Valkyrie (Bryan Singer; 2009)

[criterionmaster]

Valkyrie script review
Source: Hollywood Saloon

The gents over at Filmick.com have posted a script review of Bryan Singer's upcoming historical drama VALKYRIE, starring Tom Cruise, in what will likely be a breakout role. The review is a favourable one and based on the script alone, this could be Singer's best film since THE USUAL SUSPECTS. I know a bunch of you are now saying "What?! Are you gonzos?! X2 was way better than THE USUAL SUSPECTS!" bur that isn't the point. Basically, this thing has the potential to be good, with Cruise playing Colonel Claus von Stauffenberg, one of the officers at the center of a plot to assassinate Adolf Hitler.

The review tells us that Cruise's character will be disfigured in the film, and that even though it's pegged as an ensemble piece, Cruise's character does indeed carry the film. Also, the reviewer believes this role can result in a possible Oscar push for Cruise, which is exciting since I've never seen anyone jump on the actual podium before. The review is more or less spoiler-free, which is rather inconsequential since it's based on a historical event, and you can essentially figure out what happens, but either way, you can check it out HERE. Let's hope this is a return to form for Singer, who burst onto the scene with smaller, more challenging films, and for Cruise as well, who burst onto the scene with wild eyes and spitfire. Cruise has the political thriller LIONS FOR LAMBS up next, and look for Singer to segue directly into the SUPERMAN sequel.

Extra Tidbit: Adolf Hitler died by his own hand on April 30th, 1945. So no, Cruise finally does not get his man.

End of Article.

[ie]

criterionmaster said:

Extra Tidbit: Adolf Hitler died by his own hand on April 30th, 1945. So no, Cruise finally does not get his man.

SPOILAR!!

[criterionmaster]

Branagh set for Singer's 'Valkyrie'
Actor joins Cruise in WWII drama
By Michael Fleming
Source: Variety

Kenneth Branagh will star with Tom Cruise in "Valkyrie," the Bryan Singer-directed WWII drama that shoots this summer for United Artists.

Branagh will play a German general who mentors Cruise's character and hatches a plan to assassinate Hitler. Christopher McQuarrie and Nathan Alexander scripted, based on a true story.

Singer and McQuarrie, who will produce, brought the project to Cruise and Paula Wagner in March; Cruise committed to star shortly thereafter. Project marked the second film to which UA committed and also the second in which Cruise is starring (he also toplines the Robert Redford-directed "Lions for Lambs").

Pic begins lensing July 19 in Berlin.

End of Article.

[criterionmaster]

Germany bans Cruise film shoot from military sites
By Louis Charbonneau
source: hollywood saloon

BERLIN (Reuters) - Germany has barred the makers of a movie about a plot to kill Adolf Hitler from filming at German military sites because its star Tom Cruise is a Scientologist, the Defense Ministry said on Monday.

Cruise, also one of the film's producers, is a member of the Church of Scientology which the German government does not recognize as a church. Berlin says it masquerades as a religion to make money, a charge Scientology leaders reject.

The U.S. actor has been cast as Colonel Claus von Stauffenberg, leader of the unsuccessful attempt to assassinate the Nazi dictator in July 1944 with a bomb hidden in a briefcase.

Defense Ministry spokesman Harald Kammerbauer said the film makers "will not be allowed to film at German military sites if Count Stauffenberg is played by Tom Cruise, who has publicly professed to being a member of the Scientology cult".

"In general, the Bundeswehr (German military) has a special interest in the serious and authentic portrayal of the events of July 20, 1944 and Stauffenberg's person," Kammerbauer said.

Cruise's publicists could not be reached for comment.

Stauffenberg had been deeply opposed to the n*z*s' treatment of the Jews and planted a briefcase bomb under a table near Hitler in his "Wolf's Lair" headquarters on July 20, 1944. The bomb went off but only wounded the Fuehrer.

The film, slated for a 2008 release and to be directed by Bryan Singer and co-starring Kenneth Branagh, is called "Valkyrie" after Operation Valkyrie, the plot's codename.

The main site of interest would be the "Bendlerblock" memorial inside the Defense Ministry complex in Berlin. This is where Stauffenberg and his co-conspirators hatched the plot and where he and his closest comrades were executed when it failed.

Kammerbauer said the ministry had not yet received official filming requests from the producers of "Valkyrie".

End of Article.

[criterionmaster]

Cruise Responds to German Filming Ban [/b]
source: hollywood saloon

Tom Cruise has vowed Scientology will have no impact on his portrayal of a legendary German assassin, after being banned from filming at the country's military bases because of his controversial beliefs. The actor is set to begin shooting Valkyrie in Germany this summer. In the film he plays Colonel Claus von Stauffenberg, leader of an unsuccessful plot to kill Adolf Hitler during World War II. However, permission to film scenes on genuine army sites has been denied by the country's Defense Ministry because Scientology is viewed as a "money-making cult" instead of legitimate church by the German government. However, Cruise is adamant his beliefs have nothing to do with characterization, and is desperate to shoot the movie on location in von Stauffenberg's homeland. His producing partner and United Artists CEO Paula Wagner says, "Aside from his obvious admiration of the man he is portraying, Mr. Cruise's personal beliefs have absolutely no bearing on the movie's plot, themes, or content. And even though we could shoot the movie anywhere in the world, we believe Germany is the only place we can truly do the story justice." Von Stauffenberg's briefcase bomb in 1944 only succeeded in wounding Hitler. He was executed by firing squad for the plot the next morning.

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[criterionmaster]

Germany Blasts Cruise Flick, Then Gives It $6.5 Million [/b]
source: hollywood saloon

In an action that appeared politically schizophrenic, the German Federal Film Fund agreed on Thursday to contribute $6.5 million to the funding of Tom Cruise's Valkyrie, just one day after the German Finance Ministry turned down an application by the production company to shoot key scenes of the film at a historic location. In the movie, Cruise plays Colonel Claus von Stauffenberg, who headed the so-called Generals' Plot to assassinate Hitler during World War II, but some German politicians -- and the son of von Stauffenberg -- have objected to Cruise portraying von Stauffenberg because of the actor's association with Scientology. A spokesperson for the film fund said Thursday that it granted the subsidy because "the criteria for the grant were fulfilled." Production is scheduled to begin in Berlin on July 18.

End of Article.