One doesn't need an O-Level in Modern History to learn that the 'real life' Operation Valkyrie failed, but nor should one write off films with a pre-determined ending. Singer takes a clever approach in unraveling the story as though he were shooting a heist movie, a "where did it all go wrong" rather than a "what happens next" style, but then he botches it. The further into the film I watched, the more I got the overwhelming sensation that this was an opportunity to make a superb film and they were missing it.
My primary gripe is that Cruise was the wrong choice for the lead role. His American accent is out of place alongside a largely English support cast which meant the character of Von Stauffenberg lacked credibility. The script fails to address the motivating factors that led him to risk and ultimately sacrifice his life in support of the Operation, we never understand his aristocratic roots or how his political beliefs differ, and Cruise's performance felt underpowered until the final scenes where we only catch a glimpse of genuine human emotion.
What I wanted when I went to see Valkyrie was a gritty, striking thriller/drama. I set the bar high, I wanted something of the same standard as "Downfall" or "The Eagle Has Landed" but what I got was a well-oiled Hollywood adventure movie. Stringer doesn't attempt to educate or inform, just entertain. Considering his CV includes "X-Men" and "Superman Returns", I wonder if this is really all that surprising.
That said, the film is not without it's successes. Terence Stamp, Kenneth Branagh and Bill Nighy are all excellent, and portray the old-school cardre of Nazi Resistance with plausibility and finesse. Jamie Parker also puts in a solid performance as a young Lieutenant and aide to Von Stauffenberg. I haven't seen him in anything since The History Boys (2006) but I hope he is sent a few more scripts to read for this year as he is good to watch. The set design is flawless, and actually did a lot to buy back some of the historical significance that was lacking in the script, the direction and in Cruise's character.
All in all, Valkyrie was a mildly entertaining watch so I'm not canning it and giving it a 3. However, it did leave me disappointed because it could have been so much more.