Director: Doug Liman
Starring: Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie and Vince Vaughn
‘A Captivating Classic’
Not many actors in Hollywood have lit a bright spark as powerfully as Brad Pitt. Ever since his rise to stardom in the 1990’s, Pitt has become an icon. Whether it’s detectives seeking to investigate murders, Formula 1 drivers or fight club owners, Pitt has played several strong characters. Arguably, Pitt’s strength as an actor has always been his commitment to his craft. He is one of those actors that has often had talent for stealing the show in supporting roles with limited screen-time. Even when he is not the main focus of a movie, Pitt has left an impression. Despite reaching age of retirement, Pitt has never lost his passion for making engaging entertainment. A movie-star with charisma, Pitt has been an icon in Cinema. Throughout his strong career, Pitt has made many bold movies that are definitely worth absolutely talking about.
I’m a huge fan of Pitt and adore all the films which he has made in his career. However, “Mr. and Mrs. Smith” is absolutely his most underrated movie. Released in 2005, Doug Liman’s movie offered a powerful portrait of assassin couples. Packed with breathtaking production design, stirring storytelling and phenomenal acting, it’s a spectacular spies comedy. At the centre of it all is a fantastic performance by Brad Pitt, who embodies an assassin on a dangerous mission. Although “Mr. and Mrs. Smith” is a captivating crime comedy, it isn’t a flawless film. It’s unevenly paced, and builds to an ambiguous ending without satisfying resolution. Nevertheless, it offers entertainment which would satisfy fans of crime comedies.
“Mr. And Mrs. Smith” chronicles the story of an assassin couple which faces adversity. Brad Pitt portrays John Smith, a dedicated assassin with strong devotion towards his profession. Smith has always shown strong dedication towards an espionage profession he regards with passion. However, Smith’s life drastically changes when he engages in broken marriage that causes disaster. Jane Smith (Angelina Jolie) is a fierce female spy with dreams of her own. As all the odds are stacked against his favour, Smith questions his devotion to profession that experiences disaster. Faced with a dilemma, Smith soon questions whether he can balance marriage with a competitive profession in the modern era.
Doug Liman has often been fascinated with spies facing tension. A fantastic filmmaker, Liman has often made engaging films about spies facing disaster. His iconic movie “The Bourne Identity” offered a strong adaptation of a novel about spies that endure tragedy. With “Mr. and Mrs. Smith”, however, Liman made his first romantic spies thriller. It was the filmmaker’s first attempt to capture the tensions faced by spies in marriages facing adversity but he succeeded. Using stunning cinematography, Liman captures a spy on a journey to find his identity. Evoking Anthony Minghella’s “The Talented Mr. Ripley”, Liman effectively uses montages to capture tense barriers faced by spies in marriages facing adversity. For instance, montages enhance the meetings scene. During this memorable scene, John and Jane meet for the first ever time beginning their romantic relationships. Using montages, Liman created a portrait of marriages that’s compelling. Montages are tricky techniques. As David Fincher’s “Fight Club” suggested, montages often enhance thrillers. Nevertheless, it works immensely in this film. Using breathtaking visuals, Liman captures hardships that spies in marriages are facing.
Another admirable aspect of “Mr. and Mrs. Smith” that deserves appreciation is the production. From a technical perspective, it’s one of the most impressive spy movies you’ll ever see. Evoking Alfred Hitchcock’s “North by Northwest”, Liman successfully uses costumes to capture the tensions that spies are facing. Throughout the film, Mr. Smith’s costumes demonstrate his strong transformation in a spy. For instance, the costumes elevate the assassin fight scene. During this unforgettable scene, Mr. and Mrs. Smith engage in a tense fight in their home causing tension. Through compelling costumes, Liman creates a portrait of spies that’s engaging. Moreover, the music score is magnificent. John Powell’s music is key to the success of the movie. It gives the movie a tense atmosphere capturing the burdens that spies bear. Using powerful production, Liman captures the lives of spies that face tensions.
Storytelling is one of the main reasons why “Mr. and Mrs. Smith” is a spy film which is engaging. The movie is beautifully written, and effectively uses silence to capture the tensions that spies experience. Emulating Michael Curtiz’s “Casablanca”, Liman uses silence to capture spy lovers that endure a dilemma. For instance, silence elevates the spy farewell scene. During this memorable scene, John bids tearful farewell toward his wife seeking espionage profession. Through silence, Liman constructs a portrait of spies that audiences can relate to. Silence is not an easy to technique. As Steve McQueen’s “12 Years a Slave” suggested, silence often enhances slavery movies. David Fincher’s “Se7en” proved that silence elevates serial killer movies. Nevertheless, it works well in this movie. Through a fantastic screenplay, Liman captures the lives of spies that face a price to pay.
One appreciates amazing performances.
Brad Pitt delivers one of his greatest career performances as John Smith. Pitt earned appreciation for playing members of fight clubs. With “Mr. and Mrs. Smith”, however, he took upon his most comedic role. It isn’t easy to portray a spy that has a destructive marriage facing adversity but he succeeds tremendously. This is the actor unlike you’ve ever seen him before: intense, charming and emotional in his most memorable role. With riveting expressions, he captures ambition, grief and resentment of a spy embarking on missions. It’s a phenomenal performance by one of the greatest actors that’s working in Hollywood today.
Angelina Jolie is amazing as a female spy in a broken marriage facing adversity. In one of her most iconic roles, Jolie showcased her talent playing strong women. Whether she’s having an intense argument with her husband or seeking to catch spies enduring tension, Jolie effectively uses expressions to capture female spies facing tension. It’s a larger than life role that gave the actress a chance to showcase her powerful presence. It’s a phenomenal performance from one of the finest actresses that’s currently working in Hollywood today.
Although “Mr. and Mrs. Smith” is a highly engaging spy blockbuster, it isn’t a truly flawless film. Liman’s choice to integrate subplots about politics into the movie is commendable but doesn’t succeed. Due towards this faulty technique, scenes that capture the political nature of espionage aren’t as enticing as Mr. Smith’s marriage. As Martin Campbell’s “Casino Royale” did prove, subplots about political spies often elevate James Bond movies. Moreover, the film lacks a strong ending. It’s an abrupt conclusion failing to bring the movie to a satisfying resolution. Therefore, “Mr. and Mrs. Smith” can’t quite capture spies that face tension.
Nevertheless, fans of Brad Pitt would enjoy “Mr. And Mrs. Smith” and so would movie-goers seeking engaging entertainment. A captivating espionage classic, it honours an actor that’s iconic.
Nearly 20 years following the release of a groundbreaking film about spies engaging in doomed marriages where tensions arise, it’s a riveting reminder of an actor that has never lost his abilities to surprise by making memorable films that audiences have come to prize.
4/5 stars
The Film Buff 