George Clooney and his Monuments Men have been pushed back, out of the Oscar release date tidepool and into a less awardsy February slot, and the movie's new trailer hints as to the whys and wherefores of that decision. This promo sells it as an unashamed, action-packed wartime caper with lots of Oceansy chemistry from its cast and a serious message worn lightly. Click below for a closer look.
Set in World War II, The Monuments Men finds an unlikely squad of recruits culled from museums, galleries and universities for a special mission in liberated Europe. They're tasked with braving the front lines of combat and stopping priceless works of art, architecture and other artefacts from being stolen or destroyed.
Not only did they have to go up against the Nazis, but they also had to try to convince the Allied troops not to attack certain buildings: no easy task for a team of volunteers including art historians and curators. The cast includes Matt Damon, Cate Blanchett, Bill Murray, John Goodman, Jean Dujardin, Bob Balaban and Hugh Bonneville.
Adapted by Clooney and regular producing partner Grant Heslov from Robert Edsel’s book, The Monuments Men will be in our cinemas on February 14.