Focusing on a much lesser known aspect of World War II, The Monuments Men is an exceptional film about the attempt to preserve hundreds of years of culture in one of history’s darkest times.
Everyone has a general understanding of WWII – Germany attempted to take over Europe to expand the powers and geography of the Third Reich, the Allies fought the Axis powers, and the Allies won in the end. Due to both the actual War and the Holocaust, it was arguably the most devastating and intense time in the 20th century and thousands of lives were lost. However, while most WWII films and books focus on the key individuals, battles, and what life was like on the home front, The Monuments Men focuses on an uncommon, yet just as important part of World War II. As George Clooney’s character George Stokes states in the film: “You can wipe out a generation of people. You can burn their homes to the ground, and somehow they’ll still come back. But if you destroy their achievements, and their history, then it’s like they never existed.” While The Monuments Men was a real platoon of men during WWII, the film is only loosely based on the true story.
George Clooney stars, directed, and co-wrote this unique WWII film – and it’s undoubtedly one of his best works yet. Portraying academic professor Frank Stokes (based upon the real Monuments Man, George Stout), he received permission from President Franklin Roosevelt to form this small group of men on the quest to preserve culture. Stokes rounds up other men in the art profession – James Granger (Matt Damon), Richard Campbell (Bill Murray), Walter Garfield (John Goodman), Jean Claude Clermont (Jean Dujardin), Donald Jeffries (Hugh Bonneville) and Preston Savitz (Bob Balaban), all of whom which are curators, architects, and professors.
Clooney put together an A-list cast, and it’s likely to be one of the best film casts in 2014. Cate Blanchett also stars as the French woman and art professional Claire Simone, who was critical in identifying where most of the stolen art was being held. The script was entertaining – it included the perfect mix of seriousness, action, comedy, and realism. At no point did the film move too quickly or slowly, and it was also filled with bits of twists and turns to keep the audience intrigued.
The film score is also of high note. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Parts 1 & 2 composer Alexander Desplat wrote the score, which interestingly and successfully fit The Monuments Men perfectly. He used brass and woodwind march themes throughout the film to imitate the 1940s War music, but also incorporated traditional themes of film scores with soft orchestral blends throughout.
The Monuments Men is definitely a 2014 film of high merit as Clooney successfully made an interesting aspect of WII very transparent. While many historians focus on military events and figures (which are undoubtedly important), this film teaches us about the fight to preserve Europe and the Jewish people. While many pieces of art were burned, lost, or kept in the hands of Germany, the mere fact that The Monuments Men existed reminds us, in a very atypical way, that the history of the human race is worth fighting for.
Grade: A-
Rated: PG-13 (for images of war violence, historical smoking)
The Monuments Men opens in theaters on February 7, 2014.
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