The Monuments Men Movie Review

Cast: George Clooney, Matt Damon, Bill Murray, Cate Blanchett
Genre: Biography, War, Drama
Director: George Clooney

Based on a true story and the book The Monuments Men: Allied Heroes, Nazi Thieves and the Greatest Treasure Hunt in History by Robert M Edsel, The Monuments men is adapted into a feature film by Oscar winning actor George Clooney. It’s sort of a war movie but from a different perspective. The movie takes the audience back into the World war torn Europe, where the Nazi’s are facing an expected defeat. Hitler foreseeing his defeat orders his army to bring back the most decorative and prestigious art works and sculptures with hundreds of years of history, the likes of Michelangelo, Picasso, Salvador Dali and Matisse.

The war is coming to an end, with the Nazi’s retreating back and destroying everything in their paths and taking all the precious collection back with them. The movie starts up with a museum conservator by the name of George L. Stout played by Clooney convincing president Roosevelt to put in an effort to save the glorious art history for future generation. Convinced by his speech the president gives Stout an army commission. Stout then goes on recruiting a squad of art fanatics to drive right into the middle of the war to protect the art and culture. Among the art fanatic squads are architect Richard Campbell (Bill Murray), James Granger (Matt Damon), Jean-Claude Clermont (Jean Dujardin), Walter Garfield (John Goodman). The second section of the movie lands them into War wretched France from where they separate into teams who then travel to different parts to gather up information and recollect the stolen artifacts.

The movie, as expected by the general audience, with Clooney and Matt demon from Ocean’s series and the fact that the movie gives an idea that it has something to do with treasure hunt will definitely dampen the spirit of the audience because it’s too dull compared to the ocean series. Far off from being a true treasure hunt movie it’s kind of like a research work with maps and little action on any side. The preview had slightly gone wrong with the choices of word; greatest treasure hunt in history. It’s not really a hunt a hunt; the only lively thing about the movie is the attachment to the world war and the fact that the movie being based on a true story sends a powerful message that art aficionados can put their life on the line to protect the artifacts of great importance to the history. The end of the movie is kind of interesting and keeps you going as they finally get an Intel on the hideouts of stolen arts from Claire Simone, a French museum director who is accused of being in collaboration with the Nazis played by Cate Blanchett. They look their way into the stolen art works with biggest of their prize being Michelangelo's Madonna and Child which is stolen at a cost of their squad member’s life. Few sections of the movie are interesting historically and also Matt Damon pitches in some comedy with his awful French. Over all the movie is quite average, not the best treasure hunt movie, well it’s not much of a treasure hunt at all. 

Ratings: 6.5 /10

Review By: Anuj Ghimire