Tom Cruise in Valkyrie: War and Political Unrest
Why a Film About the Horrors of the Past is Still Relevant Today
Feb 9, 2009
In Valkyrie, Stauffenberg is portrayed by Tom Cruise, who gives what might be his best performance since Magnolia - almost a decade ago. Cruise is accompanied by a number of great supporting actors, including Kenneth Branagh, Bill Nighy, Eddie Izzard and, in an Oscar-nominated performance, Tom Wilkinson. (Although Wilkinson gives a fine performance, his role is quite brief and somewhat anti-climactic, which may lead some to wonder why they sympathetic Nighy wasn’t nominated instead.)
Valkyrie's Critical Response
Valkyrie’s generally impressive cast undoubtedly contributed to its relative commercial success, in spite of its many poor critical reviews. (The New York Times’ Manohla Dargis concludes her review with the assertion that “World War II has become the moviemakers gift that keeps on giving, whether you want it or not.”) But much of the negative press garnered by Valkyrie seems unduly harsh: the film includes emotionally-engaging characters, a thought-provoking plot, and a quick, tension-filled pace – what else could one ask of a political drama?
And Valkyrie has something else going for it as well: a set of political questions that are as timeless as they are rhetorical. And they seem particularly relevant in this day and age, since Americans are currently struggling with an unpopular war that was prompted and promoted by an increasingly unpopular head of state - now former head of state.
The Film's Political Implications
No, this is not to say that one can draw a direct comparison between George W. Bush and Hitler – to say such a thing would be irresponsibly hyperbolic. This is to say, however, that certain political problems are simply universal. There will always be people who are unhappy with the institution that is in power. This unhappiness may be more warranted at some times than others – it is safe to say that those living in Hitler’s Germany were certainly entitled to their displeasure, given the fact that the Fuhrer was, among other things, facilitating a massive and brutal genocide. But even when the circumstances are less extreme – as with America’s increasing sense of dissent against the administration of former President Bush – how much recourse exists for them? Americans are fortunate enough that they are able to vote for or against policies, for or against politicians, so it isn’t necessary to enact assassinations and military coups in order to affect change, thank goodness. But how many people were left feeling more and more impotent as Bush’s presidency dragged on? For that matter, how many people felt the same way after their candidate of choice, John McCain, was defeated last November?
That is why Valkyrie has the potential to really resonate with its viewers. As Stauffenberg, Cruise gives a tacit but affecting speech explaining that Germany should not have to be stained by the legacy of one man – in this case, one evil man. But even when the man (or woman) in charge is not evil per se, no one wants to be represented by a leader they disagree with, and no one wants their country to become part of that leader’s vision. No matter what political party one identifies with, everyone, at one time or another, has surely felt some degree – presumably, a lesser degree – of the desperation felt by Stauffenberg. Because of this fact, Valkyrie can be seen as more than a political thriller: it can be seen as a poignant commentary on the often-unhappy series of compromises that makes up modern politics.
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