Movie Review: The Monuments Men (2014)
Written by Anthony Sargon
You don’t generally expect to see a movie like “The Monuments Men” in theaters at this time of year. Given the film’s pedigree, it seems a lot better suited for an October-December release, which was actually the case until it got delayed to early 2014. Producers are claiming that post-production ran a bit long, but that’s the polite way of saying “it wasn’t good enough to get Oscar nominations.” While “The Monuments Men” certainly doesn’t live up to its full potential, there’s still enough to enjoy in this old-fashioned, quirky picture.
Based on Robert M. Edsel’s book “The Monuments Men: Allied Heroes, Nazi Thieves and the Greatest Treasure Hunt in History“, the film follows a group of unlikely heroes tasked with rescuing historic artwork that’s been stolen by the Nazis during the end of World War II. The newly formed platoon, which is comprised of seven museum directors, curators, and art historians, is sent into Germany in search of the some of the most valuable and cherished works. Their job is to find the art, rescue it, and return it to its rightful owners.
The film’s cast – which mainly includes George Clooney, Matt Damon, Cate Blanchett, Bill Murray, John Goodman, Bob Balaban, Jean Dujardin, and Hugh Bonneville – does a lot to make up for the slightly pedestrian script. They’re consistently funny as the mismatched bunch of art connaisseurs who are willing to die for the sake of classic art preservation. Standouts were Bob Balaban, Jean Dujardin, and Cate Blanchett’s characters.
Written and directed by George Clooney, the film sometimes feels like an excuse for Mr. Clooney to hang out with his buddies on set rather than tell a really compelling story, but it’s quirky and charming enough to keep you invested. If it weren’t for the comedy and great chemistry between the leads, it would have been a total bust.
The Verdict:
Although it definitely could have tried a bit harder, “The Monuments Men” is still an entertaining and serviceable adaptation of an incredible true story. Think “Ocean’s Eleven” during WWII.
Numerical Score: 7/10
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