This heartwarming but stirring film is a million miles away from some of blockbuster hits that Michael Caine has done in the past but it's deeply personal story shines through one of his best performances. Both him and Glenda Jackson were always watchable, even in films that weren't necessarily very good. They bring gravitas to a film including this one, and it takes this out of its television movie feel (well it was part financed by the BBC) and sets it up as a small scale but big hearted view of a true story.
Both Caine and Jackson show their acting chops and help propel this film into a film that really deserved it's critical praise and help to disguise it's modest budget. An excellent supporting cast of mostly unknowns do good work as well plus John Standing's wonderful performance as an RAF veteran wrestling with his own demons gives the film an extra dimension.
The direction is unshowy but perfectly fine for a film of this scale, with some very nice visual flourishes every now and again. The music blends seemlessly into the film and it's not over edited so quite a few tracking shots to give everything a sense of the unhurried. The film crams a lot into its 90 minutes but that works in it's favour as it is never boring. It's also thought provoking, deeper than you might think but for every tear-jerking scene there some dark humour woven into the script that had the audience laughing.
This is a terrific final film for Glenda Jackson to be remembered for and should Michael decide to retire from acting as he hinted at during its premiere, then the same would go for him and be an excellent finale to a 60 year movie career that has encompassed the good (Zulu, The Italian Job, Get Carter, Ipcress File, Educating Rita, Muppet Christmas Carol and many more), the bad (Jaws the Revenge, the Poseidon adventure sequel, Bullseye, Blue Ice and many more) and the indifferent (A shock to the system, The Honorary consul and many more). This definitely falls into the good. Having fallen into doing ensemble films like the Dark Knight trilogy and Now You See me 1&2, it's great to see him (possibly) finish his film career on a high and back as a leading man in a humble but worthy modern British film like this.
Both Caine and Jackson show their acting chops and help propel this film into a film that really deserved it's critical praise and help to disguise it's modest budget. An excellent supporting cast of mostly unknowns do good work as well plus John Standing's wonderful performance as an RAF veteran wrestling with his own demons gives the film an extra dimension.
The direction is unshowy but perfectly fine for a film of this scale, with some very nice visual flourishes every now and again. The music blends seemlessly into the film and it's not over edited so quite a few tracking shots to give everything a sense of the unhurried. The film crams a lot into its 90 minutes but that works in it's favour as it is never boring. It's also thought provoking, deeper than you might think but for every tear-jerking scene there some dark humour woven into the script that had the audience laughing.
This is a terrific final film for Glenda Jackson to be remembered for and should Michael decide to retire from acting as he hinted at during its premiere, then the same would go for him and be an excellent finale to a 60 year movie career that has encompassed the good (Zulu, The Italian Job, Get Carter, Ipcress File, Educating Rita, Muppet Christmas Carol and many more), the bad (Jaws the Revenge, the Poseidon adventure sequel, Bullseye, Blue Ice and many more) and the indifferent (A shock to the system, The Honorary consul and many more). This definitely falls into the good. Having fallen into doing ensemble films like the Dark Knight trilogy and Now You See me 1&2, it's great to see him (possibly) finish his film career on a high and back as a leading man in a humble but worthy modern British film like this.