Allied (English, 2016)

Brad Pitt fits the role of an agent quite well and has handled himself quite admirably during the deep emotional sequences that the latter part of the film demands from him. However, he is overshadowed by the dazzling Marion Cotillard who emotes like a dream and charms everyone with her eloquence and smartness. She is outstanding when she shows her vulnerable self to her husband.

The film is shot beautifully amidst the deserts of Casablanca and the lush British setting. In combination with the exquisite production design and costumes the film manages to seamlessly transport us into the Second World War era. The way the lead actors carry off the costumes is also commendable.

The legendary Rober Zemeckis helms the classic, “who can you trust” war drama with consummate ease. He stages the set pieces quite well and has the audience in his hook by holding back on the action until the last moment possible. The first aggressive act of Brad Pitt in Casablanca which comes up when you least expect is a fine example.

In spite of the cast and the setting for a classic war-drama on the lines of Ingrid Bergman and Humphrey Bogart starrer Casablanca (there is remarkable likeness between Bergman and Cotillard in fact), the end product does not come through since the script by Steven Knight does not have enough crests. Even the sequences where Pitt is confused do not come through cohesively as much as they needed to.