Truly a Mission:Impossible; Cruise acquits himself with a top-notch ensemble

Rating: 7/10 (6 January 2009)

VALKYRIE (2008) **1/2 Tom Cruise, Kenneth Branagh, Bill Nighy, Tom Wilkinson, Clarice van Houten, Thomas Kretschmann, Terence Stamp, Eddie Izzard, Kevin McNally. Based on the true story of the attempt to assassinate Adolf Hitler during WWII by a team of German officers led by Cruise's Colonel Claus von Stauffenberg, the historical thriller works for the most part despite the known outcome but the aftermath is quite telling in the long run. A stellar British ensemble lends able support while Bryan Singer's steadfast direction and the screenplay based by Singer's old "Usual Suspects" chum Christopher McQuarrie (and Nathan Alexander) provides just enough tension.