“Who will make sure that the Statue of David is still standing, and the Mona Lisa is still smiling?”

This is the single idea that viewers of the recently released film “The Monuments Men” will question throughout the film. The answer will come from no other than the film’s cast, staring Hollywood greats like George Clooney, Matt Damon, Bill Murray, Cate Blanchett, John Goodman and many more.

The film was directed, written and produced by George Clooney and his writing partner, Grant Heslov. The plot is centered on a group of unorthodox middle-aged men who in their regular lives work as architects, curators and historians. However, in the film they bond together to form a small platoon that is tasked with finding thousands of pieces of the world’s oldest and most valuable works of art from the thieving hands of the Third Reich.

The film is based on the book by Robert M. Edsel titled “The Monuments Men: Allied Heroes, Nazi Thieves and the Greatest Treasure Hunt in History.” This movie definitely stresses the importance of the works of art that were stolen. Great artists like Vermeer, Rembrandt, Michelangelo and Picasso are frequently mentioned throughout the film. Art lovers are sure to appreciate the art history mentioned in the film as well.

This film is unlike any World War II film that has been made so far. While the severity of the war is still prevalent throughout the film, viewers will notice that this film strays somewhat from the dark shadows normally highlighted in World War II films.

While the film centers on the search for the missing pieces of art, there are moments where the brutality of the Nazi Party is highlighted. This brutality is briefly displayed in a scene in which the Monuments Men discover two large oil barrels filled with gold teeth.

The men explain that the teeth were forcibly removed from the mouths of Jews heading to encampment. While the scene lasts no longer than a minute, the emotion given off by John Goodman, Matt Damon and George Clooney leaves viewers with a sickening feeling.

While some may be expecting an action packed treasure hunt, the movie is more historical than anything else. This film is not meant to highlight the battleground side of World War II, which is something that people need to understand before heading into the movie theatre.

The point of the movie is to explain the passion behind the men and women who fought a separate battle during World War II. While some may say this battle is trivial compared to other battles fought during the war, the film shows the heart behind the fight. Hugh Bonneville and Jean Durjardin both give compelling performances during the film. Durjardin and Bonneville both lose their lives fighting for the preservation of this art. Bonneville gives an incredibly emotional performance during his death scene where he expresses his feelings to his father in a letter.

He dies trying to protect a sculpture created by Michelangelo. His failure to secure the piece is what ignites a fire among the rest of the men to finish out their mission.

Although there are various scenes that are exciting and suspenseful, the film moves at a leisurely pace. For some this could be good or bad, but the witty banter between the actors continually keeps viewers entertained. Matt Damon will keep viewers laughing at his failed attempts to speak French, and Bill Murray and Bob Balaban form a humor bond by accentuating each other’s eccentricities.

With such a standout cast, the acting was a highlight throughout the film. All of the actors fell into their roles, and Bill Murray has a few scenes that shed light onto his ability to be both humorous and serious at the same time. During a brief scene where the men are camping out during the holidays, he receives a record of his family singing “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.”

Murray’s acting gives viewers the chance to experience the heartbreak men and women at war feel when they are away from their families. The sets were impeccable and viewers might feel they were actually witnessing battle camps or destroyed areas of Europe. The use of continual crosscuts throughout the film kept viewers in touch with the whereabouts and actions of all of the characters.

The final scene of the movie is what brings the meaning home in a sincere way. The scene jumps from the end of the war to the 1970s where you hear George Clooney begin to narrate the final scene.

You see that Clooney is now an old man, and is there with his grandson. The pair admires the Madonna that Bonneville’s character dies trying to protect. During his narration Clooney asks viewers if anyone will remember the Monuments Men or what they stood to protect.

He asks if viewers will appreciate their actions. While their fight may not have been as dangerous as other battles during the war, the film explains that their battle was about heart and their passion for culture.

To anyone who enjoys war films, art and history, “The Monuments Men” is a film worth seeing.

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