Allied (2016)

“Allied” stars Brad Pitt, Marion Cotillard, Jared Harris, and Lizzy Caplan.  Released on November 23, 2016, the film is about an intelligence officer who falls in love with a French resistance fighter, but then faces a difficult task when he learns that she is accused of being a German spy.

The film is directed by Robert Zemeckis, who also directed films such as Back to the Future, Forrest Gump, Cast Away, Flight, and The Walk.  I found Zemeckis to be a very talented director who is also a good storyteller.  I have seen plenty of films that he made during his career, including last year’s The Walk.  In case you haven’t noticed, The Walk is not only one of my favorite films from Zemeckis, but also one of the most underrated films of last year, in my opinion, due to its storytelling, the superb use of 3D, and its straightforward themes.  This latest film from Zemeckis focuses on a love story that takes place during the events of World War II.  The catch?  They’re both spies, and one of them is not who we think they are.  So, I guess it’s like Mr. and Mrs. Smith, but with World War II elements.

Pros:
Solid chemistry between Pitt and Cotillard.

Good cinematography.

Zemeckis‘ direction was decent.

The set designs looked nice.

Cons:
The mystery lacked some high stakes, twists, and intensity.

A straightforward, yet engaging, story.

Final thoughts: While it doesn’t live up to Zemeckis‘ other classics like Back to the Future and The Walk, “Allied” is the type of film that’s more on the romance and less on the thriller.  I really enjoyed the chemistry between the two main actors and its average love story has some pretty good moments, but it didn’t quite live up to what I was expected it to be from Zemeckis, mostly the mystery part.  If you’re a fan of his other works or liked any one of these actors, it’s worth checking out, but don’t expect it to be great.

B-