The Man Who Never Was

War movie about how a proper hiding place was sewn for the Germans. It is a film that is quite suspenseful, but it couldn't hold my attention the whole time. However, the film definitely does not deny good direction, which is also characterized by the excellent depiction of the era and atmosphere. It reminded me of Alfred Hitchcock's spy films, but without his oppressive force. (04/08/2016)

Last night I dreamed a deadly dream, beyond the Isle of Sky, I saw a dead man win a fight, and I think that man was I. One of the most infamous deception plans of the second world war, involving false papers carried by an officer who never was, which was meant to convince the Germans that the invasion would definitely not take place in the most suitable and strategically important (and well-protected) site of Sicily, but in Greece and Sardinia. This operation paid off for the Allies twofold. Firstly, that it worked at all, and secondly that afterward the Germans on principle no longer trusted any documents they found; which turned out to be a great advantage mainly during Operation Market Garden. And this movie is a dramatization of those events. With heavy emphasis on the word dramatization. And while the first part of the operation from the point of view of British intelligence, if you turn a blind eye, is more or less according to fact, the closing third and the backstory with the German spy verifying the existence of William Martin is a tall story through and through. So if you are looking for a reconstruction of “what went on back then", head for the world of documentaries, several of which present the story of Operation Mincemeat excellently. But if “just" an above-standard genre movie is enough for you, don’t hesitate to watch this. (04/01/2014)