Valkyrie is based on a the true story of a group of Nazi officers who opposed Hitler's murderous regime and made several attempts to kill him in the late stages of WWII.
The lead role sees Hollywood legend Tom Cruise stepping up to the plate and, once you get past the image of the all-American 'Top Gun' hero we are used to seeing, he fills the role quite well.
Cruise plays Count Claus von Stauffenberg, who rose to the level of lieutenant colonel in the German army but a man who came to believe the only way to protect his beloved country was to see Hitler removed from power.
And the only way to achieve this was to kill him.
The film is packed with an all-star British cast including Kenneth Branagh, Bill Nighy, Terence Stamp and Eddie Izzard who doesn't look to out of place amongst the A-listers on the big screen.
Directed by Usual Suspects legend Bryan Singer the film takes the form of a well constructed heist movie that keeps you on the edge of your seat right until the end despite knowing how the famous events unfold.
It is 1943, and after Stauffenberg loses his left eye and right hand during an Allied bombing raid he falls in with a group of similarly disillusioned soldiers hell bent on getting rid of their leader.
Cruise's character is at the center of several attempts on 'Der Fuhrer's' life, culminating in a final bombing plot that kills a roomful of his officers but only leaves Hitler slightly injured.
After continuing with the plan assuming their enemy is dead the tide suddenly turns on the group who are so close to achieving their goals and bringing an end to the war.
The plot is well planned and very well executed with only the infamous table leg coming to Hitler's rescue in what end-up being a good thriller of a film.
Put aside any history buffs feeling the need to point out the film's minor discrepancies from the original story and just enjoy the film.
Valkyrie does the heroic tale justice and ticks the boxes of a decent war film and thriller.
Put the film in the same bracket as: Guns of Navarone and The Score
Rating: An entertaining 7 out of 10
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Click Recommends: Valkyrie by Brian Singer (2008)
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