Valkyrie flies high

Rating: 7/10 (25 May 2014)

It is no small feat on the part of director Bryan Singer and screenwriter Christopher McQuarrie that 'Valkyrie' manages to keep increasing the tension as it goes despite the fact that the audience already know the outcome.
'Valkyrie' is artfully directed and beautifully shot. The costumes look authentic, and it eschews CGI cheats in favor of the real thing. Planes are real. Buildings are real. As a result, you become immersed in this place and time.
The cast is uniformly excellent. Cruise and the bulk of the non-German actors wisely avoid attempting accents. The anachronistic result takes some getting used to, but ultimately I believe it allows them to concentrate solely on their performance.
If you're looking for a taught thriller, and a bit of a history lesson, 'Valkyrie' is a film you must watch.