Review of The Monuments Men (2014) by Poul F — 28 Jul 2014

It took a really long time for me to connect with these characters and this story but eventually it felt worth my while. There are a few truly beautiful moments, but it's a film that struggles with pacing and tone - it flirts with the whimsy of Kelly's Heroes but becomes much more of a historical drama, in the end, (never mind that the drama never quite gets intense enough).

The stakes never quite resonate - maybe because the ensemble's too big, and the story gets spread too thin between so many characters? - and as a whole, the movie is too glossy or something; it just doesn't feel important.

But it's pleasant to watch and Cate Blanchett steals every scene she's in, so there's that. Another so-so George Clooney-directed movie, in all.