Allied Review
R: Violence, Some Sexuality/Nudity, Language and Brief Drug Use
Paramount Pictures, GK Films, ImageMovers
2 Hrs and 4 Minutes
Cast: Brad Pitt, Marion Cotillard, Jared Harris, Simon McBurney, Lizzy Caplan, Matthew Goode
REVIEW: Well isn’t this the most ironic release for Brad Pitt. A day I swear a DAY. EXACTLY A DAY after the divorce announcement between Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, Paramount Pictures released the trailer for Robert Zemeckis’ next film Allied which has Pitt and Marion Cotillard as surprise surprise, spies in love. As much anyone could deny it, this can be considered as a Mr. and Mrs. Smith of World War II type of film. A film like this may or may not be the best look for Pitt, but when you have a legendary visionary director as Robert Zemeckis, this may just be the comeback he needs.
In 1942, an intelligence officer in North Africa encounters a female French Resistance fighter on a deadly mission behind enemy lines. When they reunite in London, their relationship is tested by the pressures of war.
THE GOOD: What people can expect from a Robert Zemeckis film is undeniably fantastical visuals which are no exception here in Allied. The film features beautiful visual imagery that is unsubtly symbolic to the story presented. A nice example of this is when Marianne is giving birth in an exploding hospital in London where as her yells get louder so does the explosions. The film opens in a beautiful way where Max is parachuting into an African desert. The desert is one of the most beautiful set pieces the film hats offer and Zemeckis does show it off amazingly so. The film incorporates good humor throughout where it doesn’t shy from funny dialogue no matter how dark the story’s content is.
THE BAD: As much the film prospers in its visual imagery, it fails with nearly everything else. The story for what is there is everything you see in the trailers. Allied’s biggest issue isn’t the lack of story, but instead the lack of emotional depth. Max and Marianne are believed to be in love over this brief time of preparing for this mission and as an audience member, you don’t buy it. They meet for a few days to prepare, then have obligatory sexual intercourse, and when it’s all said and done decide to get married. They don’t build any character between the two at all so their interactions aren’t so special. We know with spies a lot of their character backstory are supposed to be confidential but for a film like this where it has award intentions, the character should be the most important thing to accomplish.
They barely even have any chemistry for Pitt is truly half-assing this role. He plays this character in such limited emotion that you wonder if the principal photography was shot during the filing of the divorce. He phones the performance in as much Adam Sandler phoned his for Pixels. It is really that disappointing. When you are in a Robert Zemeckis film you put your all into the role no matter what. Poor Cotillard as she is really attempting to shine in this role. She actually does expresses emotion even when the script barely has her anything to do.
Some other cast members in the film are there with barely any character at all when they do seem a bit interesting even more so than the leads the film follows. Lizzy Caplan plays a blond lesbian WWII fighter who is the sister to Max that has a girlfriend and through the entire film you question if that is Lizzy Caplan. She is barely in the film but when she’s there she is not really used when she is capable of doing more.
LAST STATEMENT: Allied may have a great production with beautiful imagery but is hampered by a thin story, half-hearted performances, and lack of character.
Rating: 2/5 | 47%
Super Scene: “We believe your wife is a German spy”
