Thoroughly suspenseful wartime thriller

Rating: 7/10 (29 November 2012)

Despite the fact that we all know the eventual outcome of this film, VALKYRIE turns out to be a great film, featuring great performances from an ensemble cast and a script that wrings maximum suspense out of the tense true story that it's based upon.
Tom Cruise might not be everybody's choice as a battle-scarred German officer desperate to do away with Hitler, but I liked his performance; he underplays it for the most part, as do the rest of the cast. Bill Nighy is career-best, doing away with the hammy mannerisms usually blighting his roles, and there are nice parts for Kenneth Branagh, Terence Stamp and even Eddie Izzard to get their teeth into. Yes, Carice van Houten is wasted but then you can't have everything.
One thing I was unsure about was this film's portrayal of Hitler, which was going to be tough after Bruno Gans did such a good job in DOWNFALL. When I realised ROME's David Bamber (an actor usually known for his comedic roles) was tackling the role, I wasn't sure what to think, but he acquits himself well with the part and is unrecognisable for the most part.
The film gradually builds suspense and tension despite the inevitability of the climax and never resorts to flashy special effects or action scenes to keep the viewers watching. That's why I recommend it: a resolutely old-fashioned slice of wartime thrills and Bryan Singer's best movie by far.