Just saw Valkyrie. My Review.

[soundmotor]

Cruise did just fine in Minority Report, Vanilla Sky, & Last Samurai, and then there is everything else.

[Jack Lord]

Now let's be fair about old Tom- Born on the Fourth of July was close to an Oscar caliber performance. When he sets his mind to it, he can get it done. Risky Business was not so bad either.

As for Germans making this film, they have already. There are at least 2 versions that were made in Germany. But the German film industry is not Hollywood. I would like to see those versions, but I would be skeptical as von Stauffenberg is revered as a hero there, for obvious reasons, but his motives might not have been completely benign. Why did he wait so long? I mean, didn't a good read of Mein Kampf tip everyone off? If not, invading Poland surely was a warning sign. I digress...


Easy for me to say, but one of those guys should have walked right up to Hitler and emptied a clip into his head.

I guess I should see this film.....

Und Similost mein Freund, Hogans' Heroes had decent German accents because those actors were actually Germans for the most part.

[similost]

Hey Charles, Grille is going tomorrow too..

[soundmotor]

Originally Posted by Jack Lord

Now let's be fair about old Tom- Born on the Fourth of July was close to an Oscar caliber performance. When he sets his mind to it, he can get it done. Risky Business was not so bad either.

Have not seen the first & forgot about the second.

Thinking about "Taps" I did like the scene with the M60 -

"This is beautiful man, just beautiful!"

[WhiteSE]

I just want to know if they glorified the guy or not...even though he wanted Hitler gone, he was douche bag nazi.

[guiller]

Originally Posted by soundmotor

Cruise did just fine in Vanilla Sky

"Vanilla Sky" is a remake of the spanish film "Abre los ojos" (open your eyes) from the spanish (born in Chile) director Alejandro Amenabar

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abre_los_ojos

In my opinion, the original film is much better.

By the way, the first film of Amenabar, "Tesis" (Thesis) is a great thriller:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tesis

All the best

[Pyrrho]

Originally Posted by WhiteSE

I just want to know if they glorified the guy or not...even though he wanted Hitler gone, he was douche bag nazi.

You are misinformed. He never joined the Nazi Party:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Claus_S...n_Stauffenberg

So he was not a Nazi at all.

[dread31]

Originally Posted by tentoze

It's a fecking Tom Cruise movie- you wanted substance????

Met Tom Cruise when they were filming "Topgun". My squadron (VF-21) shared hangar space with the real Topgun squadron in Hangar 1 at NAS Miramar, San Diego in the early '80s.

You're right, 'Toze. He's a conceited superficial jackass, IMHO.

However, the subject matter intrigues me, being a WWII buff.
So I think I may go check it out. If I can stand 2 1/2 hours of
Cruises prettyboy primadonna bull**it, that is.

T.C. fans; It's just my opinion, so don't get your panties in a bunch.

Dave

[reggaenaut]

German accent not neccessary. Check James Mason as Rommel in an old black and white; I believe "Desert Rats".
I have not seen the Valkyrie movie, but it appears that Tom's PR issues has worked against him.

[Arkay]

Originally Posted by Jack Lord

And Similost mein Freund, Hogans' Heroes had decent German accents because those actors were actually Germans for the most part.

Ja, das stimmt! ...although sometimes the accent was laid on a little thick, for dramatic effect. Great show, as were Das Boot und auch Downfall. German cinema may not have all the special effects of Hollyweird, but they sure can tell a riveting story when they want to!

I suppose I will see Valkyrie... probably after it comes out on DVD.

[getright99]

[QUOTE=Jack Lord;2352217]Now let's be fair about old Tom- Born on the Fourth of July was close to an Oscar caliber performance. When he sets his mind to it, he can get it done.


was it tom cruise or oliver stone? i think the movie itself was oscar grade, i think anyone could have played that role well given that it was an oliver stone flick. his stuff seems actorproof, just my opinion.

[WhiteSE]

[QUOTE=getrigt99;2358497]

Originally Posted by Jack Lord

Now let's be fair about old Tom- Born on the Fourth of July was close to an Oscar caliber performance. When he sets his mind to it, he can get it done.


was it tom cruise or oliver stone? i think the movie itself was oscar grade, i think anyone could have played that role well given that it was an oliver stone flick. his stuff seems actorproof, just my opinion.

Even Keanu Reeves????

[getright99]

[QUOTE=WhiteSE;2358529]

Originally Posted by getrigt99

Even Keanu Reeves????

i meant actual actors, sorry should have specified.

[dew042]

Nothing says "Christmas" like a nazi film.

dew.

[Jack Lord]

was it tom cruise or oliver stone? i think the movie itself was oscar grade, i think anyone could have played that role well given that it was an oliver stone flick. his stuff seems actorproof, just my opinion.

I reckon it was both. One of the director's many tasks is to coax the best performance possible out of the actor. But the actor still must deliver.

Playing the role of Ron Kovic required a lot of transitions: From walking to wheelchair. From gung ho Marine to radical anti-war activist. It also required an unusually large array of emotions- patriotism, puppy love, courage, recklessness, anger, extreme despair and hopelessness and finally a redemption of sorts.

A bad actor could not have done the job. Cruise really reached in to himself and pulled it off. Nobody can watch that performance and tell me it was not exceptional. What's a shame is that it may well have been his apex, although as he ages, he may have to find more roles with depth as action roles diminish.