Cruise's Anti-Hero.

Rating: 9/10 (21 April 2016)

Valkyrie (2008): Dir: Bryan Singer / Cast: Tom Cruise, Kenneth Branaugh, Tom Wilkinson, Bill Nighy, Terence Stamp: Powerful war thriller about a failed attempt to assassinate Adolf Hitler and the risk several Germens including Colonel Claus von Stauffenberg take in overseeing that operation Valkyrie succeed. Director Bryan Singer hits high notes on tension as hopes are shattered. This is a far more successful addressing of the Nazi theme than Apt Pupil, which came off as juvenile. He also directed the X-Men films as well as Superman Returns. Great performance from Tom Cruise as Stauffenberg who believed Germany needed saving from certain political death. Cruise has been successful portraying a variety of different roles and this is a terrific shot at playing a fighter against a dictator of his own country. We know that his plan doesn't work since history already states how Hitler came to end, but Stauffenberg faces the consequences, which are fatal and final. In strong supporting roles are Kenneth Branagh, Tom Wilkinson, Terence Stamp, and Bill Nighy who all appear as generals. It is typecasting to the extremes, but also within the best case for it. While Singer is celebrated for superhero films, this easily counters to another audience. The film stresses that there were Germens fighting against Hitler's insane war and desired to repair Germany. In this case the wrong guy died for the right cause. Score: 9 / 10