The Monuments Men

Rating: 6/10 (8 January 2015)

Well, I have to be honest in that this has a fascinating story about how a certain group of art historians/restorers were put together by Frank Stokes (George Clooney who also directed) and assigned to find stolen works of art (by the Nazis and Hitler) in Europe as the Germans are on the verge of losing the war. The Russians are also securing what works Stokes and company is unable to. Cate Blanchett is Claire Simone, a French Resistance spy working as an art specialist with the Nazis and her assistance is desired by Matt Damon's James Granger. She just might know where the Nazis are taking specific works of art, and Granger will have to earn her trust. What Frank and his group want to do is find and return the art works to where they belong or in a safe place not to be exploited or kept buried in caves or mines. German soldiers are still out and about, so the Monuments Men (their title) will need to be careful (two of the men will die due to enemy fire). What one of the men dies for (the Madonna) is significantly desired by Frank, motivated by the death because he doesn't want him to have given his life in vain. With a absolutely terrific supporting cast (Bill Murray, with his share of deadpan comedy scenes (including the easing of a young German soldier and speaking about the likelihood of a mine Damon stands on being a dud), John Goodman, The Artist's Jean Dujardin (who steals the picture from his American counterparts), Bob Balaban (who has some really fun scenes opposite Murray), and Dimitri Leonidas (as a helpful soldier who speaks German)), The Monuments Men should be a homerun, but it settles on being a double in the outfield. The leisure pace, a surprising lack of suspense, and distinct approach that focuses less on the horrors of war and avoids the ugly aspects (and atrocities) of what the Nazis had committed in favor of the attaining of the art works, The Monuments Men will have a small audience, I'm afraid, that will appreciate and like it. With the kind of cast this movie has, it should be a certified hit, but the film just doesn't really leap from the screen and grab you. Every scene fails to really generate that thrill and excitement of "the treasures hunt" although I did feel Clooney and his filmmaking team care deeply about what the film represents. All that said, I didn't dislike it, and it has some nice moments here and there, with the performances respectable and commendable (if not extraordinary, I must sadly admit). Dujardin's charm and Murray and Balaban's rapport are some pleasant ingredients in the film. I think the mission is never in doubt, removing a key bit of tension, however. The acting in the film remains as reserved and relaxed as the pacing of the film. The period is well created by Clooney and his filmmaking team. Again, not a bad movie, just not the knockout it perhaps should have been.