Forgotten war film with one moment fans say 'you know it's amazing'
Brad Pitt and Marion Cotillard star in the 2016 film Allied, which was a box office bomb and received poor reviews from critics, but fans can't get enough of the love story
Brad Pitt and Marion Cotillard lead the cast in the lesser-known wartime romance, Allied, which has left fans "sobbing".
The 1942-set film sees Wing Commander Max Vatan, portrayed by Pitt, sent to Casablanca for a high-stakes mission to take out a German ambassador. He's joined by French resistance fighter Marianne Beauséjour, played by Cotillard, as they embark on their perilous task.
As they pose as husband and wife, their professional relationship begins to blur into something deeper, despite their initial resolve to suppress their emotions. The film's devastating twist has had audiences tearing up during the climactic moments.
Empire magazine said: "Unlike his most recent period piece, high-wire thriller The Walk, Zemeckis keeps most of his technological toys in the box for this one. A more classical piece of filmmaking, shorn of bells and whistles, its show-stopping moment comes with a whirling camera move around a car caught in a desert sandstorm. A reminder of its maker's formidable skills, it's a rare bravura moment in a more workmanlike thriller."
Despite being a commercial failure and facing harsh criticism, resulting in significant financial losses, the central love story has captivated many viewers since its 2016 release, reports the Irish Star.
One unhappy critic said: "Like an average cover version of a classic song, Zemeckis drama makes all the right noises for a 40s war-time thriller, but it doesnt have any of the heart."
Another reviewer panned the film, stating: "A romance picture with very little steam, a war picture with only one impressive set piece, and a spy picture with a double-cross so bland that all the players look and feel like they are going through the motions strictly for a paycheck."
However, on Rotten Tomatoes, one enthusiastic fan said: "You know a movie is amazing when it pulls at your heart stings and has you balling your eyes out in the end."
A more measured assessment came from another viewer, who noted: "Whilst it could be seen as a Hollywood sentimentality project, it is warm, sincere, and beautiful. The story is solid, and the performances are strong."
Meanwhile, a further reviewer heaped praise on the film, saying: "Allied is a gripping World War II thriller directed by Robert Zemeckis, starring Brad Pitt and Marion Cotillard. The film follows intelligence officer Max Vatan (Pitt) and French Resistance fighter Marianne Beauséjour (Cotillard) as they fall in love during a dangerous mission in Casablanca. Their relationship is put to the ultimate test when Max is tasked with investigating whether Marianne is a German spy. The film is visually stunning, with impressive period detail and thrilling action sequences. Pitt and Cotillard deliver compelling performances, capturing the emotional complexity of their characters' tumultuous romance. While the Pacing may lag in parts, "Allied" is a suspenseful and captivating film that will keep audiences on the edge of their seats until the very end."
Allied is available to stream on ITVX.
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The Guardian
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