Monumental "Monuments Men"

Dear Mr. Clooney,
I just saw a movie that may change my life. I'm not sure if it is the humanity or lack of humanity that moves me more.

Thank you for bringing "The Monuments Men" (from Robert Edsel's book of the same title) to the big screen with a cast, including yourself, who honorably retell a piece of unknown history of brave historians, tasked by FDR, who trek through war torn Europe in possibly the greatest treasure hunt on earth. Their mission: to retrieve art stolen by the Nazis and return plundered public and private artworks to its rightful owners, whether dead or alive. 

Aside from the joyous revelation that Hugh Bonneville (aka "Downton Abbey's" Lord Grantham) and Jean Dujardin ("The Artist") play important roles in the movie, let's just say Cate Blanchett's riveting portrayal, of a Parisian curator privvy to Nazi thievery of the world's priceless masterpieces and what she does with the information, takes the air out of the theatre. Too, Matt Damon's faithful James Granger and the German-Jewish soldier who eavesdrops on the Fuehrer's evil plans as our heroes attempt to outpace the Russians, after stolen art for early reparations.

But the real stars of this show sit in cloaked wheelbarrows and stockpiled frames signed by Peter Paul Rubens, Claude Monet, Michelangelo and Rembrandt, to name but a few. This well directed and written film brings the importance of art into focus and how the plight to protect civilization from extinction due to the ravages of war continues to this day. Like art itself, "Monuments Men" belongs to the ages.

http://www.monumentsmenfoundation.org
http://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/true-story-monuments-men-180949569