First Take: Allied- well, this is awkward

SYPNOSIS:

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.

I went into this one very much knowing that it has good pedigree- Robert Zemeckis has a very proven track record when it comes to this sort of movie, but the trailers sold this film very differently to the finished product, and unfortunately that is a bad thing in this case.

It is directed very well by Zemeckis, and it can be argued that this is his best film for some time. The script by Steven Knight is also very slick and polished, however, at points it does feel a little bit too predictable (especially in the final act of the film). Alongside that, it does also have some very questionable dialogue (and possibly the worst use of sexual innuendo in a film I’ve seen this year). Speaking of said innuendo, this film is a little too sensual for those expecting a pure, undiluted war film- the romance between the two main characters is the main driving force of the narrative, and while it didn’t deter my enjoyment of the film, it did make me cringe at times, so a 15 certificate is definitely the right call from the BBFC. The performances though are first class, with Brad Pitt and Marion Cotillard putting in some very good work as ever. The film is shot brilliantly by Don Burgess, and with a score from Alan Silvestri, you know exactly what to expect- it isn’t up there with the Forrest Gump score, but it has a very iconic quality to it.

THE VERDICT

While it may be a romance at the end of the day, Allied is a very good return to the war genre from Zemeckis. With great direction, performances and a very predictable yet good script, this is a competent film that does what it needs to do- keep the audience engaged in a good story.

RATING: 4/5