Operation Mincemeat is a portrayal of true events that occurred during the Second World War, when the British schemed a deception to gain an advantage. The movie is now streaming on Netflix.
Story
In 1943, Britain is attempting to find a way to invade Sicily, Italy. However, Hitler and Nazi Germany are fully aware of their intention.
Winston Churchill, the Prime Minister at the time, wants the British operatives to figure out a way to deceive them into thinking they would attack Greece instead.
Two operatives, Commander Ewen Montagu (Colin Firth) and Charles Cholmondeley (Matthew Macfadyen), come up with the outrageous plan to plant a fake corpse in the sea.
This corpse would wash up on the shores of Spain, and it would carry seemingly important evidence that the Allied powers will be invading Greece instead of Sicily.
To make Hitler and the Nazis believe it, they attempt to make the plan as solid as possible, giving him the fake generic British name William Martin and a backstory; complete with a position in the marines and lover.
The rest of the plot narrates how the plan is executed and whether it finds success in turning the tide of the war.
Performances
Colin Firth and Matthew Macfadyen are undoubtedly the stars of the movie. With the plot central to them, they end up with most of the head lifting.
Their camaraderie is excellent, completely blending into their characters and portraying what constantly switches between brotherhood and spite. These are complex individuals, and the two are extremely successful in translating this to the screen.
All the other actors do a fine job, with limited screentime, of fitting right into a 1943 Britain. Some standouts are Kelly Macdonald as Jean Leslie and Penelope Wilton as Hester Leggett.
Positives
A story of such importance and magnitude in history definitely deserves to be told. And the way it is told by director John Madden is commendable.
Right from the cinematography to the directors, Operation Mincemeat has been created with utmost care for detail.
A lot of important information has been packed into the over 2 hour-long films, and almost all of it will leave you in awe of how this was actually achieved.
The creative liberties, such as the love triangle between Montagu, Jean and Cholmondeley, and Jean’s photograph getting exposed make the plot more engaging than otherwise.
The film paints a vivid picture of 1943 England, a time which few today have witnessed, which, in itself, is fascinating to a great extent. The politics of the time are also depicted well.
Negatives
While the narrative is engaging as a whole, there are instances where it drags. It pulls you in and then loses your attention at a later point, only to pick it up back again. It can be a slow watch at times.
Verdict
Operation Mincemeat is a must-watch for the impressive execution and the important story it tells; one that possibly changed the course of history for the benefit of the entire world.
Rating: 4/5