Their Finest - directed by Lone Scherfig
I am a sucker for movies about movies.
Everything from "Sunset Boulevard" to "The Artist" and "La La Land".
Here comes one with double appeal for me because I also like anything to do with World War Two history.
During World War Two Hitler (and also notably Goebbels) was quick to realise how important propaganda was and in particular its delivery via the medium of motion pictures.
The recently released and very good Netflix Documentary "Five Came Back" covers the American effort to catch up.
"Their Finest" explores the British attempts to produce films that would build support for the war effort amongst the civilian population and in particular the female members of it.
My first advice with this film is to ignore the misleading quote on the poster that reads 'A top notch British comedy'
One of the three aspects of that quote is incorrect.
This film concerns a small department of the British Ministry of Information in war torn 1940's Britain.
America was yet to enter the war and the massive evacuation from Dunkirk had left the British battered but still at least in the war.
The Ministry was finding that their attempts at inspiring the public through short films dropped before major features wasn't working.
They recruit a new writer name Catrin Cole who has shown promise with cartoon writing.
She joins two males writers as they start work on a film based on the real story of two sisters who 'borrowed' their Father's small boat to take part in the rescue of British and French forces stranded on the beach at Dunkirk.
A formerly famous actor is recruited to star, locations are chosen and the pressure is on.
I mentioned that one of the statements on the poster quote was incorrect because while this is indeed a British movie and while it is certainly top notch this is no comedy.
Yes- there are funny moments for sure but the humour springs from the drama.
This is no drama-comedy (in movie wank-speak 'dramedy'... ugh) and that makes it an entirely more difficult beast to get right.
I am pleased to say that all involved do get this film very, very right and it is a complete delight.
I use that word cautiously because at heart this is still very much a film about war.
There are deaths and they are felt strongly by both the characters and the audience.
This isn't to say that tonally this is a dark movie but rather that it correctly does not shy away from the harsh realities of armed conflict.
"Dad's Army" this is not!
Of the many things that work here the casting is perhaps the strongest.
Bill Nighy is a no-brainer as the vain actor Ambrose Hilliard.
We are used to him stealing scenes in pretty much every movie that he appears.
When paired up with the great Helen McCrory every scene in which they appear counts as high points.
Even actors who don't get a lot of screen time like Jeremy Irons, Richard E Grant and the versatile Eddie Marsan shine (Marsan is equally at home in Mike Leigh films as he is in Michael Mann's or Edgar Wright's).
But there is one actor who for my money makes this her calling card for greater things.
Gemma Arterton who to date as far as I can tell has only been used for her remarkable beauty in movies like "Quantum of Solace", "Prince Of Persia: The Sands of Time" and "Tamara Drewe" is brilliant here.
She does a decent Welsh accent and while there is no hiding the fact that she is a lovely woman it is not the important part of her role.
Her character Catrin gets buffeted around a fair but here.
Not only is there romantic issues and moments of loss and despair but she is also struggling to have her voice heard as a woman in a society and an industry where men are the holders of the power.
(Catrin nods with acceptance when she is told that of course she won't be paid as much as a male counterpart)
I really hope that Arterton's career gets the boost that it deserves here because she has gone from being someone who I quite liked to an actor who I am a firm fan of.
Huge praise also to director Lone Scherfig who paces this film perfectly and intersperses some footage from the movie being made by the characters to give a nice visual kick here and there.
The movie in a movie bits are displayed in a way to give the feel for the colour stock that was used in the forties and they look amazing.
There is a bunch of tricks of the trade stuff shown like matte paintings used in live shooting, models and stock footage.
As a movie fan there is plenty to soak up.
Of course the main appeal is that this is a superb film its own right and a wonderfully entertaining one.
The performances are spot on, the tone just right and the score is as good as I have heard this year.
It never feels layered on but augments what is on screen be it the lighter moments or the several pretty dark one.
There is no doubt in my mind that this movie is destined to be a huge success in the way that the likes of "Shirley Valentine", "The Full Monty", "Billy Elliot" and "The King's Speech" were.
Highly recommended.
RATING: 86 / 100
CONCLUSION: A great central performance, a superb supporting cast made up of some of the finest Brit actors around, a terrific score, great direction and a very important story well told. A really fine film.
Starring: Gemma Arterton, Sam Claflin, Bill Nighy, Sam Huston, Richard E Grant, Jeremy Irons, Rachael Stirling, Paul Ritter, Jake Lacy, Henry Goodman, Eddie Marsan, Helen McCrory, Claudia Jessie, Patrick Gibson, Hubert Burton
Screenplay: Gaby Chiappe
Music Score by: Rachel Portman
Cinematography: Sebastian Blenkov
Edited by: Lucia Zucchetti
Running Time: 117 minutes
Language: English
Rated: M -Sex Scene (with toplessness) & Profanity
Running Time: 117 minutes
Language: English
Rated: M -Sex Scene (with toplessness) & Profanity
Everything from "Sunset Boulevard" to "The Artist" and "La La Land".
Here comes one with double appeal for me because I also like anything to do with World War Two history.
During World War Two Hitler (and also notably Goebbels) was quick to realise how important propaganda was and in particular its delivery via the medium of motion pictures.
The recently released and very good Netflix Documentary "Five Came Back" covers the American effort to catch up.
"Their Finest" explores the British attempts to produce films that would build support for the war effort amongst the civilian population and in particular the female members of it.
My first advice with this film is to ignore the misleading quote on the poster that reads 'A top notch British comedy'
One of the three aspects of that quote is incorrect.
 |
| Gemma Arterton and Sam Claflin |
America was yet to enter the war and the massive evacuation from Dunkirk had left the British battered but still at least in the war.
The Ministry was finding that their attempts at inspiring the public through short films dropped before major features wasn't working.
They recruit a new writer name Catrin Cole who has shown promise with cartoon writing.
She joins two males writers as they start work on a film based on the real story of two sisters who 'borrowed' their Father's small boat to take part in the rescue of British and French forces stranded on the beach at Dunkirk.
A formerly famous actor is recruited to star, locations are chosen and the pressure is on.
I mentioned that one of the statements on the poster quote was incorrect because while this is indeed a British movie and while it is certainly top notch this is no comedy.
Yes- there are funny moments for sure but the humour springs from the drama.
This is no drama-comedy (in movie wank-speak 'dramedy'... ugh) and that makes it an entirely more difficult beast to get right.
 |
| The great Bill Nighy and far right panels- Rachael Stirling and Richard E Grant |
I use that word cautiously because at heart this is still very much a film about war.
There are deaths and they are felt strongly by both the characters and the audience.
This isn't to say that tonally this is a dark movie but rather that it correctly does not shy away from the harsh realities of armed conflict.
"Dad's Army" this is not!
Of the many things that work here the casting is perhaps the strongest.
Bill Nighy is a no-brainer as the vain actor Ambrose Hilliard.
We are used to him stealing scenes in pretty much every movie that he appears.
When paired up with the great Helen McCrory every scene in which they appear counts as high points.
Even actors who don't get a lot of screen time like Jeremy Irons, Richard E Grant and the versatile Eddie Marsan shine (Marsan is equally at home in Mike Leigh films as he is in Michael Mann's or Edgar Wright's).
But there is one actor who for my money makes this her calling card for greater things.
Gemma Arterton who to date as far as I can tell has only been used for her remarkable beauty in movies like "Quantum of Solace", "Prince Of Persia: The Sands of Time" and "Tamara Drewe" is brilliant here.
She does a decent Welsh accent and while there is no hiding the fact that she is a lovely woman it is not the important part of her role.
Her character Catrin gets buffeted around a fair but here.
Not only is there romantic issues and moments of loss and despair but she is also struggling to have her voice heard as a woman in a society and an industry where men are the holders of the power.
(Catrin nods with acceptance when she is told that of course she won't be paid as much as a male counterpart)
I really hope that Arterton's career gets the boost that it deserves here because she has gone from being someone who I quite liked to an actor who I am a firm fan of.
 |
| This film is a treat for fans of films and how they are (and were) made |
The movie in a movie bits are displayed in a way to give the feel for the colour stock that was used in the forties and they look amazing.
There is a bunch of tricks of the trade stuff shown like matte paintings used in live shooting, models and stock footage.
As a movie fan there is plenty to soak up.
Of course the main appeal is that this is a superb film its own right and a wonderfully entertaining one.
The performances are spot on, the tone just right and the score is as good as I have heard this year.
It never feels layered on but augments what is on screen be it the lighter moments or the several pretty dark one.
There is no doubt in my mind that this movie is destined to be a huge success in the way that the likes of "Shirley Valentine", "The Full Monty", "Billy Elliot" and "The King's Speech" were.
Highly recommended.
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