Director: George Clooney.
Starring: George Clooney, Matt Damon, Bill Murray, Cate Blanchett, Jean Dujardin, John Goodman, Hugh Bonneville, Bob Balaban.
Running Time: 118 minutes.
Certificate: 12A.
Synopsis: An unlikely World War II platoon are tasked to rescue art masterpieces from Nazi thieves and return them to their owners.
THE MONUMENTS MEN is the latest film from writer/actor/director/producer/caterer (probably) George Clooney, based on the true story of an allied group who worked with military forces to safeguard historic and cultural monuments from war damage during WWII. Gathering a band of merry men (Damon! Murray! Goodman! Dujardin!) with zero war experience, they set off across enemy lines to find pieces the Nazis are intent on destroying and return them to their rightful owners.
There’s actually a decent script hidden away in this movie, with a long-running joke about Matt Damon’s inability to speak French offering a few sporadic comedy moments. With a plot line involving Nazi Germany and art theft, the comedy is not likely to be found in the story, which is why it is such a shame these characters are hung out to dry. More character development would have allowed for the script to shine through and offer the audience respite from the terribly slow pacing of the hunt. As it stands, when the men are staring death straight in the face, the audience struggles to engage or root for them. It’s not clear why Clooney decided to make this a comedy in the first place, as a straight-laced drama conveying the historical importance of these men would surely have been a more natural choice.
Due to the severe lack of any character backstory or depth, the only performance worth mentioning is that of Cate Blanchett, who, due to her physical distance from the rest of the characters (aside from Matt Damon), may as well have been in an entirely different movie. She plays the stoic Claire Simone – witness to much of the Nazi art theft – with a grace and humour that is entirely missing from the majority of the film.
The plot and cast suggest that Clooney, king of Hollywood, went in search of an earnest-yet-interesting story he could tell on the big screen. Once he found what he was looking for, he assembled some pals to help him out with the acting. He may be George Clooney, but he can’t play every part himself! Add some World War II costumes and some poor editing and the result is THE MONUMENTS MEN. Undoubtedly an interesting mission and previously untold piece of history, it’s not a story that has been translated to the screen well. Too much time is spent in army bases, in vehicles and digging through whatever the Germans have left behind in an attempt to find clues to the treasure hunt. With a plodding pace and no building tension to speak of, the climax is not so much a surprise as a relief.
An interesting idea, a great ensemble cast and a strong script, this movie had all the makings of a powerful piece. Had it been an out-and-out drama it may have fared better than a comedy lacking any punchlines. As a gentle history-laden biopic with almost no action, it falls well short of expectations. Less heist more feist, please, George.
[usr=3] THE MONUMENTS MEN is released in UK cinemas on Friday 14th February, 2014.
