If you are thrilled when WWII is retold using the reality (or trappings) of the year the movie is shot, well, this ASHES AND DIAMONDS movie might be for you.
There are solid building blocks for sure. The actors have grit. They are all well cast. The visual style pops. The story creates interesting connections between the characters. However, the story often does play out with realism at the times it needs it. And instead of using the building blocks to create on screen drama, the movie errs on the side of having viewers wallow in irony off screen.
For movie viewers who want a WWII movie to transport them back to experience events in the 1940s, ASHES AND DIAMONDS misses the mark.
When a 1970s director lets the actors sport 1970s hippie hair, and speak against the man using 70s slang, in a WWII movie, this is a distraction, not an indication of brave artistic mastery.
The same is true when a 1980's director lets actors in their WWII movie have blow-dried mullets and all speak like in vulgar NY "goodfellas" with a mix of So Cal beach jargon and somehow blaming the war on corporate greed, killer bees, a coming Ice Age crisis, radon gas, ozone hole, acid rain or whatever the narrative of the day. The trappings of the present day distract and prevent the viewer from being transported into the 1930s and 40s.
With ASHES AND DIAMONDS, the 1958 plastic sunglasses are a constant distraction, from start to finish. There are also other 1958 artifacts such as loudspeakers and lights. In any case, all attempts at 1940s realism falls flat, which is unfortunate.
There are solid building blocks for sure. The actors have grit. They are all well cast. The visual style pops. The story creates interesting connections between the characters. However, the story often does play out with realism at the times it needs it. And instead of using the building blocks to create on screen drama, the movie errs on the side of having viewers wallow in irony off screen.
For movie viewers who want a WWII movie to transport them back to experience events in the 1940s, ASHES AND DIAMONDS misses the mark.
When a 1970s director lets the actors sport 1970s hippie hair, and speak against the man using 70s slang, in a WWII movie, this is a distraction, not an indication of brave artistic mastery.
The same is true when a 1980's director lets actors in their WWII movie have blow-dried mullets and all speak like in vulgar NY "goodfellas" with a mix of So Cal beach jargon and somehow blaming the war on corporate greed, killer bees, a coming Ice Age crisis, radon gas, ozone hole, acid rain or whatever the narrative of the day. The trappings of the present day distract and prevent the viewer from being transported into the 1930s and 40s.
With ASHES AND DIAMONDS, the 1958 plastic sunglasses are a constant distraction, from start to finish. There are also other 1958 artifacts such as loudspeakers and lights. In any case, all attempts at 1940s realism falls flat, which is unfortunate.