We're less than a month and a half away from finding out whether United Artists, under the not-so-watchful gaze of chief executive Tom Cruise, and very watchful gaze of co-owners MGM, will sink or float with their bankrolled Valkyrie. A vanity project starring Mr. Cruise about Col. Claus Schenk von Stauffenberg, who tried to kill Hitler, Valkyrie has been plagued with trouble since Tom Cruise was announced as the star of a film about German World War II heroes.
So far, things haven't looked great. Nazi extras are suing left and right, it's rumored to not have much of an audience market, the release date is being pushed around more than a reporter looking for an exclusive about Mr. Cruise's ties with Scientology. As much as anything in Hollywood can rest on one blockbuster, the fate of United Artists does so on Valkyrie.
And you know what? It just might work out for those crazy kids after all.
Much like Sarah Palin at the vice presidential debates, Valkyrie will only need to do marginally well in order to be considered a success. And the fact that Cruise has let his executive duties at UA fall by the wayside as he tries to kickstart his career might not have been the wrong choice. After all, what do audiences want more? A good movie starring Tom Cruise, or a good movie financed by him? Whatever your thoughts on the loopy little man, he is still a box office draw in some respects, and his self-parodying cameo in Tropic Thunder actually earned him back some of that cred he's been missing ever since he started jumping up and down on Oprah's couch.
So what's "a little bit" of success translate into? Anything that breaks even for the production values, which are slated anywhere between $75 and $90 mill, depending on what industry insider you talk to. Or, alternatively, enough critical acclaim that MGM's CEO Harry Sloane can find a production backer for UA to the tune of $650 million, which seems like a lot, until you realize MGM is holding the rights to the new James Bond, and Quantum of Solace just made $400 abroad.
Wait and see: this movie may not revitalize Cruise's career, but it might be enough to put him back squarely in the public's favor. You know, just like Sarah Palin.
NO ONE is going to see this movie! No one is interested in Cruise as a reformed Nazi. No one cares. His time has passed. Based on the trailers, WORST acting EVER!
This will rock, wait and see!
I'm A JEW!! lol
and I'll get kick out of it to SEE when Hitler about to GET ASSASINATED!!! LMAO!!
I'm looking forward to seeing it. Looks very suspenseful. FYI: check out this website for movie premiere tickets: http://www.hollywoodcharityauction.com
if anyone dosn't wanna see this movie then i can't believe that they are anti-Nazism people. People just Talk-Talk loud but No Actions…SHAME ON YOU!!!
Its a movie hob, not a time machine that allows you to kill Hitler.
I saw the previews and it looked pretty good. I might go see it.
Too bad that Valkyrie's claim to be true is far from it. Anyone can say they were trying to kill Hitler after they hear the D-Day Band Marching in. There are many elites and aristocrats who were on the Nazi band wagon because they claimed the same goals. Both Otto von Bismark (old school, ruling aristocrat) and Hitler wanted a united Germany to rule the world. Coming out of the rubble of WW1 that was music to the ears of most Germans once again, including the aristocracy. So can't those same ruling aristocrat families now claim they were the alleged anti-Nazi underground after the fact? Do you really expect them to say they were/are Nazis? No wonder you didn't learn about it in school. It is a "recent development" shall we say. And this movie is backed by certain elements of German money and Studio Babelsberg to no surprise. Think about it. Just because Hollywood says it is true . . . well . . . can anyone spell PROPAGANDA?