Midway through "The Monuments Men" things get overtly frustrating as you realize that this supposedly remarkable film is nothing but that. We got the importance of its content and how saving art was crucial to the continuity of those oppressed during World War II but everything else seems flat and dull. An amazing cast on paper, it is truly boggling how this film seems to struggle to make a deep connection with its audience.
As World War II commences across Europe, it is apparent that the Germans and Adolf Hitler in particular are hoarding valuable art from all regions. All of these are are being stolen to be put up in Hitler's planned Fuhrer Museum. An unlikely group of men are tasked to retrieve these highly regarded art masterpieces. Led by Lt. Frank Stokes (George Clooney), the Monuments Men must find were these masterpieces have been hidden before the Germans destroy all of it or their Russian counterparts get a hold of them as the war turns to the Allies' favor.
"The Monuments Men" struggles to be compelling simply because there's too much going on in the film. Early on, the film separates the ragtag group into several story lines as they try to retrieve art in different places. This is its death knell as the film fails to balance all of these into a cohesive whole. What we do get are seemingly incomplete scenes that seems to push back the narrative deeper and deeper into shallow territory. Mind you, there are definitely positive moments from these but overall, they are almost lifeless and uninvolving. The film does get better in the end as things are ramped up faster. The final few scenes involving the Russians in fact seems to show the potential of "The Monuments Men" - what could have been and what should have been. In summary, "The Monuments Men" is good enough of a watch but never does it develop into something more epic and even memorable.
Rating: 3 reels
Why you should watch it:
- patience is key but the film does get a little better on its latter parts
Why you shouldn't watch it:
- strangely dull and flat overall
- the amazing cast on paper seems aloof and devoid of any character
Midway through "The Monuments Men" things get overtly frustrating as you realize that this supposedly remarkable film is nothing but that. We got the importance of its content and how saving art was crucial to the continuity of those oppressed during World War II but everything else seems flat and dull. An amazing cast on paper, it is truly boggling how this film seems to struggle to make a deep connection with its audience.
As World War II commences across Europe, it is apparent that the Germans and Adolf Hitler in particular are hoarding valuable art from all regions. All of these are are being stolen to be put up in Hitler's planned Fuhrer Museum. An unlikely group of men are tasked to retrieve these highly regarded art masterpieces. Led by Lt. Frank Stokes (George Clooney), the Monuments Men must find were these masterpieces have been hidden before the Germans destroy all of it or their Russian counterparts get a hold of them as the war turns to the Allies' favor.
"The Monuments Men" struggles to be compelling simply because there's too much going on in the film. Early on, the film separates the ragtag group into several story lines as they try to retrieve art in different places. This is its death knell as the film fails to balance all of these into a cohesive whole. What we do get are seemingly incomplete scenes that seems to push back the narrative deeper and deeper into shallow territory. Mind you, there are definitely positive moments from these but overall, they are almost lifeless and uninvolving. The film does get better in the end as things are ramped up faster. The final few scenes involving the Russians in fact seems to show the potential of "The Monuments Men" - what could have been and what should have been. In summary, "The Monuments Men" is good enough of a watch but never does it develop into something more epic and even memorable.
Rating: 3 reels
Why you should watch it:
- patience is key but the film does get a little better on its latter parts
Why you shouldn't watch it:
- strangely dull and flat overall
- the amazing cast on paper seems aloof and devoid of any character
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