VALKYRIE

Tom Cruise puts in a satisfactory performance, starring as Colonel Claus von Stauffenberg and is assisted by an extremely capable supporting cast (Kenneth Branagh, Bill Nighy and Terence Stamp). Together they execute director, Bryan Singer’s vision- a part American and English treatment of an infamous German event- the July 20, 1944 attempt to assassinate the ‘Führer,’ Adolf Hitler. One of fifteen known attempts on the tyrant’s life, it is initially a slow boil until the suspense-fueled execution of the final plan. And while the finished product is occasionally flawed due to the lack of exploration of added plot and character specifics (not to mention the surreal effect of hearing ‘patriotic’ Germans speaking in either American or English accents) it does ultimately offer a sound interpretation of an interesting, historic event. (Natalie Salvo)