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After enduring disingenuous nods from reviewers Kenneth Turan and Manohla Dargis, filmgoers are finally allowed to enjoy something, anything about this tedious exercise in major studio excess. Stephanie Zacharek risks losing her press pass to all future United Artists films by telling the sad truth about Cruise's comically bad turn.
Why is everybody afraid of this media magnate, whose acting deceit destroys an otherwise 'workmanlike' film? Director Bryan Singer steers the crippled ship sturdily into the storm, and the script by Christopher McQuarrie and Nathan Alexander delivers a concise, suspenseful telling of a failed plot to assassinate Hitler. John Ottman does double duty, and deserves kudos for his crisp editing and a swelling, emotional, even award-worthy music score.
Big studio obfuscation and manipulation of bad movie openings is a holiday tradition, but this rollout reeks of special favors. Meanwhile, expect to see UA Chairman Cruise at the Oscars with his able crew.
