My Review - Operation Mincemeat
My Rating 8/10
I thought this was a very impressive and entertaining film based on actual events that occurred in 1943 during World War 11.
Operation Mincemeat was a successful British deception operation of the Second World War to disguise the 1943 Allied invasion of Sicily. Two members of British intelligence obtained the body of Glyndwr Michael, a tramp who died from eating rat poison, dressed him as an officer of the Royal Marines and placed personal items on him identifying him as the fictitious Captain (Acting Major) William Martin.
The story was previously filmed in 1956 and titled The Man That Never Was starring Clifton Webb ,Gloria Grahame and Robert Fleming and based on the story of the same name written by the main character Ewan Montagu played so effectively in this version by Colin Firth.
Ewen Edward Samuel Montagu CBE QC DL was a British judge, Naval intelligence officer and author who worked on the operation during his time in Naval Intelligence at The British Admiralty.
In 1953 Ewan Montagu wrote his account of Operation Mincemeat however this 2022 version of the story is based upon Ben Macintyre's book on titled Operation Mincemeat with an excellent screenplay by Michelle Ashford .
The film stars Colin Firth, Kelly Macdonald, Matthew Macfadyen, Penelope Wilton, Johnny Flynn, and Jason Isaacs.
War stories are not my favourite movie genre but the character development and the performances in this film especially by Colin Firth as Ewan Montagu are outstanding. As are Matthew Macfadyen as Charles Cholmandeley and Kelly MacDonald as Jean Leslie . These three complex lonely characters that are totally dedicated to serving their country together form an emotional triangle .
Matthew Macfadyen in one of his best roles in a while is very impressive as the co instigator of the Operation who forms a great working friendship with Ewan Montagu until circumstances change and jealousy and mistrust set in.
Johnny Flynn plays Ian Fleming who of course later created James Bond . He also has a good part in the movie and even divulges who his inspiration was for James Bond's cantankerous boss at MI5 . Ian Fleming was actually part of Operation Mincemeat in his role as assistant to Britain's director of Naval Intelligence.
Of course there's some War Action in this movie but for me it was the intrigue and complexity of the characters that impressed me equally as much as the complex Operation Mincemeat itself.
I suspect this is exactly what Director John Madden and screen writer Michelle Ashford intended as the story itself is so well known as well as the outcome of one of the most crucial turning points in World War 11.
I couldn't help thinking of the stories of bravery and War intelligence happening today in this tragic first major War of the 21st Century in Ukraine that no doubt will take the form of stories and the movies of years to come .
If Nothing Changes Nothing Changes .......
I thought this was a very impressive and entertaining film based on actual events that occurred in 1943 during World War 11.
Operation Mincemeat was a successful British deception operation of the Second World War to disguise the 1943 Allied invasion of Sicily. Two members of British intelligence obtained the body of Glyndwr Michael, a tramp who died from eating rat poison, dressed him as an officer of the Royal Marines and placed personal items on him identifying him as the fictitious Captain (Acting Major) William Martin.
The story was previously filmed in 1956 and titled The Man That Never Was starring Clifton Webb ,Gloria Grahame and Robert Fleming and based on the story of the same name written by the main character Ewan Montagu played so effectively in this version by Colin Firth.
Ewen Edward Samuel Montagu CBE QC DL was a British judge, Naval intelligence officer and author who worked on the operation during his time in Naval Intelligence at The British Admiralty.
In 1953 Ewan Montagu wrote his account of Operation Mincemeat however this 2022 version of the story is based upon Ben Macintyre's book on titled Operation Mincemeat with an excellent screenplay by Michelle Ashford .
The film stars Colin Firth, Kelly Macdonald, Matthew Macfadyen, Penelope Wilton, Johnny Flynn, and Jason Isaacs.
War stories are not my favourite movie genre but the character development and the performances in this film especially by Colin Firth as Ewan Montagu are outstanding. As are Matthew Macfadyen as Charles Cholmandeley and Kelly MacDonald as Jean Leslie . These three complex lonely characters that are totally dedicated to serving their country together form an emotional triangle .
Matthew Macfadyen in one of his best roles in a while is very impressive as the co instigator of the Operation who forms a great working friendship with Ewan Montagu until circumstances change and jealousy and mistrust set in.
Johnny Flynn plays Ian Fleming who of course later created James Bond . He also has a good part in the movie and even divulges who his inspiration was for James Bond's cantankerous boss at MI5 . Ian Fleming was actually part of Operation Mincemeat in his role as assistant to Britain's director of Naval Intelligence.
Of course there's some War Action in this movie but for me it was the intrigue and complexity of the characters that impressed me equally as much as the complex Operation Mincemeat itself.
I suspect this is exactly what Director John Madden and screen writer Michelle Ashford intended as the story itself is so well known as well as the outcome of one of the most crucial turning points in World War 11.
I couldn't help thinking of the stories of bravery and War intelligence happening today in this tragic first major War of the 21st Century in Ukraine that no doubt will take the form of stories and the movies of years to come .
If Nothing Changes Nothing Changes .......