Allied

     Allied, starring Brad Pitt and Marion Cotillard and directed by Robert Zemeckis, tells the story of two spies (Pitt and Cotillard) who fall in love while on mission behind enemy lines during WWII. But that’s just the start of the movie as alliances are tested and lines become crossed as Max Vatan (Pitt) must investigate if the women he loves, Marianne Beauséjour (Cotillard), to determine if she is a Nazi spy.

     Throughout this movie, Zemeckis proves once again he is a master behind the camera. From sweeping shots of deserts outside of Casablanca to incredible air rides subtly placed into the background, Allied is most definitely a beautiful looking movie. I personally loved his use of his camera around cars where he would zoom in through the back window and out through a side seamlessly blended as if no glass was there.

     The two leads, Pitt and Cotillard, prove again why they are two of the best in the movie business with their relationship feeling authentic. I feel as though Pitt is having a quiet resurgence of sorts as he was great in Fury and The Big Short and Allied again shows his acting chops. Cotillard on the other hand is more of an enigma to me as I have seen very little of her work, but her acting in this movies makes me want to go out and see some of her other films such as Two Days, One Night or Big Fish.

     While the camera work and acting were both top notch, the movie is hurt by the story it tells. Although the leads are able to sell the story they are given, the movie feels much longer than its two hour and four-minute runtime. The first hour of the movie plods on as Vatan and Beauséjour spend weeks together in Casablanca. Although it helps to build the relationship, it feels overextended. The attempts at suspense also fall flat specifically in a scene with a Nazi commander that could have been dripping with anticipation but rather feels like a waste of time. And the conclusion of the movie is the only way the story could have ended but it does not feel satisfying.

     The cinematography and acting on display in this movie make it not a completely wasted effort, but the story ultimately hinders it from being something truly special.

When should you see it?

Dollar Theater