Grade: B-
“The Monuments Men,” is itself not the monument one may hope it could be. The film, which is about a group of soldiers heading to Europe during WWII to protect art, certainly deals in grand and powerful messages, yet is at times held beck by its tone. The film jumps quickly between comedy and tragedy, seemingly unable to deal with the harsh reality it shows us. Sometimes the laughs work, and other times they feel awkward. Yet, the movie remains genuine throughout and does a good job at honoring the lives of brave men. The movie gets quite philosophical at times, with George Clooney going on diatribes about the necessity of art and art’s place in society, and this is where the movie really shines. Even with its faults, “The Monuments Men” gives a compelling argument for the necessity of art and shows the true story of the men who fought and died for our right to watch movies like this.