The Monuments Men, Cinemas across London

George Clooney can do no wrong. The two-time Oscar winner has had a great year; not only picking up an Academy Award for Argo  (which he co-produced) but also giving us a brilliant performance in  Gravity, which this week won six Baftas. Now the actor sits in the directing chair, whose previous directing credits include Good Night and Good Luck and The Ides of March, is bringing us a patriotic comedy-drama, inspired by a 2009 book of the same title, The Monuments Men.  

The film is set during the late stages of the Second World War and follows a small Allied platoon made up of art historians, museum directors and curators who venture to Germany in order to try and rescue artworks confiscated by the Nazis. Clooney's all-star cast includes himself, as well as Cate Blanchett (who recently impressed in Blue Jasmine), Matt Damon, Bill Murray and Jean Dujardin (The Artist).

Written by Clooney and Grant Heslov (Clooney’s producing partner on Argo), the screenplay was created in collaboration with the original book’s author Robert M Edsel, who describes the Nazi confiscation of over five million cultural artefacts as “history’s greatest theft” and the Monuments Men’s task as its “greatest treasure hunt,” as western allies found more than 1,000 repositories in South Germany filled with millions of pieces from manuscripts to stained glass. 

 Heslov recently spoke about the comedic element of the film, telling the Financial Times “we liked the idea of these fish out of water guys who are really too old to be in combat.” But he insists the film is more than just intriguing comedy. Heslov wonders '...to what degree is it important to take care of monuments and the art of man? That’s the question we try to address in the film.’ 

With its heavyweight cast and moist-eyed patriotism, there's a risk Clooney's latest outing will fall into a familiar Nazi-bashing America-worshipping romp (especially given Clooney's recent Elgin Marbles blunder. To be fair, pantheon does sound a bit like Parthenon). But everyone loves a bit of feel-good fare, so grab some Freedom Fries and dig out your star-spangled banner.

The Monuments Men is out in cinemas now.