During WWII, the Nazi's steal countless pieces of art and hide them away across Europe. Some 'over-the-hill' art scholars, historians, architects and other experts form a unit to retrieve as many of the stolen masterpieces as possible. Their mission becomes even more urgent when the team learns of Hitler's "Nero Decree" which orders destruction of the artworks if the Third Reich falls. Caught in a race against time the men risk their lives to protect some of mankind's greatest achievements!
This movie is loosely based on true events and the non fiction book "The Monument's Men: Allied Heroes, Nazi Thieves & the Greatest Treasure Hunt in History" by Robert M Edsel and Bret Witter. It features an all-star cast including George Clooney, Matt Damon, Cate Blanchett, Bill Murray, John Goodman, and Hugh Boneville. The movie was directed and produced by George Clooney and was released in 2014.
A quote that truly struck me from the film was spoken by Frank Stokes: "You can wipe out an entire generation, you can burn their homes to the ground and somehow they'll still find their way back. But if you destroy their history, you destroy their achievements and its as if they never existed."
This movie is a great historical fiction piece and profiles the real life monuments men at the end who actually saved some of our most treasured works of art. This is a great watch for anyone who enjoys a good mystery, WWII movie, and treasure hunter!
KW