Via Jonathan Last, an interview with Christopher McQuarrie, screenwriter of “Valkyrie” (which I have not seen, although I think I can guess how it ends). A lot of interesting stuff; I liked this:
Q. … Saw “Valkyrie” and really enjoyed it. What struck me was that the film is a throwback to a time before “Saving Private Ryan” — when movies about World War II didn’t have to be Big Important Statements and could just be thrillers.
A. Thank you. What we’ve been trying to get across — and what the criticism of the film seems to be — is that we had the audacity to make a World War II movie that wasn’t “important” — as in, a giant statement about war. I mean, what more do you need than a bunch of Germans trying to kill Hitler? Isn’t that all kind of obvious — do they really need to be sitting around talking about their objection to war?
I haven’t seen it, but the one thing that stands out to me is that, no matter how much they may not like him, people are crazy if they ignore all the evidence that Tom Cruise knows what he’s doing when it comes to making movies.
Maybe Hollywood is starting to realize that who go to movies to be entertained, not to have politics shoved down our throats.
I like movies, my sister likes films. The problem with Valkyrie is that the guys who finally tried to take Hitler out, well, of all places, the best line is from the otherwise insulting and putrid Hogan’s Heroes. Where they were helping a Nazi general do the same thing: take out Hitler. And Hogan then said, “It’s the least you could do, considering….”
“Considering what Colonel?”
“Considering you were the guys who put him there in the first place.”
I have not seen the moive and probably won’t My objection is why make a movie about some guys who FAILED to kil Hitler? The screwed up! No glory in that. Silly idea for a movie.