01-04-2009, 11:18 PM
At the theatre: Valkyrie
High production value (they got the uniforms correct and the JU88's look good) with a cast of well known actors in all parts, yet the film was, for me at least, not very engaging. This is not Downfall or The Wannsee Conference (the German film not the HBO one). Both of those films are more fascinating and more gut wrenching than Valkyrie.
One critic noted that the less you know about the history of the July 20 Plot the more you will enjoy the film, and I think that may be right. Certainly, knowing how the war ends adds some interesting aspects to watching the plotters and the loyalists maneuver for position.
Not a bad film but not a particularly noteworthy one either. The director did far more interesting work with The Usual Suspects, and most of the actors have done better work as well. (For fans of the HBO Rome series the actor who played the part of Pompey Magnus here plays Field Marshal Keitel.)
One surprise: in the film all the security at the Wolf's Lair compound is handled by the German Army -- I had always thought it was the responsibility of the Waffen-SS. Now the film makers have trumpeted their exhaustive research and quest for historical accuracy, so I can only assume that they are correct about these security arrangements...but I still have my doubts. Perhaps one of our knowledgeable Forum members can shed some light on this.
:wink:
Narukami
High production value (they got the uniforms correct and the JU88's look good) with a cast of well known actors in all parts, yet the film was, for me at least, not very engaging. This is not Downfall or The Wannsee Conference (the German film not the HBO one). Both of those films are more fascinating and more gut wrenching than Valkyrie.
One critic noted that the less you know about the history of the July 20 Plot the more you will enjoy the film, and I think that may be right. Certainly, knowing how the war ends adds some interesting aspects to watching the plotters and the loyalists maneuver for position.
Not a bad film but not a particularly noteworthy one either. The director did far more interesting work with The Usual Suspects, and most of the actors have done better work as well. (For fans of the HBO Rome series the actor who played the part of Pompey Magnus here plays Field Marshal Keitel.)
One surprise: in the film all the security at the Wolf's Lair compound is handled by the German Army -- I had always thought it was the responsibility of the Waffen-SS. Now the film makers have trumpeted their exhaustive research and quest for historical accuracy, so I can only assume that they are correct about these security arrangements...but I still have my doubts. Perhaps one of our knowledgeable Forum members can shed some light on this.
:wink:
Narukami
David Reinke
Burbank CA
Burbank CA
