“Operation Mincemeat” (*** out of four) was a sharply made adaptation of Ben Macintyre’s novel set during WWII in which two military intelligence officers (Colin Firth and Matthew Macfadyen) used a corpse and false papers to outwit German troops and gain the upper hand during the war. Not a great film, as it never fully takes off, but definitely retains its compelling grip thanks to a first-rate supporting cast (including Jason Isaacs and Kelly Macdonald) and the deft intelligence of Michelle Ashford’s screenplay. Director John Madden once again shows his skill and craft with historical dramas.