The Monuments Men

I have come to the conclusion that anything based on a true story, person or persons is a sure fire film with quality as its basis. Sometimes stories based on reality win out over those based in fiction, depending on their writing, directing and acting. As in the case of "The Monuments Men", it is compelling to take part in a story about a part of history that most people never knew existed.

Based on the true story of the greatest treasure hunt in history, this is an action drama focusing on an unlikely World War II platoon, tasked by FDR with going into Germany to rescue artistic masterpieces from Nazi thieves and returning them to their rightful owners. It would be an impossible mission: with the art trapped and hidden behind enemy lines, and with the German army under orders to destroy everything as the Reich fell, how could these guys--seven museum directors, curators, and art historians, all more familiar with Michelangelo than the M-1--possibly hope to succeed? But as the Monuments Men, James Granger (Matt Damon), Richard Campbell (Bill Murray), Walter Garfield (John Goodman), Jean Claude Clermont (Jean Dujardin), Donald Jefferies (Hugh Bonneville), Preston Savitz (Bob Balaban), Sam Epstein (Dimitri Leonidas), headed up by Frank Stokes (George Clooney), as they were called, found themselves in a race against time to avoid the destruction of a 1000 years of culture, they would risk their lives to protect and defend mankind's greatest achievements. James Granger also enlists help from a French woman, Claire Simone (Cate Blanchett), who reluctantly decides to help the American team after being shafted by the Nazis, to help in ways that surprise them.

Others to round out the cast are Justus von Dohnanyi as Viktor Stahl, Holger Handtke as Colonel Wegner, Michael Hofland as Priest (Claude), Zahary Baharov as Commander Elya, Michael Brandner as Dentist, and Sam Hazeldine as Colonel Langton.

The direction was done by the incomparable George Clooney (" Confessions of a Dangerous Mind" '02, "Good Night, and Good Luck" '05, "Leatherheads" '08, "The Ides of March" '11). This is yet another actor that has the incredible ability to direct as well as act as others in the biz have proven time and again. It was also tightly written by Clooney and his producing partner, Grant Heslov which was based on the book by Robert M. Edsel and Bret Witter. There have been many films made about the different aspects of WWII, but none about the Monuments Men--in fact, I had never heard of these guys during that war. So, for Clooney to take on this subject matter was a much needed part of history all should witness. This film isn't just about taking back art work and sculptures, it's more about sustaining a culture that involves people's lives throughout history that all people can learn from that's important. All told these guys ended up retrieving over 5 million artifacts during that time which is awe-inspiring.

I thought this would be a good film, but after viewing it, it exceeded my expectations. The cast was incredible and Clooney is such a talented filmmaker, and with his passion, it makes an already important topic that much more thought provoking.

Out of 4 Stars: 4                          Rated: PG-13                           118mins.