Eddie Izzard

Blu-Ray Review: Tom Cruise’s ‘Valkyrie’ a Disappointing Film, Excellent Blu-Ray

BrianTT — Thu, 28 May 2009 12:01:00 -0600

CHICAGO – The Blu-Ray release of “Valkyrie” is another case of a disappointing movie being elevated by an excellent home release. With its miscast lead and mediocre screenplay, “Valkyrie” was a near-miss in theaters, but the film looks and sounds great on Blu-Ray and comes accompanied by informative commentaries and featurettes. If you’re a fan, you won’t be disappointed.

Blu-Ray Rating: 3.5/5.0

As for the film itself, “Valkyrie” is about the incredible true story of Colonel Claus von Stauffenberg (Tom Cruise) and his ingenious assassination plot targeting Adolph Hitler. The film reenacts the daring operation designed to take out one of the most evil men in history. The film co-stars Kenneth Branagh, Bill Nighy, Tom Wilkinson, Terence Stamp, Eddie Izzard, and Carice von Houten.

Valkyrie was released on Blu-Ray on May 19th, 2009.
Photo credit: MGM

I stand by my theatrical review of “Valkyrie,” in which I wrote, “The supporting cast does their best, but Singer and his cinematographer, Newton Thomas Sigel, shoot nearly everything in extreme, claustrophobic close-up, never giving the audience the sensation that we know exactly what’s going on and what’s at stake. ”

“And writers Christopher McQuarrie & Nathan Alexander don’t provide nearly enough of a back story for any of their characters, as if filming a scene where von Stauffenberg writes an angry letter about Hitler and another where he’s injured in combat would be enough for us to get behind him as a lead. History makes it easy to support a lead trying to kill one of the most evil men in history, but imagine how much more effective “Valkyrie” would be if he was a fully, three-dimensional character of his very own.”

“If “Valkyrie” was just an action movie, the lack of back stories wouldn’t be a problem, but it’s not effective as a thrill ride either. Cruise and Singer take themselves way too seriously for that. Singer can’t just make a historical drama or an action adventure movie, he has to make the best of both that anyone has ever seen. There’s a self-seriousness to “Valkyrie” that sinks it. It’s ironic that a film about an attempt that had some pretty serious flaws feels like its creators made a few mistakes of their own.”

Having said (or re-said) all of that, “Valkyrie” undeniably looks and sounds great on Blu-Ray. The 1080P video transfer is crisp and clear and the 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio track is better-than-average for Fox.

Special features on “Valkyrie” include an informative and rare audio commentary from Tom Cruise himself with Singer and McQuarrie. It’s unusual to find a star of Cruise’s magnitude on a commentary track and that alone should be a nice enough special features for fans of the actor or the film.

Another commentary with just the writers - McQuarrie and Alexander - goes into more detail about the history of the film. The featurettes and documentaries are extensive and include “Reel Pieces with Tom Cruise and Bryan singer,” “The Valkyrie Legacy,” “The Journey to Valkyrie,” “The Road to Resistance,” “The African Front Sequence,” “Taking to the Air,” and “Recreating Berlin”. A digital copy of the film is also included.

‘Valkyrie’ is released by MGM Home Video and stars Tom Cruise, Tom Wilkinson, Bill Nighy, Eddie Izzard, Kenneth Branagh, Terence Stamp, and Carice van Houten. It was Christopher McQuarrie & Nathan Alexander and directed by Bryan Singer. The Blu-Ray and DVD were released on May 19th, 2009. It is rated PG-13.

By BRIAN TALLERICO
Content Director
HollywoodChicago.com
brian@hollywoodchicago.com

Bryan Singer’s ‘Valkyrie’ With Tom Cruise Mistakes Morose For Intense

BrianTT — Thu, 25 Dec 2008 09:07:04 -0700

CHICAGO – Tom Cruise can be a powerfully vibrant actor in the right material but he’s horrendously miscast in Bryan Singer’s “Valkyrie,” a casting decision amplified by poor direction that drains this true story of an assassination attempt on the life of Adolf Hitler of its inherent power.

Rating: 2.0/5.0

Tom Cruise can be a powerfully vibrant in the right material but he’s horrendously miscast in Bryan Singer’s “Valkyrie,” a casting decision amplified by poor direction that drains this true story of an assassination attempt on the life of Adolf Hitler of its inherent power.

When he’s in the right material, like his great work in “Magnolia,” “Minority Report,” “Born on the Fourth of July,” and “Rainman,” Cruise can be impossible to take your eyes off. He’s a generally underrated actor who has watched his off-screen antics steal the thunder from his actual talent.

Read Brian Tallerico’s full review of “Valkyrie” in our reviews section.

Having said that, he’s quite simply bad in “Valkyrie”. It’s arguably his worst performance. Cruise and Singer have mistaken being morose for being serious and have made a film that, consequently, ends up dull instead of intense. Cruise’s character needs to be the passionate lynchpin for one of the most infamous assassination attempts in world history, but the actor’s lack of on-screen resonance and Singer’s general weaknesses as a storyteller punch a hole in the potential of their story.

As World War II drew to a close, even officials close to Hitler knew that he was leading Germany and all of Europe down a very dangerous path. There were several attempts on his life. The most widespread and nearly effective attempt came in the summer of 1944 and was spearheaded by a recently-wounded soldier named Colonel Claus von Stauffenberg (Cruise).

Continuing reading for Brian Tallerico’s full “Valkyrie” review.

‘Valkyrie’ stars Tom Cruise, Tom Wilkinson, Bill Nighy, Eddie Izzard, Kenneth Branagh, Terence Stamp, and Carice van Houten. ‘Valkyrie,’ which was written by Christopher McQuarrie & Nathan Alexander and directed by Bryan Singer, opened in Chicago on December 25, 2008.

Slideshow: 13-Image Gallery For ‘Valkyrie’ With Tom Cruise, Kenneth Branagh, Tom Wilkinson

BrianTT — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 06:59:18 -0700

CHICAGO – This 13-image slideshow contains official press images for “Valkyrie,” which stars Tom Cruise, Kenneth Branagh, Bill Nighy, Tom Wilkinson, Carice van Houten, Thomas Kretschmann, Terence Stamp, and Eddie Izzard from director Bryan Singer. The film opens on Dec. 25, 2008.

“Valkyrie” is based on the actual events surrounding an assassination attempt on the life of Adolf Hitler during the height of World War II. The operation codenamed “Valkyrie” was carried out on July 20th, 1944. The blockbuster film opens on Thursday, December 25th, 2008.

You can click “Next” and “Previous” to scan through this slideshow or jump directly to individual photos with the captioned links below. All photos credited to United Artists.

Valkyrie01: Tom Cruise and director Bryan Singer on the set of Valkyrie.
Valkyrie02: Tom Cruise in Valkyrie.
Valkyrie03: Tom Cruise in Valkyrie.
Valkyrie04: Carice van Houten and Tom Cruise in Valkyrie.
Valkyrie05: Tom Cruise in Valkyrie.
Valkyrie06: Tom Cruise and Kenneth Branagh in Valkyrie.
Valkyrie07: Tom Cruise and Christian Berkel in Valkyrie.
Valkyrie08: Tom Cruise and director Bryan Singer on the set of Valkyrie.
Valkyrie09: Tom Cruise in Valkyrie.
Valkyrie10: Tom Cruise and Kenneth Branagh in Valkyrie.
Valkyrie11: Kenneth Branagh in Valkyrie
Valkyrie12: Eddie Izzard in Valkyrie.
Valkyrie_Final1Sheet: Final One-Sheet Poster.

By BRIAN TALLERICO
Staff Writer
HollywoodChicago.com
brian@hollywoodchicago.com

Packed With Picturesque Majesty, ‘The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian’ Fights Nobly For ‘PG’ Rating

HollywoodChicago.com — Fri, 16 May 2008 12:51:53 -0600

CHICAGO – For the life of me, I couldn’t exorcise it from my head. Amid all the splendor of such a picturesque film, this one question was like a gnat I couldn’t swat: “Is this really rated ‘PG’?” Indeed, “The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian” is rated “PG”. But that didn’t come without great scrutiny and much editing.

For starters, Walt Disney Pictures contractually required the filmmakers for the epic film to achieve a “PG” rating. The Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) granted it following a wide array of amendments.

For example, director Andrew Adamson (who also directed “The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe” in 2005, “Shrek 2” in 2004 and “Shrek” in 2001 and wrote “Shrek the Third” in 2007) changed a scene with a fallen helmet to make certain it didn’t contain a decapitated head, according to the Los Angeles Times on May 4, 2008.

Read Adam Fendelman’s full review of “The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian” in our reviews section.

View our full “The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian” image gallery.

After showing the film to young audiences and gauging their reactions, Adamson in fact made copious edits. Adamson said in a May 15, 2008 interview published on NarniaWeb.com:

“When you sit down and you’re watching it and you see the kids’ faces while making the film, you’re just making an attempt. You’re making it exciting. You’re doing all these things because you’re essentially making the film for yourself. When you start showing it to an audience, that then influences how you feel about the film.”

While the “PG” rating for the recently released “Speed Racer” felt more like an opportune financial decision, the rating for “The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian” instead felt an appropriate artistic decision. Props go to Disney and Adamson for pushing its importance.

Buy Posters at AllPosters.com

Despite “Troy”-like fight scenes, this was nothing like the ingenious bloodshed in “300” or the blood-spattering good time in “Gladiator”. In fact, aside from a dribble on a face or two here and there, there was no blood at all. As well, much of the brutality was implied.

Instead of swinging a sword and showing the final result, the film merely illuminated the intent without the follow through.

The decision didn’t detract from the purpose in the slightest, and along with making it more appropriate for younger audiences, it issued a renewed faith that Hollywood can spit out a money-generating product without having to spew gallons of blood and blow stuff up.

The MPAA says a “PG” film “should be investigated by parents before they let their younger children attend. The rating indicates … that parents may consider some material unsuitable for their children and parents should make that decision. There may be some profanity and some depictions of violence or brief nudity.”

Liam Neeson (the voice of the lion Aslan) along with Georgie Henley (right) in “The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian”.
Photo credit: IMDb

Ben Barnes as Prince Caspian in “The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian”.
Photo credit: IMDb

Read Adam Fendelman’s full “The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian” review.

John Cusack is Mad Scientist’s Hunchbacked Lab Assistant in Animated ‘Igor’; Poster Released

HollywoodChicago.com — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 19:49:25 -0600

CHICAGO – Chicago’s John Cusack will play a mad scientist’s hunchbacked lab assistant in the animated feature film “Igor” from The Weinstein Company. Igor’s greatest aspiration is to win a first-place prize at an annual evil science fair.

The film also features voice talent from Jay Leno, Arsenio Hall, Eddie Izzard, Molly Shannon, Steve Buscemi, John Cleese, Jennifer Coolidge and James Lipton (who plays himself). “Igor” is slated for release on Sept. 19, 2008. The official teaser poster for the film was released on Thursday and can be viewed below. Our interview with Cusack on the film “Grace is Gone” can be listened to here.

Teaser poster art for “Igor” with John Cusack from The Weinstein Company. View a high-resolution version here.
Image credit: The Weinstein Company

By ADAM FENDELMAN
Editor-in-Chief
HollywoodChicago.com
adam@hollywoodchicago.com