I Saw the Blast

Rating: 6/10 (27 December 2008)

Greetings again from the darkness. Things aren't always as they seem. Colonel Claus von Sauffenberg is convinced he has succeeded in his mission and proceeds to carry out the plan. The really interesting piece is how quickly so many jumped in to assist. There was an entire segment of the German population that did not buy into the Nazi propaganda.
Directed by the great Bryan Singer (The Usual Suspects), the film shows us one of the 15 reported assassination attempts on Adolph Hitler. The film is beautifully shot and flows very well. My two issues with the film are the difficulty in believing this small group of outcasts could pull this off, and the site of Tom Cruise in nearly every scene.
Hard to imagine this film gathering much of a following given the star and the subject matter plus the fact that it is only enjoyable to watch from a technical aspect. The supporting cast is pretty strong and especially good are Tom Wilkinson and Thomas Kretschmann.
If this subject matter appeals to you, I would highly recommend the outstanding film "Downfall". While Valkyrie is somewhat interesting, that film is downright fascinating.