Starring Michael Caine and Glenda Jackson, with a supporting cast that includes John Standing, Danielle Vitalis, Brennan Reece, Judith Clune and Wolf Kahler. Written by William Ivory and directed by Oliver Parker. Running time 96 minutes.
Based on the true story of WWII veteran, 89-year old Bernard Jordan who escaped from his nursing home in 2014 to attend the 70th Anniversary D-Day commemorations in France. The film follows Michael Caine as Jordan as he leaves the love of his wife, Irene (Glenda Jackson) to make his own way to France. Along the way meeting up with fellow ex solider, John Standing's Arthur, meeting a group of veteran German soldiers and trying to lay some of his own ghosts to rest. The film flashes back to D-Day itself and also the meeting of Irene and Jordan and shows the duo stories of both Irene and Jordan across this deeply emotional weekend.
This is a very heart-warming film that packs a fantastically powerful punch, it's entirely powered by two utterly extraordinary performances from Caine and Jackson, in her last role. They are both superb and bring such depth and truth to their roles it elevates the film to a whole new level. Last year I was deeply moved by the film, Living and this year it's this.
Moving and touching it brought many tears to my eyes and I sat emotionally punched by and thoroughly overwhelmed by it.
That said, it's not perfect, at several points it seems to be leading you down one route, teasing at something dramatic and mawkish about to happen, only to suddenly blindside you by NOT taking the bait and sticking to the basic story and not feeling the need to squeeze in any virtue posturing or statement making, and then seems to mock you for being duped in the first place into thinking this was a standard Hollywood movie.
This is a very heart-warming film that packs a fantastically powerful punch, it's entirely powered by two utterly extraordinary performances from Caine and Jackson, in her last role. They are both superb and bring such depth and truth to their roles it elevates the film to a whole new level. Last year I was deeply moved by the film, Living and this year it's this.
Moving and touching it brought many tears to my eyes and I sat emotionally punched by and thoroughly overwhelmed by it.
That said, it's not perfect, at several points it seems to be leading you down one route, teasing at something dramatic and mawkish about to happen, only to suddenly blindside you by NOT taking the bait and sticking to the basic story and not feeling the need to squeeze in any virtue posturing or statement making, and then seems to mock you for being duped in the first place into thinking this was a standard Hollywood movie.
Somehow this film, directed by the man responsible for the wretched Dad's Army, doesn't ever become a button pusher of a movie, it's not sentimental and it's not overly melodramatic, the script is moving and sincere, and very satisfying and I was still a tad overwhelmed by this several hours after watching it.
I hope that both Michael Caine and Glenda Jackson not only get nominated for this film but also win some awards because they bloody deserve it and it makes you wish Glenda had made more movies in her later years, because she's utterly extraordinary.
8/10
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