I saw this movie on Christmas Eve in a very packed city theatre and overall, although at times lacking details, the movie was good and I would recommend this movie for all viewers.

Good:
The plot, which, I’d have to say, turned out to be the movie’s biggest strength, is very intriguing. A 1944 assassination and coup attempt against Hitler and his Gestapo planned by some of his own soldiers, of which, a central figure is played by Tom Cruise.  It was the last of fifteen known assassination attempts against Hitler.  And that’s where I myself confess my own ignorance, as I had no idea that any of those organized attempts, with a considerable number of people involved, even took place.  Here, of course, I have to clarify and say, by his own soldiers’, that is. 

For the most part, I’d have to say the movie’s well researched and convincing and thus, makes it a fascinating viewing.  I was also very much intrigued by the what-if speculation on what would’ve/could’ve/might’ve happened if the attempt was successful.  The coup itself, in fact, sparked a bit of a debate among some of us after the movie.  The year’s 1944.  World War II is nine months away from being over. Germany is loosing.  Would nine months really make that much of a difference? It’s too late.  It’s simply too late.  Is it though?  Is it really too late? How can it be too late in a time where every minute/second mattered? 

So yeah, some of the other intriguing questions came up during and after the movie, along with the question of Germany’s socialism.  How it arose?  And why it arose?  And what it lead to at the end.  National socialism vs. fascism.  What is the difference?  Is there a difference? Then somehow, we also got on the topic of Russia.  And the regime there.  Was there communism there or socialism?  Difference between Stalin and Hitler?  Was there really one? 

Very good movie. Makes you think a lot. 

Not So Much:
I thought the movie lacked character developments, and precisely, the clarification of the motives of these Germans.  Who needs the motives, some might ask?  Just kill the bastard!  True, but we’re talking about German soldiers here.  We, as viewers, all want him dead, no doubt, but why do they?  Why do they want to eliminate their leader, who they so long and so loyally served?

The movie does start out with Stauffenberg, a German soldier, played by Tom Cruise, forswearing his loyalty to his leader and his country because of the murderous outrages Hitler has committed.  That was the only place, unless I missed something, the explanation was offered.  But because it’s so late in the war and the fact that Germany’s loosing, it’s still unclear what other motivations are driving Stauffenberg. And what about the other conspirators in the movie?  Nothing in the movie is mentioned about their motives. 

And last but not least, I’d like to briefly comment on Tom Cruise’s acting, and I will try to do it as nicely as I possibly can.  My New Year’s resolution: Be nice!  Squeezing my eyes tightly shut, here it goes:

I’m simply shocked and appalled.  I personally can’t even begin to understand how he was even chosen for that role.  He is a complete miscast as the German soldier.  And the acting! Oh My G-d, the acting!  It’s not that it’s bad… It is well, um, very bad.  I’m totally kidding.  Well, sort of.  It’s just he tends to overact like he does in most of his movies, making his character seem unbelievable.  What saved this movie, I think, was the fact that although he’s a key player in the operation, he actually shares the leading role with some of the others of more compelling performances.  I loved him in the movie, Jerry Maguire, though.  Two thumbs up for Tom Cruise!

And that’s all.