The tragedy here is that The Monuments Men could have been a really good movie; it definitely had all the necessary pieces, but it's in putting those pieces together properly that Clooney has faltered. The film simply isn't well constructed. Both the movie and its occupants lack personality. It is a fascinating story, presented in an erratic fashion with an odd aversion to specifics, and it attempts to make the case that art is worth dying for without focusing on the art itself. To its credit, the movie does seem well intentioned and earnest, and treats its subject matter with reverence (and it is very likely to inspire you to search for more works on the same topic), but it is ultimately let down by its uneven tone and a subpar script. Yet The Monuments Men still remains watchable, thanks largely to its excellent cast and intriguing story, even though both the story and the cast deserve better.