Fascinatingly Accurate - In More Ways Than One

Rating: 8/10 (22 February 2009)

Most people are familiar with the assassination attempts on Hitler but few people know the details of what really happened. This film provides an accurate, not to mention entertaining, glimpse into history and details what really went on. The accuracy of the film is one of the main things to commend it for. Some of the locations in the film are the actual locations where the events took place which brings so much immediacy to the film. Even the sets which were copied or created look startlingly authentic. The level of set design is astonishing. There are so many small details and colours. It wasn't nominated for an Oscar but thrillers hardly ever get nominated because of the narrow mindedness of the academy, and who cares about awards anyway.
Another great thing about this marvellous film, is the acting. Rarely is such a meaty ensemble cast assembled. Tom Cruise, Bill Nighy, Kenneth Branagh, Tom Wilkinson, Terence Stamp and many more are some of the finest actors around today. There is only one principle female actor but it's a military story so one should expect this. Tom Cruise especially stands out (well of course, he's the lead actor) in a thrillingly nuanced role. Unfortunately though, the decision was made for all the actors to speak in their own accents, which marrs the authenticity slightly. Despite the opening being in German and cleverly turning into English, it is still a bit annoying that they don't do German accents. Some speak with an English accent, some American and some German. Aside from that, one has to realise it would be the first major Hollywood picture full of stars to speak with a German accent. And if they all spoke with German accents there would have inevitably been some very awkward accents and it would have brought down the acting quality.
The key theme the film explores is about making a difficult choice. One of the Nazi staff has a very telling line in which he says "We cant be neutral any longer and when we make a choice we've got to come down on the right side". Bryan Singer constructs a fascinating portrayal of this very human dilemma and the film shows all the anguish and indecision and consequences of choices like these.
Even though we know how the story ends it doesn't stop Singer being very successful in pile-ling on the suspense. The tension is electrifying as Stauffenberg plants the bomb and hurriedly tries to make an escape. You really suspend your disbelief and hope the assassination will work. You desperately hope it will be successful even though you know it wont. And one just has to sit and watch the achingly beautiful climax.