A simplistic telling of an interesting story

Rating: 7/10 (12 September 2014)

I was interested in this film having recently seen a documentary about the actual events. I had no expectations so wasn't disappointed but felt that I had gone back in time - not to the war but back to the sixties when war films had lots of jolly music and there was no blood and gore. A touch of 'Where Eagles; Dare,' or Guns of Navarone. The heroes were all decent chaps and the Germans were all nasties. I enjoyed watching it, but it was like a kid's film. There was a hint of a love interest between Cate Blanchett's character and Mat Damon but it was rather ridiculous as the characters had no sexual chemistry at all. The other characters were all one dimensional and John Goodman trying to look sensitive involved him grimacing for most of the movie. I think maybe George Clooney should have left either the directing or the writing to someone else - perhaps he is trying to do too much.