Movie Review: “Allied” (R)
It’s “Casablanca” meets “Mr. and Mrs. Smith” in “Allied,” the latest film from the great Robert Zemeckis. Truth be told, Zemeckis’ last two films (“The Walk” and “Flight”) left me a little bit cold. They certainly weren’t bad movies, but both fell a little bit flat. Having said that, “Allied” finds the “Back to the Future” director back on track.
“Allied” opens in Morocco circa 1942 and finds Canadian intelligence officer Max Vatan (Brad Pitt) teaming with French resistance fighter Marianne Beauséjour (Marion Cotillard) in an effort to take down a powerful enemy during the Nazi regime. During a most dangerous covert mission, the inevitable happens: Max and Marianne fall in love. Shortly thereafter, the couple moves to London where they are married and eventually have a child. It isn’t long before their relationship is tested by the pressures of the war, and eventually, Max must determine whether his wife and the mother of his child truly loves him or if she’s secretly been working with the enemy.
“Allied” is refreshingly old-fashioned in its approach. Zemeckis and screenwriter Steven Knight (“Dirty Pretty Things,” “Eastern Promises,” “Locke”) have made the kind of movie Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall might have starred in 70 years ago. This film is positively exquisite in terms of its construction. Knight provides “Allied” with thrills and intrigue to be sure, but this is more of a character-driven piece. Once the film settles into the “is she or isn’t she” portion of the plot, the tension is palpable.
The overall look of the production is simply stunning. Zemeckis directs with a confident hand, and with “Allied,” viewers will be reminded of what a truly talented storyteller he can be. Of course, Zemeckis is aided by way of breathtaking art direction, gorgeous costumes, stellar cinematography, and a stirring score by Alan Silvestri.
“Allied” also relies heavily on the chemistry between its leads. Pitt is rather low key here. This isn’t a showy performance. It’s more of a movie-star performance. Having said that, Pitt’s approach to the material is appropriate for this particular movie. Cotillard is gorgeous and tough to boot. She also brings just the right amount of “mysterious” to the role giving the second half of the picture a quiet intensity. Together, Pitt and Cotillard bring the heat. Look no further then a romantic rendezvous in the middle of a desert.
“Allied” is a movie for adults. It’s thrilling, dramatic, and to a certain degree heartbreaking. As a spy movie, it’s decidedly old-school, and that works to the movie’s advantage because for all the espionage on display, this is really a love story. As for the resolution regarding the mystery behind Beauséjour, it is both unexpected and fulfilling. Sure, there are a few slow patches, and there are certainly moments that are implausible, but no matter. “Allied” is well worth watching. At the very least, this is Zemeckis’ strongest directorial effort since 2000’s “Cast Away.”
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