‘Allied’ review (4K UHD)

Brad Pitt and director Robert Zemeckis’ World War II romance thriller sweeps into the ultra high-definition format in Allied (Paramount Home Entertainment, Rated R, 124 minutes, 2.39:1 aspect ratio, $27.99).

Screenwriter Steven Knight’s story explores the relationship between Canadian RAF intelligence officer Max Vatan (Brad Pitt) and French Resistance fighter Marianne Beausejour (Marion Cotillard) after the pair pull off a successful assassination mission in North Africa in 1942.

They become lovers, are eventually married and have a child back in London. However, when the British espionage organization SOE (Special Operation Executive) learns that his new perfect wife may be a German spy, life gets complicated.

With a tip of the beret to epic Hollywood filmmaking and classics such as “Casablanca” and “The Maltese Falcon,” Mr. Zemeckis and the gang pull off a fairly exciting, slightly nail-biting and ultimately high-drama film.

4K UHD in action: Impeccably shot by cinematographer Don Burgess, the period piece comes to stellar life through a digital transfer from the 4K master source material (shot on cameras with 6K resolution no less).

For example, the opening scene featuring Mr. Vatan parachuting onto the desert sands of the French Morocco will take a viewer’s breath away due to its vivid contrast of color and sweeping scope.

However, the effort clearly highlights the work of Academy Award-nominated costume designer Joanna Johnston.

Anyone who knows me will understand that I do not have an eye for fashion (stop laughing). Yet, I was mesmerized by the costuming variety and detail that is truly eye-popping in 4K UHD.

Clothing examples I noticed were Miss Cotillard wearing a sea-foam green silk column dress with a silver feather appliques, a bone-white satin negligee with gold lace patterns, a silk green military-style blouse with gold buttons and stitching on her leather gloves and, hanging on the back of a chair, a silk short cape with a painted hummingbird and floral arrangement.

Mr. Pitt wore a closet full of impeccably tailored suits tapping into Irish linen and tropical wear, while a Nazi officer stood out against a Mediterranean backdrop in a white wool jacket adorned with painted black-and-brass swastikas.

Overall, I could not believe the number of costume changes in the first 30 minutes of the film and the variety of textures and fabric colors shown onscreen

Best extras: Viewers get 10 featurettes, clocking in at 69 minutes, that offer plenty of butt-kissing interviews squeezed in among an overview of the production.

Interviews with most of the cast and crew cover Mr. Knight’s story, production designs by Gary Freeman, the recreation of the French Riviera, the majestic score, vehicles, costuming, weapons authenticity and visual effects that expand the views of the location settings.

It was interesting to learn that roughly 78 sets were built (referenced by stunning paintings from Mr. Freeman) and computer artisans utilized a 3D scan of the Sahara desert and Tangier rooftops to create a scene.

All are informative segments, but lack any words from Mr. Pitt, and more importantly, any background on the history of the time period and the war often fought through espionage.

Also, the featurette package is simply not as great as hearing from Mr. Zemeckis or Mr. Pitt in an optional commentary track.