Reigning Men

If the acidic social media wake left behind the recent Duck Dynasty controversy is to be believed, Americans are indeed in the middle of a culture war. But actor and director George Clooney would like to remind us that, even when real bloodstained and earth-scorched battles are being waged, another type of cultural campaign is going on all the same.

So, what’s left to say about Hollywood’s favorite conflict, WWII? While Allied forces sacrificed everything to take land back from Hitler’s grasp, President Roosevelt dispatched a special platoon comprising historians and museum curators to hunt for and reclaim the priceless works of art that Nazi forces had unrightfully seized from subjugated lands across Europe.

This month, Clooney’s The Monuments Men tells that story. With a blend of comedy, drama and action, the all-star cast that includes Clooney himself, Matt Damon, Cate Blanchett, John Goodman and Bill Murray aims to show how conflict affects much more than lines on a map and that creativity and beauty are things worth fighting for at any cost.

The Monuments Men invades theaters Feb. 7.

Feb 7:
Chris Pratt and Elizabeth Banks in The Lego Movie
Feb 14:
Gary Oldman and Samuel L. Jackson in RoboCop.
Feb. 21:
Kevin Costner and Amber Heard in 3 Days to Kill.