(May Contain Spoilers)
I thought I had watched this film, however I had only actually seen the first few minutes until the early on reveal, so I was keen to watch the rest of the film as I love the duo of Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie! (As part of a Brad Pitt Marathon). I thought the film had a few great story changes made by the active characters decisions and intensions pushing the narrative and the action scenes were very enjoyable to watch for a female a male duo. However, could not help but think, looking back at this film from a modern perspective that it was a glorified domestic abusive storyline.
The beginning of the movie also bookends the final scene, which is a nice touch. We start with John Smith (Brad Pitt) and Jane Smith (Angelina Jolie) in a marriage counsellor meeting room, asking them question about their marriage like how must trust and sex they have. It is then revealed how the two meet which as on an assassin job although both of the agents didn’t know each other or their business but developed a relationship and subsequently got married. However, this marriage is built on lies and one another doesn’t know what their other half actually does as they are both secret agents working for rival companies. Therefore, John and Janes marriage goes stale and they attend neighbourhood gatherings which seems normal, but in their world horrible and boring.
Jane and John are later both given an assignment to target and kill someone, but when they discover each other on the job (but not being able to see each other’s faces) they try to kill one another, however, are unsuccessful.
Jane and John thereafter try to find out who the other assassin/agent was and discover that it is their other half! The is then a cat-and-mouse storyline as there are hits out on both of their heads if they do not end up killing one another. We start to see Jane and John develop and more sincere relationship once they are honest with one another. After John and Jane get back together officially, a hit is called out on their heads to be killed so they try to runaway and escape.
This involves their house being blown up as well as a shoot out in a department store. John and Jane are successful in killing and escaping. Later it is revealed that both rivalling agencies found out about John and Jane’s marriage and wanted them both dead and to kill one another. The funny thing is that both John and Jane were lying to one another about their true self and their job. As mentioned earlier the ending echoes the beginning with both Jane and John sitting in a marriage counsellor meeting and revealing that they now trust one another and are having lots of sex.
I did enjoy this film, but that might just be because I loved the on-screen chemistry that Jolie and Pitt had. I did enjoy the concept as the audience knew something that the characters didn’t and watched them discover the truth and the audience wondering how it would come about. Additionally, I liked that the character intensions and decisions took the story in different directions, for example Jane and John could have killed one another but they didn’t and went on the run together instead. An action packed, entertaining film about a less than ordinary married couple.
Available now on Amazon Prime.
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