For his next directorial trick, George Clooney is taking a real-life story, gathering an excellent cast and bringing a new take on World War II to life. A trailer for The Monuments Men is now online over at Apple.
Working with regular producing/writing partner Grant Heslov, Clooney has co-written, directed and is starring in a film adapted from Robert Edsel’s book, which focused on a real platoon charged with retrieving artwork stolen by the Nazis and ensuring that landmarks, buildings and other features of note aren’t destroyed by either the enemy or allied forces.
This was no ordinary troop: it was a gathering of museum directors, art historians and curators, who all volunteered and got into a few scrapes along the way.
“Grant and I were looking to do a film that was less cynical than a lot of the films we do,” Clooney tells USA Today, adding, “Hitler perpetrated the biggest art heist in the history of the world, and almost got away with it. It's been a long time since you could find a new story about World War II."
**The Monuments Men **features a roll-call of Clooney pals and some other superb other casting choices including Matt Damon, Cate Blanchett, John Goodman, Bill Murray, Bob Balaban and Jean Dujardin. It’ll report for duty on January 9.