Disclosure: Its been 2years since I wrote anything more than bplans, and its time I revisit my writing skills. I know for a fact that I lost the edge, nevertheless better now than never :) Hence with the support of a friend, here I begin again with a movie review. Being my 1st review ever (I guess), I'll follow the traditional style of writing.
Thesis: The Monuments Men, a classic drama based on a true story, set in the backdrop of World War II in Nazi Germany, has all the elements one can expect from a biography. Led by George Clooney, its the story of a group of art lovers trying to save culture. Can this group who know more about music of Davids harp than battle-cries be able to face war for art? Does the death of any individual justify saving art? Is art more important or human life? This forms the basis of the story.
Plot Summary: Led by George Clooney, a group of seven (curators, art directors, historians) are tasked to retrieve/save art from Hitler camps and return to their rightful owners. The art stolen from all German invasions of Europe, is hid within German enemy lines, initially intended to be displayed in the private museum of Hitler; but with Germany losing the battle, the army is under orders to destroy the art. The platoon of seven historians and art enthusiasts set out to find the hideouts in Germany and retrieve the art racing against time from the invading Russians seeking to steal and locals Germans tasked to destroy it.
Analysis: Contemporary drama, with its share of witty one liners, death, war, Nazi atrocities. Directed, co-produced & led by George Clooney; all seven characters in the platoon get an equal share of performance. Inexperienced in war, but determined to save the art and return to rightful owners they depict far more resilient towards death than one would expect from a bunch of intellectuals. While the movie revolves around the story and with very little chance for intensity, every actor does his best. The direction and screen play are really the strong points. The movie rarely shows the German atrocities (there is one scene showing a bag full of gold teeth collected in invasions and maybe one or two more) and the focus remains on the story and on the art.
Conclusion: Though its not just another art heist movie, and has no unrealistic stunts and no heroes running and jumping on high roofs; the story does keep the audience engaged. However its very unlikely that it'll be a commercial success for its difficult for audience to connect with the characters unless they understand this one statement by the lead Frank Stokes (Clooney): "You can wipe out an entire generation, can burn their homes to ground and somehow they'll find their way back, but if you destroy their history, their achievements; its as if they never existed and this is what Hitler exactly wants".
Overall Rating: 3/5
Positives: Direction, screen play
Negatives: Not much scope for artists, predictable storyline
Thesis: The Monuments Men, a classic drama based on a true story, set in the backdrop of World War II in Nazi Germany, has all the elements one can expect from a biography. Led by George Clooney, its the story of a group of art lovers trying to save culture. Can this group who know more about music of Davids harp than battle-cries be able to face war for art? Does the death of any individual justify saving art? Is art more important or human life? This forms the basis of the story.
Plot Summary: Led by George Clooney, a group of seven (curators, art directors, historians) are tasked to retrieve/save art from Hitler camps and return to their rightful owners. The art stolen from all German invasions of Europe, is hid within German enemy lines, initially intended to be displayed in the private museum of Hitler; but with Germany losing the battle, the army is under orders to destroy the art. The platoon of seven historians and art enthusiasts set out to find the hideouts in Germany and retrieve the art racing against time from the invading Russians seeking to steal and locals Germans tasked to destroy it.
Analysis: Contemporary drama, with its share of witty one liners, death, war, Nazi atrocities. Directed, co-produced & led by George Clooney; all seven characters in the platoon get an equal share of performance. Inexperienced in war, but determined to save the art and return to rightful owners they depict far more resilient towards death than one would expect from a bunch of intellectuals. While the movie revolves around the story and with very little chance for intensity, every actor does his best. The direction and screen play are really the strong points. The movie rarely shows the German atrocities (there is one scene showing a bag full of gold teeth collected in invasions and maybe one or two more) and the focus remains on the story and on the art.
Conclusion: Though its not just another art heist movie, and has no unrealistic stunts and no heroes running and jumping on high roofs; the story does keep the audience engaged. However its very unlikely that it'll be a commercial success for its difficult for audience to connect with the characters unless they understand this one statement by the lead Frank Stokes (Clooney): "You can wipe out an entire generation, can burn their homes to ground and somehow they'll find their way back, but if you destroy their history, their achievements; its as if they never existed and this is what Hitler exactly wants".
Overall Rating: 3/5
Positives: Direction, screen play
Negatives: Not much scope for artists, predictable storyline
