First, the Recap:
In the heat of war, what emphasis is placed on loyalty and betrayal, much less love? In 1942, intelligence officer Max Vatan (Brad Pitt) has a deadly mission to carry out. As part of a duo, the other being French Resistance fighter Marianne (Marion Cotillard), the two complete their task and ultimately reunite in London, Vatan having fallen for the French beauty. The joys of life, even in this time of strife, seem to be moving forward nicely until Vatan is called upon by his Commander, Frank Heslop (Jared Harris), and confronted with an unexpected and undeniably upsetting scenario. Refusing to believe what he has been advised, and with limited leeway to prove otherwise, Vatan races against time, hoping the life he’s chosen to share hasn’t been paired with a lie.
Worth Seeing: Yes
Director/producer extraordinaire Robert Zemeckis takes the reigns and delivers a highly acute drama about the perils of love during the storms of war, anchored by solid writing, tension-building, emotional connection between the two lead characters, excellent cinematography, and a potent finale that will grab the heart, even if possibly having already decided earlier which way the viewer might surmise the narrative is going. Pitt and Cotillard have wonderful chemistry together on screen, carrying both the action sequences and intimate moments off equally well while keeping the key mystery boiling underneath. Supporting turns from Harris, Lizzy Caplan as Vatan’s sister, and Simon McBurney as a shadowy S.O.E. official all add to the enigma as the tale careens towards its end. Certainly a film worth the funds to catch on the big screen.
As always, this is all for your consideration and comment. Until next time, thank you for reading!
