The Monuments Men

[Plynkes]

So, one of those rare days when my job is actually interesting: when we get to be in the movie business! Providing some stuff for a customer in Germany and it turns out it is for a WWII picture George Clooney is making called "The Monuments Men." The guy says it is based on a book of the same name. Sounds like it is about art treasures and such. Anybody read it? Worth the time?  I always loved "The Train", I wonder if it will be like that?

[flags_of_war]

There seems to be some stuff on the net about it. Due out Dec 2013.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monuments_Men_(film)

[mweaver]

I have seen the book, and almost bought it, but didn't.  It is certainly an interesting topic - and one that could lend itself to some skirmish game scenarios.

[Blackwolf]

Sounds like the Len Deighton novel XPD,could be good!

[Plynkes]

Just got off the phone* with George (that's what I call him, we're pretty tight now) and he wants more props! They've just increased their order. Got to get it done by the 10th! Stop panicking. It will be fine.








*Not really, his German minion, actually. 

[former user]

did he have "ze tipicall acccent" ? 

[Plynkes]

Necro: Trailer's out. Won't link to it directly as the forum software will automatically embed it in my post (not sure if you can stop it doing that) and there are Swastikas all over the place.

But if you search 'Monuments Men' on Youtube you'll find it.


Looks like it has a slight comedy-drama vibe to it countering the more serious themes going on, with Bill Murray and John Goodman on board.

"So we get to shoot some Nazis?"

[Calimero]

Looking forward to see this movie… although I’m a bit worried because it was due in December at first  and now it’s release date is set in February (at least here…)

@ Plynkes, what exactly is the stuff you provide for the movie?

[Plynkes]

Plundered Nazi loot. 

[Helen]

Nice one Dylan, thank you. Saw this on Facebook sometime ago and the trailer looks very good.

Cheers,

Helen

[Mancha]

I'm reading this right now, and my overall opinion isn't especially positive.  In fact, the following is what I wrote to my brother, who had initially recommended the book to me:

Okay, so I'm about halfway through the Monuments Men and I just cannot figure it out.  There are like seven of these dudes in the whole US Army and, as far as I can tell, all they do is drive around France admiring architecture and the occasional art piece.  Now and then their job gets as strenuous and demanding as to require them to remind some bewildered actual Army personnel that they can't use an ancient master's canvas as a cum rag whilst shagging some French whore in a church nave.  But the weird thing is that the author is trying to convince me that what they do is valuable and worthy of my respect.  In this pursuit, he talks about these guys as if they're regular Army (which I'm having a hard time buying), and serving on "the front", and they're cruising around in some appropriated "jalopy", as if they're The Sharks cruising their turf looking for bad-ass Nazi art fiends with whom to rumble.

Nevertheless, they seem to think very highly of themselves, and write home talking about the sanctity of their mission and how challenging it is and how they're saving the art world one Madonna at a time.  I'm kind of reminded of my first impression of those Twilight books (that are quickly being transformed into movies) as some teenage girl's hopeful but completely delusional fantasy of her importance to some dreamy (but misunderstood) guy, her high school, her town, and the world in general.  Somewhere in the world is an aging monuments man who's still putting himself to sleep at night with dreams of finally being appreciated for his selfless military duty.  In fact, my overall impression is that they're total dweebs who don't appreciate that the rest of the Army is laughing at them behind their backs. And while I'm sure they're going to save Western Civilization as we know it in the end, I suspect that much of what they're going to accomplish would have been done without them.  Mind you, I'm sure I'll have more respect for them once George Clooney portrays one of them in the movie, but I kind of wonder who will next be rendered improbably important by this author? - "Romanian Gravediggers of the Alps"

[von Lucky]

Due next year with Steven Seagal and Russell Crowe, 'The Book Hunter':
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-25403595

[Elbows]

Plundered Nazi loot. 

Is this better than plundered Nazi booty? 

 

[abu iskander]

Now and then their job gets as strenuous and demanding as to require them to remind some bewildered actual Army personnel that they can't use an ancient master's canvas as a cum rag whilst shagging some French whore in a church nave.

LMFAO.

[Old Goat]

Just got back from the Honeymoon with the now Mrs. Goat and this was a book grabbed at the airport while trying not to miss the flight.

To be entirely honest not entirely sure I agree with Mancha's synopsis (it makes the book sound a hell of a lot racier than it actually is) and while yes it is interesting and these chaps are undoubtedly unsung heroes it just isn't that good a read.  The French come out of it surprisingly well and the way in which Adolfs personal stash of art was saved from being trashed is quite interesting (I won't spoil it).  The most interesting thing I found that was when the Bayeux tapestry was recovered and displayed the 'English Fleeing' part was kept covered up for fear of upsetting British soldiers.  That aside give the book a swerve, unless you are particularly interested in Art History, although the film may be worth a look seeing the cast.

The best book I read while away was about the history of Rum and how it contributed to the War of Independence, piracy, Seven years war etc... but that probably belongs on the Flouncy shirts page...