Let's start by saying this: Valkyrie is not a great movie. Really, not in any way. There is no transcendent performance, no must-see scene, nothing about the movie itself that is truly memorable. That being said, it's still a damn good time and is worth a look.
Now, I must admit I have a certain affinity for Tom Cruise. And, more importantly, a seething hatred for Nazis. While I always enjoyed watching Indiana Jones kick their asses, my visceral hatred of the Nazis took root when I traveled to Germany a few years ago and went to Dachau, a concentration camp outside Munich. The evil was still palpable 60 years later, as was the rage that built up within me. Touring Dachau convinced me that the German people knew exactly what Hitler and the Nazis were doing and did nothing to stop it. Dachau was minutes outside of a town; surely the townspeople saw the smoke, the trains rolling in with new prisoners. How could they not? How could anyone stomach and, worse, support such a regime?
Of course, the reality is different from my gut reaction. Many German citizens were completely unaware of the atrocities being committed by their leaders, either through ignorance or delusion. Nazi propaganda was incredibly potent and effective. Could I really fault the German people for doing nothing, especially in light of what our country went through after September 11? Is it so hard to fathom that a people who had been utterly decimated by World War I and the subsequent Allied sanctions would place all their hope in a leader who seemed destined to lead Germany to greatness? The answer to these questions is difficult, but largely, "no." Believing you are able to stand up to evil is one thing. Actually doing it is quite another.
That's where Claus von Stauffenberg comes in. A Lieutenant Colonel in the German army, Stauffenberg loves his country but despises Hitler and Nazism. The film opens with Stauffenberg (Cruise, my boy) writing a letter detailing his plans to stop Hitler at any cost. He subsequently gets blown half to hell and loses an eye, two fingers, and his other hand. He is reassigned to a desk job in Berlin, where he comes into contact with other German elites and military officers who share his committment to removing Hitler and making peace with the Allies.
What follows is, quite naturally, a series of tense scenes depicting numerous attempts and failures, infighting, and close brushes with Hitler himself. Despite the fact that we know the outcome, director Bryan Singer is able to ratchet up the suspense and keep it there throughout. The daring plan to blow up Hitler and then regain control of the government by employing "Operation Valkyrie" is an incredible story, and Singer does a good job of bringing it to life. The cast is also very good, particularly Bill Nighy as General Olbricht, a man whose committment to the cause and his affinity for staying alive often come into conflict. All told, Valkyrie is an effective, if somewhat routine, thriller that keeps you entertained for most of the two hours you paid for.
The real tragedy of Valkyrie as a film is the missed opportunity to truly explore what it means to be both a patriot and traitor. The true life conspirtators were seen by most Germans, even twenty years after the war had ended, as traitors who deserved their fates. It cannot be denied that all the military officers involved directly violated an oath of loyalty they took to Adolph Hitler. The film, though, focuses mostly on the events in documentary fashion as opposed to explaining the characters' motives and delving more deeply into their personalities. Really, the film is populated with stock characters, each fulfilling their designated "historical thriller" role. That's fine, and it makes for a fun movie, but it doesn't resonate in the way that it could, and probably should.
Luckily, it at least got through to me that there were a great number of German men and women who opposed what was happening in their name and realized that Nazism was an abomination. It got me thinking about what I would do in a similar situation, and if I could even recognize it if it presented itself. And, I got my Tom Cruise fix the day after Christmas. Which was good. Right?
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