Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		5.0
Audio		5.0
Extras		2.0
Overall		4.0

The Monuments Men Blu-ray Movie Review

Saving Precious Art.

Reviewed by Martin Liebman May 18, 2014

To many people, particularly in today's technologically driven, fast-paced, gross overexposure of media, and technologically based society where everything is instantly available, literally, at the touch of a few virtual buttons, classic art may very well seem like some abstract concept represented as a picture on the Internet, a blurb in a textbook, or maybe the focus of a movie. Maybe some even view, and on some level appreciate, classic art in museums, but it seems that society doesn't always quite grasp the true value of art, seeing the dollar signs attached to pieces when art theft makes the news but not really grasping the deeper meaning behind a work or the social or cultural or historical significance deep within many of the world's most famous works of art. In The Monuments Men, Frank Stokes, the character portrayed by George Clooney, says that his mission is to save the art not for its monetary value or so that its listing in art history texts may remain unaltered but instead for the purpose of exposing, retaining, and celebrating the "culture and way of life" that surrounds them, that makes them valuable monetarily, yes, but far more so in a broader cultural, ethnical, and historical sense of the term. While there may be more important things to consider in war -- both in the short term and in the long term -- such as preserving a way of life and saving as many lives as possible, safeguarding a heritage and saving the best of man's creativity caught in the path of his worst destructive capabilities may very well be a mission worth the potential surrounding costs.

Picasso down.

At the height of World War II, as the destruction mounts and the death toll rises, it's becoming ever more clear to Frank Stokes (Clooney) that some of the world's most important pieces of art are in grave danger of being destroyed in the chaos. What's more, Hitler is amassing much of the art as war trophies for the Reich. With President Franklin D. Roosevelt's permission, Stokes assembles a team of art experts, preservationists, and scholars dubbed "The Monuments Men" -- including James Granger (Matt Damon), Richard Campbell (Bill Murray), Walter Garfield (John Goodman), Jean Claude Clermont (Jean Dujardin), Preston Savitz (Bob Balaban), and Donald Jeffries (Hugh Bonneville) -- to find, preserve, and return to rightful owners important works throughout Europe. The group splits apart throughout the continent to work specific missions. Meanwhile, Granger finds himself working with a French art curator and, now, art preservationist, named Claire Simone (Cate Blanchett) whose bother has been murdered by the Nazis, labeled as a rebel and resistance fighter.

The Monuments Men, based on a true story, tells a rather fundamentally and historically fascinating tale of fine culture juxtaposed with destructive war. It's a very simple premise, sort of like Saving Private Ryan but without the realistic violence and grit but maintaining the same basic principles of finding and preserving something of great value above the cost of carrying out the mission, here art -- great amounts of art created by the hands of some of mankind's most gifted artisans -- rather than an ordinary man. It's also akin to something like Indiana Jones, set in the same timeframe and concerned with historical preservation of cherished artifacts and ensuring they remain out Nazi hands, here with a larger scope and more involvement and maneuvering along the way. Unfortunately, the movie never quite works. Despite moments of charm, levity, and heartfelt drama, it's rather scattershot and, literally, all over the map. Its lack of focus beyond the overreaching plot arc is its biggest downfall -- there are too many characters involved in too many tasks in too many places -- and a close second is its rather dry cadence and unfortunate absence of an evident soul. While the film captures the spirt and purpose behind its plot, it lacks drive and heart, playing methodically rather than thoughtfully and soulfully.

Nevertheless, there's a fair bit of fun to be had with Monuments Men. It enjoys plenty of levity surrounding the dirty realities of war, which are here not depicted graphically but rather emotionally, the human toll representing the few times the picture truly finds its center, which at best runs parallel to the plot rather than in-line with it. Cast camaraderie never excites. There are a lot of very talented actors here and the film boasts one of the year's best ensembles, yet there's not that connection, that, pardon the somewhat overused World War II phrase, "band of brothers" feel to them. The individual performances are fine, for the most part, though the film never gets much real energy out of most of the players. On the technical side of the scoresheet, the film dazzles in practically every scene. It enjoys a thoroughly convincing and immersive visual setting, recreating the era with pinpoint detail and filmed in such a way that the audience feels always pulled into the environments. Even if the story isn't quite as engaging as it should be, the external qualities help to mask a somewhat stale, procedural, and very lightly bloated core.

The Monuments Men Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The Monuments Men looks fantastic on Blu-ray. The "Mastered in 4K" Blu-ray presentation is a sparkler, one of the crispest, cleanest, most well-defined, and enjoyable high definition movie watching experiences around. The picture, which has been sourced from both digital and film elements, offers a consistently clean and intimately accurate surface. Details are always striking. Whether crisp, nuanced uniform details, intimate facial features, war-ravaged structures and the resultant rubble, sandy terrains, or grasses, there's never a shortage of eye-catching details to enjoy. Colors are equally brilliant. The palette is remarkably detailed and accurate, whether army fatigues, red Nazi flags, or green vegetation. Clarity is striking in every scene, even in the darkest corners that reveal precision black levels that are evenly inky and deep with nary a hint of crush or, on the other end of the scale, gray or purple shading. Flesh tones never appear to betray natural colorings. The transfer additionally displays no bothersome instances of noise, blocking, or other flaws. In short, a masterful presentation worthy of preservation.

The Monuments Men Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The Monuments Men's DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 lossless soundtrack is practically a match for the pristine video. This is impressive stuff, delivering core music with incredibly well defined instrumental clarity throughout the entire range, including a strong, even, and supportive low end. Spacing is flawless and the sense of surround envelopment is cinema perfect. Wartime sounds, though relatively scattered in this mostly dialogue-heavy drama, enjoy pleasing accuracy, from planes zipping through the sky to bullets rushing through the listening area. Explosions, impacts, rumbling vehicles, and other heavy elements play potently big and without fault in every scene. Light atmospherics help shape the listening area; even the most minute supportive pieces in the background during the quietest scenes give the track an authentic sense of space and place. Dialogue flows effortlessly and cleanly from the center. This is a terrific listen in every regard.

The Monuments Men Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

The Monuments Men contains the following few supplements. DVD and UV digital copies are also included.

• Deleted Scenes (HD): Seeking Saint-Pierre (0:59) and Attempting a Rescue (1:15).
• In Their Own Words (HD, 12:12): The real "Monuments Men" -- T/4 Sgt. Harry L. Ettlinger; James A Reeds; 2nd Lieutenant, 11th Armored Division William Kelly; and Anne Oliver Bell -- along with film's cast and crew discuss the real-life work in the war as well as the vets' life and recognition after the war. Many films clips are interspersed throughout.
• George Clooney's Mission (HD, 5:10): A somewhat light look at George Clooney's work on both sides of the camera.
• Marshalling the Troops (HD, 7:54): A short look at the lengthy cast.
• A Woman Amongst the Monuments Men (HD, 4:24): A closer look at Cate Blanchett's work and the character she plays.
• Previews (HD): American Hustle, Pompeii, Stalingrad, Gambit, and A Fighting Man.

The Monuments Men Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

The Monuments Men means well but never quite finds its center. It's a bit aimless around the edges and lacks that seamless character chemistry that's necessary to sell the film's importance and the characters' commitment to carrying out their mission. The movie does do an outstanding job in building up its support elements. It's beautifully photographed and its era appears meticulously recreated. The movie has a lot to offer, more potential than anything else, but it's a solid effort that falls well short of what it should have been but does satisfy as an entertaining, albeit overlong and scattered, wartime novelty. Sony's Blu-ray release of The Monuments Men features masterful "Mastered in 4K" video, a terrific lossless soundtrack, and a decent selection of bonus content. Fans should have no reservations about buying. Newcomers might be best served to rent or wait for the disc to go on sale.