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Based on actual events, a plot to assassinate Hitler is unfurled during the height of WWII.
Tom Cruise: Colonel Claus von Stauffenberg
The story of Valkyrie(2008) starts by giving us a haunting memoir of the Nazi oath of allegiance to Hitler, a token of total obedience to the Fuhrer, to Hitler. We are given the title transitioning from German to English.
Valkyrie opens with a Colonel Stauffenberg in a Nazi campaign of Africa, penning in a personal journal his thoughts about World War II, and how he feels Hitler is destroying Germany. Stauffenberg states he took an oath to swear allegiance to Hitler, an oath we were given in the beginning of the film layed on the Nazi flag, but our Colonel feels he owes more to Germany, the Fatherland, Sacred Germany. Shortly after, he enlists the help of a general played by Bernard Hill, in a relatively small part, he agrees, yet tragically the camp in Africa is attacked, the general killed, and Stauffenberg is badly hurt, losing his eye, his right hand, and two fingers from his left hand.
The Operation Valkyrie of the title, was a plan developed for the Reserve portion of the German Army and approved by Hitler himself. It was intended to be used in the event of a breakdown in law and order within Germany or the countries it occupied; A breakdown caused by Hitler's death or civil unrest. A group of officers who were a part of the German Resistance to Hitler, could see the way the war was heading, that Europe was the casualty of War and Germany after success in the beginning begins a spiraling descent into defeat, they plotted to kill Hitler and utilize an amended Operation Valkyrie for their own ends to take control of the nation after Hitler's death and to negotiate a truce with the Allies.
The plot was lead by Colonel Stauffenberg (Tom Cruise) whom was put in charge of Valkyrie and made Chief of Staff to General Fromm, after being badly injured fighting in N. Africa.
Tom Cruise manages to play a very typical Tom Cruise part; In which he is the main hero and the story indeed revolves around his character. Yet he manages to portray a certain passion and vibrancy in his efforts to bring to life a man from the pages of history.
Tom Wilkinson plays General Fromm, whom was commander of the Reserve Army, and the only person apart from Hitler who could put Operation Valkyrie into effect. Tom Wilkinson can play a tough talking, no nonsense character and with his General Fromm role he manages to sway with whoever holds the power. In this case Hitler surviving the attempt on his life shows that he remains loyal whereas if he hadn't he probably would of gone along with the plotters attempts of running the Country.
He ordered the execution of Stauffenberg and the other plotters but ironically was later executed in 1945. Other plotters included Colonel von Quirnheim (Christian Berkel), Lieutenant von Haeften (Jamie Parker), General Beck (Terence Stamp making a rare appearance as a good guy) and Fellgiebel (comedian Eddie Izzard – who is the most miscast Nazi.) Bill Nighy as General Friedrich Olbricht; I mean Bill Nighy playing a Nazi? Bryan Singer indeed does like a laugh in his casting decisions.
They all relatively excel with their roles and scripting, apart from under-used Branagh and camp Izzard. The location shooting is perfect, often using the real life settings in Germany (for instance the plotters are executed by firing squad in the courtyard of the real Bendlerstrasse.) The lack of German accents (widely commented on) is quite confusing sometimes and yet sometimes you forget this is supposedly happening in Germany.
In some ways the film also seems somewhat English at times with so many veteran Actors from the United Kingdom taking part which also may confuse depending on how you interpret the story and film's execution.
Thomas Kretschmann, Christian Berkel, and Carice van Houten at least give the film more of a European German feel aside from the other cast members.
As for David Bamber as Hitler; This is certainly a rather quiet version of the infamous leader of The Third Reich in comparison and relation to the masterful performance Bruno Ganz gave us in Downfall.
Overall, Valkyrie is a historical, accurate portrayal of a group willing to stand up against what they find to be corruption and decadence; a man whom sacrifices so much for his Country and one whom is willing to stand up to one he has sworn an oath to like many others. This film Bryan Singer has given us, works in ways historically bereft of storytelling, it clicks and it also gives us a tense thriller laced with intrigue and entertainment.
Great costumes, great locations, and great cinematography all give the project elevation in the cinematic stakes.
With Valkyrie we all know how it is going to end, but it's the journey up until that conclusion which makes the whole project so compelling.
8/10
