Monuments Men

So how far does Monuments Men break new ground for Mr Clooney?

Works with familiar faces- Matt Damon (Oceans series), Catre Blanchett (The Good German)
Leader of group of (mostly) all-male specialists (Oceans, Three Kings, Collinwood)
Looks good in military uniform; army/Military Intelligence not air force or navy (Combat Academy, Good German, Three Kings, Men Who Stare at Goats. The Peacemaker, Fail Safe)
Fights oppression/products of oppression; attempts to correct injustice- (Good German, Good Night & Good Luck)
Interested in products of theft- (Oceans)
Figure of authority (nearly all of above, plus The Pefect Storm)
Developing role as writer/director (Confessions of a Dangerous Mind, Leatherheads, GN&GL, Ides of March)
Sports dodgy moustache- (O Brother, Thin Red Line)
Playing character called George- not since The Facts of Life?

A couple of suggestions: Expert but artistic rather than military; not the focus of romantic entanglement.

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Does it matter if it breaks new ground?  Also I could probably go through the same exercise with Martin Scorcese or Woody Allen's oeuvre and say their recent movies have not broken any new ground, or that they work with the same people over and over, or deal with the same subjects.  
I think he is finding his feet as a director.  I would also argue (sorry fellow COHers!)  that he is not an actor with incredible range.

That being said-- I hope it's a good movie as I love the history and thought there were serious flaws in his last 2 directing efforts.

"not an actor with incredible range?" Bah, incredible enough I say. He makes an excellent George Clooney. Phenomenal screen presence. Fine with me   

I think George "found his feet as a director" with
Good Night and Good Luck.

  


That doesn't mean he's not on a learning curve still,
he will be all his life creatively.
it's what life is all about.......specially for us mere mortals !

  

This Movie was made with Good Hearts and by Good Hearts...

I don't give a flying F*** what the crits or anyone says, and I cannot make a subjective decision about it myself, because I am 100% bias.

If it is played in years to come and enjoyed for not only what it endevours to teach us, but that it also entertains us.  How then does all the stuff in the first post mean anything, othere than some dude trying to be clever...and really not that clever after all...

Because doesn't great art become great art by it's "familiar"...

I know what a Chanel jacket looks like, I know the style...

I know what a Georgian House looks like, I know the style..

I know what Art Deco looks like, I know the style...

I know what a Monet looks like, I know the style...

And I am proud to say...

I know a George Clooney film, I know the style...

And so will many generations to come... JMO

Exactly, wwhs.

The Monuments Men does break new ground. As a part of WWII history that generally we're neither familiar with, nor formally taught through conventional education.
It's been commented by the author Robert Edsel, who researched & wrote about the cultural significance of this quest, after he was inspired by the book Rape of Europa.  

And George Clooney brings this historically relevant & relatively unknown story to public awareness  through film, one of the most impactful mediums. Enlightening & stimulating.
Coincidental news like the €5 billion stolen art found in Munich late last year only emphasise the relevance.

The story/ film is ground breaking & unique.

Agree with you all  

 

"that he is not an actor with incredible range." I don't know what's your definition of acting range? I think he is a brilliant actor, maybe his acting is so natural that's it looks easy. There is a difference between "acting" and "being" the character without showing off how amazing you are and I think that what George does.