Anthropoid begins with two parachutists landing in the snow-covered forests on the outskirts of Prague. These parachutists are Jan Kubiš (Jamie Dornan) and Josef Gabčík (Cillian Murphy), Czech resistance fighters that their country flew there from England in 1941 to begin a brave and nearly impossible mission that was in response to the Nazi occupation of Czechoslovakia and their growing power as the frightening war machine that needs no further explanation.
Directed by Sean Ellis, who co-wrote the script with Anthony Frewin, Anthropoid tells the improbable story of the duo’s bold mission to assassinate high-ranking Nazi general (third to Hitler), Reinhard Heydrich (Detlef Bothe), a man so notorious for his brutal methods that he was given the nickname “The Butcher of Prague.”
As it was during times of Nazi-occupied areas, there weren’t too many that Jan and Josef could trust. After landing they’re found by a farmer who pretends to act as a friend, but quickly betrays them and Josef is forced to kill him. Another man with the farmer escapes, as Jan was unable to overcome his nerves and couldn’t pull the trigger. From here on out, the two men are never at ease, no matter where they go. After some digging they come across fellow resistance fighters led by leaders Ladislav (Marcin Dorocinski) and Uncle Hajský (Toby Jones), who become caught up with Jan and Josef’s bold orders to assassinate Heydrich. The plan pleases almost all of the resistance fighters except for Ladislav, whose worried about the fallout and Nazi revenge that would occur after Heydrich is killed. As they saw it, it was a message not only to the Nazi regime, but to the Czech people to keep their spirits up.
Uncle Hajský sets the two men up with lodging with a trustworthy family, and its there that they meet the families’ servant Marie (Charlotte Le Bon) and her best friend Lenka (Anna Geislerová). Jan and Josef go out with the ladies to make them less suspicious to Nazi officers, but it doesn’t take long for Jan to fall in love with Marie, and Josef with Lenka, which should come as a surprise to absolutely no viewers. I understand Ellis and Frewin used these relationships to try and give us more understanding of them as people, but we’re never given enough about Marie or Lenka for the romance to have its desired impact.
The first portion of the story revolves around the day-to-day routine life living undercover for these two men, preparing for a mission that likely has no happy ending for anyone involved. Ellis’ direction is fitting to the time, rather dark and moody, letting things play out with a patient hand that allows us to adapt the same mindset of these men as they wait out the days. Most of their time is spent studying Heydrich’s routines so that they can find his car leaving at the most opportune time, with no armed guard or other such interferences.
Once the attempt on Heydrich occurs (does it count as a spoiler if it’s well-known history?), the Nazis take swift vengeance against all those that helped house or assist the freedom fighters in the way, and plenty of innocents just because. In a no-holds bared attempt, Ellis shows us the brutality of the Nazi revenge, not limited to shocking images of violence against a woman and even a teenager after a betrayal from one of their fellow soldiers. It’s all these acts of horror that allow Anthropoid to shift gears to a true war thriller that dazzles and overwhelms with a visceral battle scene at Karel Boromjeksky Church that makes up for any of the films earlier missteps. It’s intense and gritty, and you can’t help but be inspired by the heroic actions of these men, ever if there are some elements of cliche.
Cillian Murphy once again reminds us that he’s one of the more under-appreciated actors, both by audiences and Hollywood at large. He deserves much more big time work than he’s getting, aside from his constant collaborations with Christopher Nolan, who is clearly in the know about the Irish actor’s greatness. Then there’s the solid performance from Jamie Dornan, who reminds us that he’s better than 50 Shades Of Grey, which will most likely be his defining role for the rest of his career. The supporting characters don’t get enough time to develop past being help for our two leads, but there’s some fine efforts from Anna Geislerová, Charlotte Le Bon, and Toby Jones.
Sure, Anthropoid isn’t the most compelling or well made war movie, but it features one hell of a gritty final battle that elevates an otherwise decent but somewhat unremarkable war movie. The battle scene is a saving grace, as the real battle was, and still is, to so many Czechoslovakian people.
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