December
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Allied (2016)
The classic ruse in the espionage thriller genre is to keep us in the dark about who is the double-agent. The film Allied (2016) is based on the premise that the romantic heroine might be a spy for the other side and asks what happens if she is caught. Beautiful filming on nostalgic locations and top-tier talent raises expectations for this film but they are disappointingly let down by an ordinary script and unconvincing performances.
In 1942, Canadian intelligence officer Max (Brad Pitt) is parachuted into Cassablanca to terminate a high-ranking Nazi. He poses as the husband of French Resistance fighter Marianne (Marion Cotillard) in order to infiltrate local German society until the mission is complete. They become romantically involved and after the mission escape to London where they really do marry. The couple are blissfully happy until Max is informed that his wife is suspected of being a double-agent. If proven, he must execute her or he will be hanged for high treason. Furthermore, until the investigation is complete he must continue as if nothing unusual was happening.
Woven into this plotline are several action-filled twists to flesh out the narrative and to keep the audience guessing about Marianne. This film does not lack action but it does have a serious believability deficit. From the opening parachute descent, to the various set-piece shoot-outs until the final shot, there are just too many scenes that feel fake. For example, after carrying out the mission in full view of German soldiers they leave the building with as much panic as a couple rushing for a bus hoping nobody notices their machine guns are not baguettes. And after a German bomber is shot down outside their house they grab a picnic blanket and their baby to sit near the smoking aircraft as if lounging by a duck-filled pond. Regardless of how rugged or violent the scene, this espionage glamour-couple keep their makeup intact and fashionable clothes neatly pressed but are devoid of any chemistry or genuine emotion.
What works for the debonair James Bond with his legendary aura of British reserve-under-fire simply does not work for Brad Pitt. Bond has gravitas and panache; in this role, Max only manages parody. Flat lines like “I’ve looked into her soul” epitomise the plasticity of script and delivery. Once credibility goes, a film rarely recovers. Like many scenes in this film, the climactic moments are shallow melodrama whereas they could have been a real gut-wrencher. Apart from great photography, there is little to commend in this film.
Director: Robert Zemeckis
Stars: Brad Pitt, Marion Cotillard, Jared Harris
CineMuseFilms 
Hi, just wanted to say thank you for following my blog! I think a lot of people share our opinion on Allied, I think it may have been better received on a lazy Sunday afternoon than midnight in a cinema for me ☺
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Thanks for commenting. Allied is far from a failure, but its obvious potential is unrealised because of lacklustre acting and mediocre directing.
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I gave this a miss in the cinema, largely because every reviewer was of the same opinion; it’s a bit of a turkey. I don’t think I’ll be rushing to add it to my Blu-Ray collection, somehow. PS: I like your blog very much.
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Nice to see you here spencerfeeney. To be fair, this film does have entertainment value and is nicely stylised, but hard to take seriously.
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Disappointing to hear about the script and lack of chemistry. I love Cottilard so that kinda sucks to hear. I’m not surprised that Pitt isn’t great, BUT, I think it takes a certain type of director to get the best out of him.
I mean, think about Fight Club, 12 Monkeys, Burn After Reading. That’s Fincher, Gilliam and the Coens. They certainly got the best out of him. Perhaps he is just coasting at this point, Burn After Reading is the last time I really liked Pitt and that was 2009 I believe.
However, I think I’ll still see this. WWII endlessly fascinates me and I like the behind the scenes sorta stuff. I’ve tempered my expectations though, the believability issue you mention hopefully won’t bother me too much. I mean…
“”And after a German bomber is shot down outside their house they grab a picnic blanket and their baby to sit near the smoking aircraft as if lounging by a duck-filled pond” haha, wtf?!?
Did you catch an advance screening of this? You’re in Aus right? Which state again? Here in SA at least, it isn’t playing at all until boxing day, and I’m sure it’ll be bloody packed when I go see that first screening!
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Nice to hear from you Jordan. Its still an interesting film and worth seeing. I’m in Sydney and on the preview screening list for the main outlets so I’m lucky to see films early. Happy viewing in 2017.
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Ohhh you lucky bugger!! ;P Yes I am looking forward to seeing this one, despite the obvious flaws that it seems to have
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oh, and merry christmas mate! (-:
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Same to you Jordan; keep in touch.
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While I do agree that “Allied” loses a fair amount of its credibility, it wasn’t significant enough for me to hinder its ability to entertain. And I believed Pitt & Cotillard who shared great chemistry on-screen too. A three and a half for me.
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I agree that it has entertainment value, but cannot go as far as you in seeing chemistry between the stars. If the finger is to be pointed anywhere, it is at Brad Pitt. Cotilliard plays the femme fatalle rather well, but Pitt holds back in a kind of ‘faux cool’ way that impedes the flow of emotion. Anyway, nice chatting to you moviedocmelbourne.
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Likewise, as always, cinemusefilms 🙂
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