Operation Valkyrie was a top secret mission during the Second World War to eliminate the Fuhrer and in the wake of his death, prevent the SS from taking power. It was conducted by a German officer Claus Von Stauffenberg (played in the film by Tom Cruise), who witnessed and was appalled by the mistreatment of prisoners and the destruction delivered by the wrath of the Reich. The film begins in North Africa when Stauffenberg is badly wounded in an attack where he loses one of his hands and the use of one of his eyes too. After he recovers in hospital back in Berlin, he is enlisted by a group of German officers who are looking to devise a new plan to kill Adolf Hitler.

Bryan Singer has crafted a very intensive World War II drama that shows his diversity as a director, following his efforts on the X-Men films and more recently, Superman Returns (2006). During its production Valkyrie followed great controversy in Germany, with great antipathy towards the casting of Cruise because of his alliance with Scientology. Many have been critical of his performance, labelling him as unconvincing, given that he does not speak German throughout the film and does not even adopt a German accent. There is little change to his voice throughout the film. However, Cruise still looks startlingly similar to Stauffenberg and Singer has been quick to defend his casting of Cruise as he believed that collectively the actor and Stauffenberg both shared great charisma. In spite of this, Cruise seems more restrained here and does not display the same flamboyancy or mannerisms, like his cocky grin and snappy one-liners that many have grown accustomed to in his previous films. Rather he exudes the passion of Stauffenberg to protect his country and his family, not through an extensive level of emotion, but through the intensity of his voice as he delivers his lines. It displays the motives and will of Stauffenberg with a strong focus and determination. He knows the risk to himself and his wife and children, but is willing to risk everything for the chance to end the war. Though it is not the usual showy performance that many would expect from the actor, it still remains a solid one at that.

Equally impressive is the sustainability of the tension throughout the film. It is testimony to the direction of Singer that the film is so exciting, despite the known outcome. The second half in particular is crafted with moments of brilliance, such as when Stauffenberg must put the final touches of a bomb together with his only hand, as a Nazi waits outside the room, urging him to hurry up. The final moments before the bomb itself detonates are heart racing too. Critics have been quick to dismiss the film because the majority of the cast – many of whom are English (such as the excellent Bill Nighy) - do not speak German. It is naive to dismiss the film entirely because it is not authentic towards the dialect. It still tells the story with such tension that it does particularly matter what language the characters speak in, but what they say and what they do throughout the film. It is for this reason that Valkyrie still remains as fine entertainment.

While Singer does not hold back in showing the brutal executions of the members of the operation, there remains a distance between the audience and the end of the film. It does not quite have the emotional impact that it could have. Perhaps it is because much of the operation is already known and has been studied. Regardless though, the suspense of Valkyrie remains for much of the films running time and there are moments where it appears to be heading so swimmingly, leaving one to ask how it went so horribly wrong. There is also a significant and timely message to take away from the film about the choices that decent human beings can make, even in the face of suppression and the overwhelming odds of evil.

Valkyrie has survived its controversy and cynical critics to be recognised as a suspenseful and skilfully made thriller. It has been authentically decorated and purposefully acted by its entire cast. If audiences give the film a chance and look beyond the stardom of Cruise and see the subtlety of his performance, they will be rewarded with an interesting and intense film about one of history's most ambitious failures.