Valkyrie: Cruise Control
A Plot to Kill Hitler
By: Charles Giuliano - Dec 31, 2008
Valkyrie
Directed by Bryan Singer; Produced by Christopher McQuarrie, Bryan Singer, Hilbert Adler and Chris Lee; Written by, Christopher McQuarrie, Nathan Alexander; Cast: Tom Cruise (Claus von Stauffenberg), Kenneth Branagh (Major General Henning von Tresckow), Bill Nighy (General Friedrich Olbricht), Terence Stamp (General Ludwig Beck), Eddie Izzard (General Erich Fellgiebel), Tom Wilkerson (General Friedrich Fromm), David Bamber (Adolph Hitler). Running time 120 minutes. Budget $90 million.
Given the historical significance of the subject, and the controversy surrounding the "comeback" of Tom Cruise in a starring role as the badly injured Colonel Claus von Stauffenberg a participant in a failed attempt to assassinate Adolph Hitler, it was worthwhile seeing this film which was directed by Bryan Singer.
While grim and suspenseful the film, like the plot it focuses on, seemed doomed to fail from start to finish. Other than a few planes zooming here and there and snippets of action in North Africa that convey how von Stauffenberg came to loose a hand, two fingers and an eye, this is primarily a drama that might just as well have been a play rather than a movie. The plot often seems claustrophobic as it focuses on the psychodrama and motives of the inner circle of officers and politicians who conspire to kill Hitler. In a wild scheme Valkyrie, which Hitler himself signed off on, was a post assassination strategy to neutralize a potential coup. Its central purpose was to have the reserve army (of which von Stauffenberg was second in command) secure government buildings in Berlin, arrest the leaders of the SS, and install a new government.
There are so many ifs in the assassination scheme that it seemed all but impossible to pull off with less then absolute precision. Ultimately, it fails because of indecision and disastrous delays. Hitler survived the bombing because of last minute relocation from a concrete bunker, where the blast would surely killed all those in the staff meeting, to a nearby cottage. The explosion was largely absorbed by the heavy oak table under which it was placed. It was the last of some 20 known attempts to kill the Fuhrer. During the last moment of the fall of Berlin, nine months after the botched Valkyrie, he took his own life.
The elements were there to create a compelling film. There was quite wonderful casting and some superb performances in the cameo roles. Kenneth Branagh, once again suited up as a Nazi officer, was superb. The wonderful Tom Wilkerson brought depth and balance to the fence sitting General Friedrich Fromm who made it clear that he would join the coup only if it was absolutely certain that it had a chance to succeed. Bill Nighy (General Freidrich Olbricht) is almost farcical in his skittish uncertainty.
While much of the drama focuses on the vacillations and legitimate fears of the participants this is contrasted to the grim and precise, military disciple, character and resolve of Cruise as von Stauffenberg. Other than his unwavering loves of wife, family and Germany there are few nuances in his character that translates into impressive acting. He sails through this film in one gear: Cruise control.
The agenda of this performance, and its attempt to get his career back on track post Oprah, was to cast him against type. There is an uncanny physical resemblance between Cruise and the real life von Stauffenberg. But the historical character was an aristocrat and career officer. The role calls more for Erich von Stroheim in Jean Renoir's 1937 "Grand Illusion" than the action hero star of "Mission Impossible" minus a few body parts.
A fatal flaw of "Valkyrie" is that we are expected to assume knowing why these individuals plot to kill Hitler. Some 200 were brutally executed as a result of the botched coup including Field Marshall Erwin Rommel who was implicated but not depicted in this film. In consideration of his military accomplishments Rommel was respectfully left alone in a room with a revolver.
Just what is the motive of this plot? In hindsight it is self evident but in the context of the moment much more complex. There is an agenda to convey that there was resistance to the Nazis within Germany. But we get little sense of how these conspirators intended to create a better Germany. Their motive may have been as simple and obvious as to end the war with a negotiated peace rather than endure the ultimate unconditional surrender. There is a brief mention of the Holocaust, spoken by Cruise, but it is almost a throwaway line. The coup appeared to be more to end the madness and the rule of mongrels. This handful of soldiers and politicians aspired to empower the aristocracy of Germany. The plotters briefly discuss how they were an elite who had opted not to play decisive roles in the Third Reich. Until the moment of the conspiracy, however, they had worn the uniform and fought Hitler's war.
It is difficult to evaluate just what impact this performance will have in helping Tom Cruise to transition to the next phase of his career. The window is narrowing on roles which emphasize youth, energy, charm, looks and personality. This is the tipping point when leading men evolve into character roles. But it also requires maturity and depth as well as a superb grasp on the craft of acting. This role was too narrowly focused and one dimensional to answer those questions. There was no reversal or development of the character to provide an opportunity to demonstrate the nuances of fine acting.
At best this film and performance by Cruise may buy him some time. At a cost between $75 and $90 million this was a relatively low budget film. While hardly a box office hit the film should be able to break even and assure Cruise of other opportunities to take on mature roles. But, at mid career there is more intense competition for choice parts. Easing into middle age tends to level the playing field and diminish the wattage of star power. Maybe next time we will have a better idea of what the future holds for Cruise as an aging and tarnished movie star.