Futuristic director Robert Zemeckis ("The Walk") goes old-fashioned with espionage, romance and Casablanca in "Allied."
In 1942, Canadian intelligence officer Max Vatan (Brad Pitt, "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button") quietly parachutes into a Moroccan desert. He is quickly met by a driver, who takes him into town.
At a glitzy party in Casablanca, he locks eyes and lips with a stunning woman, a French resistance fighter, Marianne Beausejour (Marion Cotillard; "The Dark Knight Rises," "Inception"). Cottilard radiates warmth and mystery. Meeting for the first time, they pull the wool over everyone's eyes as a married couple.
Ever the perfectionist, Marianne goes through the cover story down to the last detail. His French accent, the tailored clothes, their rooftop rendevouz. Although the facade may have melted as the two watch the sun rise over sand dunes.
Back to business, their mission is to attain an invitation to an event where a Nazi ambassador will be attending. They will take him out there. A ticking clock counts down to a diversion, the duo executes the assassination with precision and make their exit.
Falling in love, Max and Marianne move to London, get married and have a baby daughter. It's domestic bliss until Max is notified by his superiors that Marianne might be a German spy. He is forced to follow a simple plan that will flush out his wife. And if she is proven to be a traitor, he would be tasked to kill her himself, otherwise, he would be charged for treason.
When feelings are involved though, nothing is simple. Marianne's words could be seen as perceptive or suspect. Max refuses to believe that Marianne is not who she says she is and goes to great length outside of the official channel to prove her innocence. It's a conflict between duty to his country and love for his family.
"Allied" plays like a beautiful montage with sumptuous sets, luxe lighting, impeccable costumes and glamorous stars. Even the nighttime air raid has a movie look. There are suspenseful moments for sure, but as a whole, it doesn't grab you as emotionally as it should be. It does get more real towards the end and it ends on a poignant note.
"Allied" is a glossy spies-in-love war drama, old-Hollywood style.
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