The Monuments Men
George Clooney directs, co-writes and stars in this WW2 true story of the dedicated crew of art historians and museum curators who take up arms to recover pieces of art stolen by the Nazis. The all-star cast includes Matt Damon, Bill Murray, John Goodman and Cate Blanchett.
It would be an impossible mission: with the art trapped behind enemy lines, and with the German army under orders to destroy everything as the Reich fell, these seven museum directors, curators, and art historians were more familiar with Michelangelo than an M-1. But as the Monuments Men, as they were called, found themselves in a race against time to avoid the destruction of 1,000 years of culture, they would risk their lives to protect and defend mankind's greatest achievements.
- Director:
- George Clooney ('The Ides of March', 'Good Night, and Good Luck', 'Confessions of a Dangerous Mind')
- Writer:
- George ClooneyGrant Heslov
- Cast:
- Matt DamonGeorge ClooneyCate BlanchettBill MurrayJohn GoodmanJean DujardinBob BalabanHugh Bonneville
Reviews & comments
Flicks, Adam Fresco
flicksTake an amazing true story of a mission to save Europe’s great artworks from the Nazis, add a great cast, including the likes of George Clooney, Cate Blanchett, Matt Damon, Bill Murray and John Goodman, a decent budget and solid cinematography and you should get a thrilling tale of wartime derring-do. Clooney, who also directs and co-wrote the screenplay, may have been aiming at a sort of Oceans Eight Inglourious Art Basterds, but what he delivers is drab, uninvolving and emotionally flat as a canvas.
Monumental
Normally I shy away from any movies that feature wars in a big way but this movie was completely different. I felt something for every single character on the screen. The heros (and heroine) are relatable and so well written that you can't help but cheer them on. The villains are not as stereotypical as most of the movies in this genre and you feel an...
Not so monumentus
I was looking forward to this movie, the premise for it is great and the cast is a huge line up of highly successful actors. Sadly the film like many other warm time films before it has a very american weighted point of view. I would like to learn more about the true story to see how much of this is factual and well the story is portrayed before really...
Okay but not great
I use FLICKS all the time when deciding on a movie and just wish I'd checked out your review before I shelled out my hard earned cash to see this. Sadly your review pretty much says it all. A very poor script, almost no attempt at creating characters and an opportunity to relate a fascinating true story that should have made for a great movie is squandered....
Variety
pressClooney has transformed a fascinating true-life tale into an exceedingly dull and dreary caper pic cum art-appreciation seminar — a museum-piece movie about museum people.
Total Film
pressAn amazing story and an amazing cast don’t always make an amazing film. Too light for drama, not funny enough for comedy; it’s unlikely anyone will ever risk their lives for this.
Time Out
pressThings don’t exactly improve once the action shifts entirely to European soil... yet Clooney occasionally shows a surer hand.
The New York Times
pressClooney can't figure out what kind of story this is, he too often slips into pandering mode, including in his own performance, which is filled with too many smiles and speeches.
The Guardian
pressThis amiably ancient film is all too stiff - as if Clooney feared that any sudden noise or action would wake his performers up.
The Dissolve
pressWhile the film is often playful, it never attempts to be particularly funny.
Sydney Morning Herald
pressClooney and Heslov fail to settle on a tone, or at least tie the contrasting moods together.
Empire Magazine
pressEpisodic and never entirely cohering... has patches of excellence, but is inadequately constructed.
Flicks, Adam Fresco
flicksTake an amazing true story of a mission to save Europe’s great artworks from the Nazis, add a great cast, including the likes of George Clooney, Cate Blanchett, Matt Damon, Bill Murray and John Goodman, a decent budget and solid cinematography and you should get a thrilling tale of wartime derring-do. Clooney, who also directs and co-wrote the screenplay, may have been aiming at a sort of Oceans Eight Inglourious Art Basterds, but what he delivers is drab, uninvolving and emotionally flat as a canvas.
Variety
pressClooney has transformed a fascinating true-life tale into an exceedingly dull and dreary caper pic cum art-appreciation seminar — a museum-piece movie about museum people.
Total Film
pressAn amazing story and an amazing cast don’t always make an amazing film. Too light for drama, not funny enough for comedy; it’s unlikely anyone will ever risk their lives for this.
Time Out
pressThings don’t exactly improve once the action shifts entirely to European soil... yet Clooney occasionally shows a surer hand.
The New York Times
pressClooney can't figure out what kind of story this is, he too often slips into pandering mode, including in his own performance, which is filled with too many smiles and speeches.
The Guardian
pressThis amiably ancient film is all too stiff - as if Clooney feared that any sudden noise or action would wake his performers up.
The Dissolve
pressWhile the film is often playful, it never attempts to be particularly funny.
Sydney Morning Herald
pressClooney and Heslov fail to settle on a tone, or at least tie the contrasting moods together.
Empire Magazine
pressEpisodic and never entirely cohering... has patches of excellence, but is inadequately constructed.
Monumental
Normally I shy away from any movies that feature wars in a big way but this movie was completely different. I felt something for every single character on the screen. The heros (and heroine) are relatable and so well written that you can't help but cheer them on. The villains are not as stereotypical as most of the movies in this genre and you feel an...
Not so monumentus
I was looking forward to this movie, the premise for it is great and the cast is a huge line up of highly successful actors. Sadly the film like many other warm time films before it has a very american weighted point of view. I would like to learn more about the true story to see how much of this is factual and well the story is portrayed before really...
Okay but not great
I use FLICKS all the time when deciding on a movie and just wish I'd checked out your review before I shelled out my hard earned cash to see this. Sadly your review pretty much says it all. A very poor script, almost no attempt at creating characters and an opportunity to relate a fascinating true story that should have made for a great movie is...
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