Operation Mincemeat [DVD] [2022]

I found this film to be entertaining. It is a remake of the 1950's The Man Who Never Was. It retells the story, but in a different way. The conflict between the different characters in the story sometimes becomes personal as a side track to the main story. But it's worth a watch.

This is a review (which CONTAINS SPOILERS) of the July 2022 All Region Blu-ray from Warner Brothers. Technically, it is a high quality product. It does however, come without any extras.There are many excellent films, British and American, about various WW2 operations and campaigns that offered maximum opportunities for the Allied advancement of the War, but also presented maximum jeopardy. Inevitably, major actions involving large numbers of troops and quantities of materiel had the potential to drive back the Axis powers. But if they went badly, the Allied reversal could be catastrophic. These stories make excellent subjects for films: you do not have to invent the high stakes or extreme tension.Having largely taken control of North Africa by May 1943, the Allies planned to move north to Europe. The US wanted an immediate cross-Channel operation, but the British saw several advantages in delaying that. Instead, they advocated spearheading the Allied effort on Sicily and then into southern Italy. But as it was also an obvious target, Axis forces were well-prepared and lying in wait, spelling potential disaster for the Allies. British Intelligence, one of the TRUELY GREAT success stories of Britain's war effort, set about trying to persuade the Germans we would attack elsewhere. Of the many strands of this difficult task, the one portrayed in this film, the real-life ‘Operation Mincemeat’, was probably the most successful and certainly the most bizarre.'Mincemeat' has appeared on film before, as the interesting but slightly pedestrian British film ‘The Man Who Never Was’(1956). That in turn was based on an account of the operation under the same title, written in 1953 by the officer behind the plan, Lieutenant Commander Ewen Montagu RN. Montagu wrote his book at the behest of British Intelligence, after a fictional account, closely mirroring the truth, appeared in a novel by a politician, who had been briefed on 'Mincemeat'.This new film is based on a 2010 book about 'Mincemeat' by historian Ben Macintyre. It has the advantage that the man who really WAS ‘the man who never was’, Glyndwr Michael, was finally identified by an amateur historian, in 1996. Unlike in 1956, this allows the 2022 film to give us the real story behind the corpse which arrived on the Spanish coast in April 1943, as Major William Martin RM. There are still some small inaccuracies, such as the identity of the man used for the document photos of Major Martin. This feeds into an entirely fictional sub-plot of a triangular love interest between three of the main 'Mincemeat' team members.Beautifully and persuasively filmed in London, Spain and Saunton Sands, Devon (standing in for Sicily), fabulously authentic to look at, and meticulously explained, this is a really superior, very British, film. It is filled to the brim with serious British talent, giving their all. The plot, care of Ewen Montagu and his 1943 team, is majestically complex, and you need your wits about you to follow its superbly snaking coils.Regretfully, I do have one BIG gripe: with a story this deliciously convoluted, and genuine, WHY add a totally fictitious (and wholly unconvincing) romance? I consider this SUCH an error of judgement, that I am deducting a Star. Which is a pity, because otherwise, the film is faultless.

I loved it. I am made up I bought it so I can watch it again.

Worth watching and with some good actors, especially if you have previous knowledge of the deception.In some cases, more accurate than the 1956 film (‘The Man Who Never Was’) but as a film it suffers in comparison with the 1956 version in several respects. The older film is much more easily digested, especially for an audience that is not familiar with the plot. The older film seems to have better photography, or at least more light. The side plot between Firth and Kelly Macdonald seems incongruous and unnecessary.The film goes bitty and occasionally daft after the body washes ashore.Overall, I was disappointed.

Great film - but not what I initially thought it was about. Not a Butcher, nor a Bolognaise or a Mince Pie in sight. But thoroughly enjoyed it nevertheless.

Who doesn't love a true story. This is based on real events and as such makes for a very enjoyable film some reviews moan about the way it spends time in the relationship issues but I feel that only adds to the whole feel as you see how spying affects the individual something that's not always thought about. A good way to spend a couple of hours.

I thought this film was good but was not as good as the original film 1956 film - (1956) The Man Who Never Was - which by all accounts was itself not as good as the book (though I have not read it). Certainly this film had more unnecessary "fluff" (which in my opinion adds nothing to the film) than the 1956 and I found the 1956 film hit me harder, the ending is a lovely touch and very moving.The events of Operation Mincemeat are loosely portrayed in the spy novel Operation Heartbreak (1950), again with more accuracy in the 1953 book and later 1956 film The Man Who Never Was, which won a BAFTA.

An enjoyable watch with a fine cast.

Good story on one of the many deceptions the Allies played on the Germans during WW 2.

toller Film, tolle Darsteller.

Where else can you get a movie with 2 Mr. Darcys, and 1 Mr. Knightly? OK, Jane Austin fan here. Also a fan of Ian Flemming. This story is not about him Ian Flemming but the Ian Flemming character narrates the movie as he writes his book. Ian actually wrote his books while vacationing in the Bahamas but the movie gives us a glimpse of what Ian experienced during War II. It is also a unique tale based on a true story that did not come to light for deceased after the war.

Like Colin he seems to take on the most odd ball roles and makes them work. However this movie is only ok in my book for what it's worth. I have the original movie and several books and seen the documentary's. So as I said most of the relevant facts are there. There is a bunch of Hollywood padding. Which could have made it very much more interesting,but it didn't..... If you've never seen the original movie and don't know much about the true story. Yes watch this version. If you have some pryer knowledge of the story be prepared for not being wowed.

This is an updated film of a true WWII story. This truth is stranger than fiction. Take a body from a morgue, plant important papers on it and release body from submarine to be found by the Germans. This was to make the Germans think that the allied attack on Europe would begin in Greece when in reality it was Sicily.I have studied this story for years and the movie is very accurate except for the "love triangle". that did not happen.