As acting president of United Artists, Tom Cruise is not that different from his cameo role in Tropic Thunder. He controls the money that goes into his films, so to some extent Cruise has a powerful behind the scenes role in Valkyrie. This is Cruise granting director Bryan Singer an Erector Set to rebuild his image.
Based on a true story, Valkyrie follows Colonel Claus von Stauffenberg (Tom Cruise) as he masterminds an attempt to assassinate Adolph Hitler with the intentions of restoring peace to Europe. In a powerful opening sequence, it is revealed how director Singer uses spoken language. Our protagonist is completing a journal entry. German is heard with English subtitles. Toward the end of the entry, Cruise’s voice fades to English. From this point forward, all language is English. This was a brilliant move because it informs the audience that within the confines of Valkyrie, their world is German. The only real hiccup is that Cruise doesn’t speak with the German accent found in half the cast. Had everyone decided not to sound German, this wouldn’t have stuck out.
Having vented his feelings, Colonel Stauffenberg tries to negotiate a retreat for his troops by appealing to his superior officer. This is then broken up by a pair of P-51 Mustangs descending on the desert forces of Germany. Wounded in the conflict, Stauffenberg quickly becomes a sympathetic character. His wife (Carice van Houten) visits him in the hospital, where the toll of his injuries becomes apparent. An eye is lost, along with a hand and two more fingers. From this point forward Stauffenberg is relentless in principles.
Stauffenberg isn’t the only officer seeking to end Hitler’s Reich. There is actually a resistance consisting of army officials and politicians already at work. Major-General Henning von Tresckow (Kenneth Branagh) is tasked with finding another man for the job. This is where Staufenberg finds his niche and the meat of the plotting develops.
At first it was confusing keeping track of the roles played by the schemers. You hear someone is an inside guy, and have no idea why. Eventually this is forgivable since Singer (The Usual Suspects) is well versed in filling the audience in on the intricacies of a collaborative operation.
It doesn’t do to have Lt. Pete “Maverick” Mitchell in a film if there is going to be fake airplanes. Valkyrie delivers authentic vehicles. This is refreshing for anyone distracted by the efforts of filmmakers who find needless ways to overproduce lavish action. This is not an action-oriented spectacle, it is event driven, but the times that require stunt work are without a hitch.
I can’t whole-heartedly rave about a film grounded in history. Anyone versed will know the outcome before he/she purchases the ticket; still there is an air of suspense to be found. The mystique of Hitler’s deeds is part of what is going to drive ticket sales for Valkyrie. I know of many who will pass it up simply because it stars Tom Cruise, the man most now associate with Oprah’s furniture. Allow me to propose something. If you are a soul living in and age of acceptance and forgiveness, then step back and judge if a display of emotions is worthy of exile. ***
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