This movie has many of the same problems as that bigger World War II movie out right now, Valkyrie. True stories: both very interesting. General storytelling: both fairly well done. Period look: Both impressive. Lead actors: both laughable. Valkyrie was able to overcome Tom Cruise (on second viewing, perhaps I was a tad too harsh on him). But Daniel Craig cannot carry Defiance. Who cast him in this? Bad, bad move. Listening to him stumble through a Russian accent is more than enough to break the suspension of disbelief. He seems uncomfortable, as if he knows he’s not selling “World War II resistance leader in the forest.” The rest of the cast is okay, and the direction is up there with Edward Zwick’s previous efforts like Glory and The Last Samurai (where he got to have Tom Cruise ruin his movie!). But this feels like watching a well-meaning effort flounder and fail.