Allied
Starring: Brad Pitt, Marion Cotillard
Directed by: Robert Zemeckis
Rated: R
Can these spies survive World War II?
When intelligence officer Max Vatan (Brad Pitt) meets French resistance fighter Marianne Beauséjour on a mission in Casablanca, the two fall in love and marry. After returning to London, Max receives news from intelligence that Marianne might be a German spy. Could it be true?
With Allied, director Robert Zemeckis has crafted a World War II thriller with shades ofCasablancaandBridge of Spies. Zemeckis is one of the best filmmakers working today, consistently releasing tense, well-made films (Flight, The Walk, Cast Away). Allied continues his streak. Beautifully shot and stylishly crafted, Allied is brimming with tension as we attempt to uncover its mystery.
Brad Pitt is back in World War II for the 4th time. (Seven Years in Tibet, Inglourious Basterds, Fury, and Allied) He's slowly building a filmography that could solidify him as the only actor who is truly qualified (or obsessed enough) to take on World War II roles from here on out. In Allied, Pitt plays it confident and cool as Max, an intelligence officer who works relentlessly as an intelligence officer during the war. When confronted with the fact that his wife Marianne could be a German spy, he takes matters into his own hands to prove her innocence. At its core, Allied is a character driven story. So it's interesting to see Max and Marianne's relationship develop. We see them meet for the first time, get married and have a family. So when doubt is placed in Max's mind, his reactions are fascinating.
Marion Cotillard is Marianne Beauséjour, a French Resistance fighter. I'm pretty excited to finally review a Marion Cotillard movie for this blog because she's my favorite actress. (If you have never seen a Marion Cotillard movie, don't fret. I have recommendations for you: La Vie en Rose, Two Days One Night, Rust and Bone, and Macbeth show off her incredible acting talent.) In Allied, she again shows off her acting ability playing a spy turned loving wife. She slowly builds the audience's trust through the first act, until a shattering possibility makes her every move suspicious. Could she really be a German spy? Could the love for her family be a facade? What is she hiding?
These questions give the film a gripping air of tension. As Max attempts to find more information about Marianne, the suspense grows. The audience is left wondering who to trust and what could happen next? Zemeckis keeps the tension building through the second and third acts.
The costume and set designs in Allied are absolutely amazing. Every outfit looks gorgeous and is exquisitely tailored. The sets match the 40's time period perfectly. The entire mise-en-scene of the film really puts you in the mind set of the 1940's. I imagine we can expect a few costume and set design Oscar nominations come award season.
My issues with Allied lie in the pacing. The beginning of the film starts out a bit slow. It takes a little while to pick up. The second and third acts are definitely the film's strong points. There are also some tonal shifts that are a bit strange. One moment the film transitions from a Nazi take down to a wedding scene. There are a few odd transitions like that and with some editing changes, I think it could have avoided that issue all together.
Allied has some slow moments and tonal shifts, but it remains a stylish and tense World War II romantic thriller.
My Rating: 7/10