Simon Dillon reviews the film

"God promised Abraham he would not destroy Sodom if he could find just ten righteous people in it. I am afraid that for Germany, it may come down to one." So says Kenneth Branagh's Major General Henning von Tresckow in director Bryan Singer's Valkyrie; a film that finally tells the true story one of World War II's great unsung heroes Colonel Claus von Stauffenberg, and those like von Tresckow who conspired with him to assassinate Hitler in his bunker at the Wolf's Lair.

As Stauffenberg, Tom Cruise is perhaps not the ideal choice, but I maintain that he is underrated as an actor, and nevertheless good in the role. He is ably supported by Branagh, Bill Nighy, Tom Wilkinson, Terence Stamp, Eddie Izzard, Tom Hollander, Thomas Kretschmann and David Bamber among others. Much has been made of their non-German accents, but I found the US and British voices generally did not detract from the story.

Singer's film has been steeped in controversy and troubled production history. He was not allowed to shoot at various historic locations in Germany as the Germans have a particular dislike for Scientology (Tom Cruise's religion of choice). This somewhat irrational reason for putting a spanner in the works (its not as though this film has anything to do with Scientology) meant Singer had to compromise. But that was not the end of his problems. Early test screenings were not good, and reshoots were ordered.

Typically such problems mean the finished result is garbage, but despite bad reviews, I am going to fight a rearguard action on this one. Although it has a slightly awkward first half hour, Valkyrie quickly improves once the conspiracy is underway. The audience may know the ending, but Nathan Alexander and Christopher McQuarrie's screenplay builds up considerable suspense, and certain sequences really underscore how the coup could have gone either way. One sequence in particular, involving teletypists, shows how minor workers in the Reich held the balance of power in their hands, deciding which of the contradictory orders they were receiving to pass on. These contradictory orders had to be enacted by the officer in charge of the reservists (the brilliant Thomas Kretschmann, who deserves a special mention for his pivotal role).

On a moral, spiritual level, this is exemplary - a true story from history about bravery, conscience and when it is right to rebel against authority. One is reminded of when the apostles said they must obey God rather than man when the law of the land is immoral. Everything Stauffenberg does is for the good of Germany, because he knows the only way to truly serve its interests is to get rid of the Fuhrer. That he failed makes him no less heroic.

In final analysis, this is a flawed but tense thriller, well worth a look and certainly a lot better than critics have said.