Some new shots of the Bryan Singer/ Tom Cruise WWII film, “Valkyrie” which hits theaters on December 26. Based on a true story, the film centers on a group of rogue Nazi officers who hatched a plot to kill Hitler and end WWII led by Tom Cruise’s Colonel Von Stauffenberg. Playing his colluding Nazi cohorts, including those aware of his actions, but afraid to report him are, Terrence Stamp, Bill Nighy, Kenneth Branahgh and Eddie Izard. The gorgeous Dutch actress Carice van Houten (“Black Book”) plays Cruise’s wife.
“Valkyrie” is written by Christopher McQuarrie and Nathan Alexander. McQuarrie wrote Singer’s breathrough film, “The Usual Suspects,” so we’re sure this is why the two of them re-teamed again, but we found the script to be mostly unremarkable and kind of convoluted mess near the end which is supposed to crescendo feverishly, but felt mostly anti-climactic. We all know that if a script is poor it doesn’t necessarily mean a poor film and vice versa, but it surely doesn’t help. Let’s hope their was another re-write before this thing went into production.
In a country in the grips of evil, in a police state where every move is being watched, in a world where justice and honor have been subverted, a group of men hidden inside the highest reaches of power decide to take action. Tom Cruise stars in the suspense film, VALKYRIE, based on the true story of Colonel Claus von Stauffenberg (CRUISE) and the daring and ingenious plot to eliminate one of the most evil tyrants the world has ever known. Director Bryan Singer (THE USUAL SUSPECTS, X-MEN, SUPERMAN RETURNS) re-teams with Academy Award®-winning USUAL SUSPECTS screenwriter Christopher McQuarrie to bring to life the story of the men who led the operation to assassinate Hitler. The film also stars an acclaimed cast including Kenneth Branagh, Bill Nighy, Tom Wilkinson, Carice van Houten, Thomas Kretschmann, Eddie Izzard, Christian Berkel and Terence Stamp.