Movie Review: The Monuments Men

The Monuments Men (2014)

An unlikely World War II platoon is tasked to rescue art masterpieces from Nazi thieves and return them to their owners.  Short synopsis of The Monuments Men taken fromIMDB.com

The Monuments Men...  I liked it, especially since I am a History degree grad.  Those bombed out cities and authentic settings seemed jaw-dropping.  I only spotted one obvious matte painting.  Granted, my eyes aren't that good.  But all in all, the scenery was really 'purdy.'

And the acting was decent.  In fact, this is leading toward my gripes with the film.  You see, sometimes it felt more like a History Channel documentary rather than a Hollywood feature.  This isn't totally a bad thing, but the film seemed to have a touch of identity crisis.  Or maybe it is just my perception of the thing.  You get trained that a Hollywood mainstream movie will look a certain way, and so when things go slightly askew...  it is disorienting.  It didn't help that there were moments in the film such as when Matt Damon's character steps on a land mine while in a cavern.  For back-story: the troop is looking for hidden artwork and our hapless hero finds a leftover unexploded mine placed as a booby-trap, and has to have his friends help get him out of  this perilous situation.  But to me, the scene feels kinda anecdotal, rather than engaging.

Many people know that Hitler, before he became a political figure and later leader of the National Socialist Party in Germany, was a failed art student.  Perhaps his affinity for priceless artwork may have also been partially the cause of saving much of it.  Warfare has traditionally led to the destruction of many historic works.  For instance, the Sphinx of Egypt.  Contrary to what Saturday morning cartoons show, the Sphinx lost that chunk of its nose to some of Napoleon's troops, who used it for target practice. / Source: Archives.gov

Also, the relationship between Damon's character and Blanchet comes to mind.  This also feels a bit anecdotal at times.  On the other hand, Bill Murray pulls off good emotional connection in his short time on screen.  And the loss of members of the team, while facing combat action they never expected to see, really takes you back to what it must have really been like.

In the end, The Monument's Men feels like somebody's great idea that grew far out of proportions and became a Hollywood major release.  This leaves it feeling a bit off, though still enjoyable.  And as always, I note that there is some blood, a bit of language (I believe there is the sadly ubiquitous single f-bomb allowed in a PG-13 film, though it nearly fit the situation when it arrives) and the violence and adult themes of war. But this is not Saving Private Ryan, by any means.  Which some would say is a good thing.  And for sheer surprise value, Monument's Men is really amazing, when you stop to think about this rarely addressed part of the story of the Greatest Generation.  I recommend at least one viewing to anyone, for sheer educational purposes alone.  Some will like it so much, they'd see it again and again.

The parting comment:



Source: LOLSnaps.com

Saving paintings and other works of art sounds like the job of a super-librarian!  And I happen to be a librarian (at the time of this writing, that is).  And I work in an academic setting.  Yes, I'd call an elementary school "academic."  Just barely sometimes, but it still fits the moniker.  So am I, indeed, a super-librarian?  Cue the dramatic music.