Director: Bryan Singer
Starring: Tom Cruise, Kenneth Branagh and Bill Nighy
‘A Captivating Classic’
Not many actors have made films making headlines news like Tom Cruise. Since his rise to fame in the 1990’s, Cruuse has been a beloved icon. Whether it’s spies enduring dangers, lawyers or soaring aviators, Cruise has portrayed many compelling characters. Arguably, Cruise’s best strength as an actor is his powerful commitment to his craft. He is one of those rare actors that has always put his life on the line by performing his own stunts. Even when he has suffered injuries, Cruise has never lost his passion for making memorable movies. An actor with a strong commitment toward his craft, Cruise has become an icon in entertainment. Although he’s best known for his role in the Mission Impossible series, Cruise has proven he can make engaging films in every single genre. Throughout his powerful career, Cruise has made several unforgettable movies that are absolutely worth talking about without any doubt.
I’m a huge fan of Cruise and adore all films that he has created in his career. However, “Valkyrie” is definitely his most underrated work. Released in 2008, Bryan Singer’s film offered a powerful portrait of Nazi Germany. Packed with captivating production, strong storytelling and phenomenal acting, it’s an engaging historical drama. At the centre of it all is an exceptional performance by Tom Cruise, who portrays a soldier that endures issues. Although “Valkyrie” is a captivating historical drama, it isn’t a flawless film. It’s unevenly paced, and builds to a conclusion without satisfying resolution. Nevertheless, it offers engaging entertainment for fans of historical dramas.
Set during World War II, “Valkyrie” tells the story of a Nazi solider that seeks to make his dreams come true. Tom Cruise portrays Col. Claus Von Stauffenberg, a Nazi officer with strong views against Hitler’s regimes. Unlike most the members in his Nazi regime, Stauffenberg has never been supportive of Adolf Hitler. Disgusted with his grim nation, Stauffenberg sets off on journeys to commit an assassination. Building a team of officers in the resistance, Stauffenberg endeavours to stop Hitler’s rein of violence. As all odds are stacked against his favour, Stauffenberg faces pressure to commit murder. Facing a dilemma, Stauffenberg questions devotion to a nation facing trauma.
Bryan Singer has always been fascinated by stories of Nazi Germany. A brilliant director, Singer has often made engaging films about Nazis facing disaster. His iconic movie “Apt Pupil” offered a riveting portrait of students fascinated by Nazi Germany with dreams to fulfill. With “Valkyrie”, however, Singer made his first historic drama. It was the director’s first attempt to capture the lives of Nazis in German history that rebelled against forces of authority but he succeeds. Using strong cinematography, Singer captures a soldier embarking on a journey to save his country. Inspired by Steven Spielberg’s “Schindler’s List”, Singer successfully uses montages to capture the hardships Nazi officers always face. For instance, montages enhance the team formation scene. During this intense scene, Col. Stauffenberg assembles a team to commit an assassination. Using riveting montages, Singer created a portrait of Nazi Germany that’s engaging. Montages are a tricky technique to use in most movies. As Barry Levinson’s “Rain Man” suggested, montages elevate films about autism. That being said, it works immensely. Using bold visuals, Singer captures tensions soldiers are facing.
Another admirable aspect of “Valkyrie” that merits appreciation is the production. From a technical perspective, it’s one of the finest historic dramas you will see. Evoking Roman Polanski’s “The Pianist”, Singer successfully uses costumes to capture tension that Nazi officers are facing. Throughout the film, the costumes worn by Col. Stauffenberg show his transformation into a Nazi commander. For instance, costumes elevate the meeting scene. During this intense scene, the Col. has a meeting with fellow Nazi commanders about Adolf Hitler. Using stunning costumes, Singer creates a portrait of Nazis which is compelling. Moreover, the musical score is magnificent. John Ottman’s music is key to the success of the movie. It gives the movie a tense atmosphere capturing the realities of warfare. Using strong production, Singer conveys tension faced by Nazi commanders on a mission.
Storytelling is one of the main reasons why “Valkyrie” is a historical drama which is compelling. The film is beautifully written, and successfully employs silence to convey hardship of Nazi commanders on a mission. Recalling Stanley Kramer’s “Judgement at Nuremberg”, Singer uses silence to capture struggles of individuals in a Nazi meeting. For instance, silence enhances the meeting of Nazi officers scene. During this intense scene, Col. Stauffenberg engages in intense meetings with Nazi commanders to discuss an assassination. Through silence, Singer created a portrait of Nazis that audiences can relate to. Silence is a tricky technique to use in movies. As Paul Thomas Anderson’s “Magnolia” claimed, silence often elevates movies about loss. Nevertheless, it works in this movie. Through a fantastic screenplay, Singer captives Nazis facing a painful price to pay.
One admires amazing performances.
Tom Cruise delivers one of his best career performances as Col. Stauffenberg. Cruise earned appreciation for playing aviators in action movies. With “Valkyrie”, however, he took on his most complex role. It isn’t easy to portray a historical Nazi officer seeking to change the course of history but he pulls it off successfully. This is the actor unlike you have ever seen him before: intense, strong and emotional in his most iconic role. With riveting expressions, he captures the angst, desperation and grief of a Nazi commander on a mission. It’s a powerful performance by one of the finest actors today.
While the film is mainly a strong showcase for Cruise, the supporting cast is also great and worthy of praise. Kenneth Branagh is brilliant, capturing the dilemma faced by a Nazi commander seeking to prevent crimes causing trauma. Bill Nighy is brilliant, and captures the authority of a Nazi officer that faced obstacles which terrify. Lastly, Tom Wilkinson merits appreciation. As a Nazi spy, he is unforgettable.
Although “Valkyrie” is a riveting historical drama, it isn’t a flawless film. If there’s a shortcoming to the movie, it lacks strong pacing. Singer’s decisions to incorporate romance subplots into the movie is bold but hinders the pacing. Due to this technique, scenes capturing Stauffenberg’s romantic affair aren’t as engaging as his decision to take part in grim warfare. As Joe Wright’s “Atonement” proved, romantic subplots elevate literary adaptations. Moreover, the movie lacks an engrossing ending. It’s an ambiguous conclusion without satisfying resolution. Therefore, “Valkyrie” can’t quite honour Nazi Germany.
Nevertheless, fans of Tom Cruise will enjoy “Valkyrie” and so would movie-goers that seek meaningful entertainment. A riveting historical drama, it honours an actor with charisma.
Nearly 20 years following the release of a classic movie about soldiers which seek to commit an assassination in Nazi Germany, it’s a riveting reminder of an actor that has built a lasting legacy through his abilities to portray compelling characters in memorable movies audiences love dearly.
4/5 stars
The Film Buff 