The Monuments Men – Review

Like any other genre, while historical war movies are pretty common they are rarely unique.  This cuts to the heart of what makes The Monuments men intriguing.  It is a WWII film but it does not focus on strategic battles, or fierce firefights, or war-torn love triangles.  Instead, it tells the story of a small cadre of men sent on a mission to try and preserve Europe’s historical art – pieces by Rembrandt, Michelangelo, Picasso and more.

The film is based on the book titled The Monuments Men:  Allied Heroes, Nazi Thieves and the Greatest Treasure Hunt in History by Robert M. Edsel.  George Clooney is the driving force behind the film, having worked on the screenplay, directing, producing, and starring in it.  The film also stars Matt Damon, Bill Murray, John Goodman, and Cate Blanchett.

As an informational piece, it is quite enjoyable to watch.  Despite the musings of the film’s characters, its hard to argue that this mission was anything other than a footnote of the war but this is precisely why the story is so interesting.  Most people have probably never heard of this group of men or their work to protect famous works of art, but even the most neanderthal of people have heard of many of the artists whose works were involved.

While the narrative is thought-provoking, it is hard to turn this story into a compelling two hour theater-type fare.  The Germans and Russians provide plenty of antagonists but its hard to keep a consistent tone.  Most of the film gives off a sort of light-hearted type of vibe which works very well.  A lot of the casting choices promote this type of feel.  Everyone’s happy and having a good time.  The problem is this is a WWII film and very serious subjects are breached including the deaths of friends and the Holocaust and the film fails to adequately transition back and forth.

It’s not the type of film people will be still talking about 5-10 years from now, but that doesn’t prevent it from being something worth watching.  The Monuments Men is entertaining and deeply interesting.  Add those traits with a plot that centers on something unique and important with historical significance and you end up with a winning combination.