code named ’Valkyrie’ authorized a vast reserve army to take charge of Berlin in the event of a collapse. Incidentally Valkyrie, in German mythology is a winged war angel who flies over the battlefields & decides the fate of fallen warriors. This ’directive’ was just what the Kreisau circle needed to make their military coup a legal and valid one.
Colonel Von Stauffenberg-- a royalty and embittered War hero who had seen through Hitler’s follies & atrocities, is chosen to execute the most vital part of the mission: Eliminating Hitler. Being the Cheif of Staff of the "Valkyrie operation’, the Colonel has direct access to the Fuhrer. 20thJuly 1944: Stauffenberg arrives with a briefcase bomb at Hitler’s bunker “
The Wolf’s lair’ in Eastern Prussia. He even manages to place the bomb near Hitler and leave. By quirk of fate however the well hatched plot goes awry when Hitler and most of his entourage survive the blast. It becomes a rush against time.
Before the conspirators can take total control of the government, Hitler issues a broadcast stating he is still in command. This causes a mix reaction across the administration, and the nearly successful coup, after so much effort, falls apart by evening.
The conspirators, including the gallant Stauffenberg are arrested and executed. It makes for a very emotional experience to realize how destiny chose to desert ’a few good men’ during one of History’s most decisive moments. I guess that is History at its very tragic best.
This is Operation Valkyrie in History: The real life tragic & selfless tale of doomed Heroes. And this is precisely what the movie resurrects. **Salutes to Bryan Singer for a resurrection so perfect and so authentic, that it leaves you wondering whether you just took a ride back in time, to that fateful summer of 1944 .
* The storyline is flawless, tense and tragic, just as it happened some 65 years ago. The cast and screen play blends in perfectly.Tom Cruise resembles true life Stauffenberg and looks the part every inch of the way. This should go down as his best performance till date. Direction, sound and photography do ample justice-- as it should be-- as it were.
Most of the actors are from “The pirates of the Caribbean’ franchisee. The intensity they’ve put into their characters is just too real to be insulted by using the word ‘acting’. I saw history coming alive in Valkyrie—not a motion picture. Billy Nighy as the emotional General Olbricht, Kenneth Branagh as the dare devil General Von Trescow, Tom Wilkinson as the fidgety General Fromm, to the enigmatic mastermind Dr.Goerdeller played by McNally, or the committed sincere Colonel Mertz( Berkel)- they all have risen to the occasion of resurrecting the past.
It’s odd that some viewers should complain about the predictability of the movie. What are they talking about? The movie is recreating a lost episode of which we already know. We are happy to have it the way it was and that’s where “Valkyrie’ scores. It hits you with raw reality. Nor do I understand this silly brau ha ha about an actor’s religious beliefs and using that to downplay the movie.
Queer how the German Government and even Stauffenberg’s family has voiced displeasure about a non- Christian playing Stauffenberg. That tells you a lot in fact! Playing a role has little to do with the actor’s personal life. An actor should fit the bill with his appearance, acting and personality. Cruise as Claus Von Stauffenberg is perfect.
Equally unfair is this complaint that the movie is a boring monotonous squib under the garbs of Second World War. What were these aficionados expecting? FX, chainguns, sauce or distorted History eh? Be thankful for the factually solid presentation. Show respect. It doesn’t get any better than this. Either that or you caught the wrong movie.....
Verdict? A sterling quality movie that resurrects the past with splendid accuracy, essentially for those who know and respect History. Nothing more, nothing less. If you are looking for fancy frills and entertainment, this sure ain’t for you. History Buffs, run for it. Valkyrie is one of the best experiences I’ve had on celluloid.