I could not find an existing thread on this movie. If there is one, please direct me to the right place to continue the discussion.
I just saw this on an airplane yesterday. I enjoyed it, mostly, though didn’t like the ending (no spoiler on that here).
First, why would the two main characters be sent on what is basically a suicide mission (killing the German ambassador) that would blow their covers when the assassination could have been carried out in a much more antiseptic way without so many witnesses and such a high risk of killing two very valuable assets? After all, earlier in the film, Max cleanly killed a German officer offhandedly in a minute with his bare hands, leaving no tracks back to himself (although it clearly would have been identified as a murder as there would be signs of trauma on the victim’s neck).
Second, if Marianne were cooperating with the Germans only on threat to her daughter, why wouldn’t she approach the Allied command or at least Max, now her husband, to find a way out? Then she would have had an opportunity to prove her value to the Allies and redeem herself, or at least she and Max could have disappeared before it became a crisis. She must have know that it was only a matter of time.
Last, a minor point. Max put his uniform on, and when asked about it said he was going to the base to get some liquor. Was/is it a requirement to be in uniform on base even if you are off duty?
Have I misunderstood the way these kinds of operations are carried out (not that very many people would really know), or is this just another case of the movies ignoring reality for a good story?
I haven’t seen the film since it was shown in the cinemas here but I think it was mentioned that the ambassador was closely guarded. I don’t recall anything about the why of the assassination.
How would he get to be so close and alone with the ambassador?
I didn’t mean to suggest he could have done the same thing, only that he just needed opportunity, not some elaborate setup that could end up getting him killed. Surely they could have booby-trapped his car or something.
This scene is stolen from (or is a “tribute” to) an almost identical scene in the 1962 movie “The Counterfeit Traitor” with William Holden. I had understood it to be an actual event in the life of a famous spy for the Allies in WWII, Eric Erickson, but in looking up the story online found an article which claims this particular incident was made up. Film/book version discussed here.
As to the rest of the plot, I found it highly improbable even compared to story lines in other espionage/commando movies. Best just to enjoy the characters and scenes without worrying about realism.
Was going to start a thread but then saw this one. I’m late to the party, but…
If Pitt’s character really wanted to save Marion’s, why not just not carry through with his end of the “blue dye” test? He could have ***not ***written down a note for Marion to send on, and HQ would be none the wiser. If no message was sent by Marion, HQ might then think, “well, she’s innocent.” Even if suspicious, how would they know Pitt didn’t actually write down anything?
What kind of intelligence agency says that “if your lover is a spy, YOU must execute them by your own hand, or be hanged yourself?” Is that supposed to make someone feel better about working for the agency? Sounds like a recipe for a spree-killer revenge thing, with someone trying to take revenge on the agency afterwards.
The part about Pitt’s character flying into France to personally break into a jail and interrogate someone was the part where the movie jumped the shark.
He was also loyal to his country, and he really wanted to find out whether she was a traitor to the country, and also find out if she was deceiving him. I think he was hoping this test would prove that she was innocent and honest.
Makes for good drama. I am guessing they wanted to make it look like a domestic dispute so as not to arouse any suspicion from the enemy or local law enforcement. No idea whether this is the least bit realistic.
Film/book version discussed