Tom Cruise takes a lot of heat in Hollywood for not only his Scientology and his outbursts, but for the roles he chooses. This year, however, Cruise stunned Hollywood studios with his out-of-control portrayal of an executive producer in “Tropic Thunder” earning him a Golden Globe nomination. Go Tom! In this new role, Cruise gets right down to business in the plot to assassinate Adolph Hitler. Based on a true story – there were apparently fifteen assassination attempts before Hitler actually took his own life – Col. Clause von Stauffenger (Cruise) is the perfect, loyal, well-bred soldier disgusted with the torture and suffering of the people at the hands of the Nazis. With the help of a network of other high-ranking officers, Major Tresckow (Kenneth Branagh) and General Olbricht (Billy Nighy) they devise a plan. In Cruise’s case, one could call it more of a “Mission Impossible.” And then there’s General Fromm (Tom Wilkinson) who plays both sides of the fence. Part conspiracy thriller and part history lesson, the movie also feels like the tick tock of a mad caper minus the comedy. And with Bryan Singer at the helm directing, it even has a feeling of “The Usual Suspects” good guy/bad guy feel with the final showdown. The army that surrounds Cruise is interestingly enough all British actors who maintain their natural accents throughout the film, but it’s Hitler (David Bamber) who is the least persuasive of the group. Nevertheless, the movie’s subtle details and tension provide for a solid experience. Three and a half tiaras
