A Valkyrie Xmas

Hat tip: Spout Blog

I don’t quite understand the inspiration behind the concept, but someone decided to superimpose the heads of the cast from Valkyrie onto little bodies in elf costumes dancing to a disco version of “We Wish You a Merry Christmas” (courtesy of JibJab’s Elf Yourself program). Tom Cruise with an eyepatch flailing his arms about like a Nazi Tony Manero is just about the strangest thing I’ve ever seen.

Just what are these guys so excited about? The holidays? The death of Hitler (though not thanks to them)? Or could it be they’re celebrating the fact that the reviews of Valkyrie aren’t as dreadful as many expected? Unfortunately, as far as I can tell, the actual movie doesn’t feature any scenes as great as this one.

Valkyrie Trailer

A trailer for Tom Cruise's Valkyrie has hit the internet. The film has had it's release date changed three times, which is never a good sign. The trailer makes it look interesting, and I've always liked the director, Bryan Singer, from back to The Usual Suspects. At least Tom Cruise doesn't even attempt a German accent. Great supporting cast, too, with lots of my favorites: Bill Nighy, Kenneth Branagh, and Eddie Izzard. Unless it changes again, the film is due out in Feb. of 2009.

Tom Cruise Film back in the Bunker

The Sunday Times reports:

The fortunes of Hollywood actor Tom Cruise have suffered a blow with the news that his next big film has been postponed until 2009.

The release of Valkyrie, which tells the story of the 1944 assassination plot against Hitler, was first postponed from this summer to the autumn and is now not expected to appear until next year.

“We were originally expecting the film to be released in June,” said a senior executive at one of Britain’s leading cinema chains.

“I know there have been all sorts of problems with this production and we will not be screening it at all this year.”

The film is not only a blow to Cruise as an actor but in his more recent incarnation as a movie mogul at United Artists (UA), the studio which made the film.

One critic in Hollywood has declared “Valkyrie is dead”, with another arguing that the film’s problems could also wreck the revival of UA.

Valkyrie has been directed by Bryan Singer, who is best known for The Usual Suspects and X-Men. The new film, which was mostly shot last year at a cost of £45m, has so far left test audiences unimpressed.

The quality of Cruise’s German accent was widely commented on. The film has also had to have reshoots after footage was damaged in labs.

Cruise plays the German officer Claus von Stauffenberg, who led the plot. Other German parts are played by British actors, including Bill Nighy and Kenneth Branagh.