Director: Lone Scherig
Starring: Gemma Arterton, Sam Claflin, Bill Nighy, Jack Huston, Paul Ritter, Rachael Stirling, Richard E. Grant, Jake Lacey, Jeremy Irons, Henry Goodman, Eddie Marsan, Helen McCrory.
I'm finding it hard to talk about this film, yet I enjoyed it and can't see how it could have been made better. Much to the thanks of the great performances from a good British cast, namely Arterton, Claflin and of course Nighy. But something stops me from shouting about it, maybe it's the subject matter? I'm really not sure.
Then, I also feel the same about Scherig's An Education, which I also I enjoyed, but it isn't a film I'll then go telling people to go watch. Maybe like much of her filmography. They're films that don't necessarily require being seen on the big screen but that doesn't mean they're not worth seeing at all. I don't believe Scherig's cares too much, and she shouldn't. She makes a good film out of different, interesting subjects.
The film is based on Lissa Evans' novel, Their Finest Hour and a Half, which is supposedly, loosely based on Welsh screenwriter Diana Morgan, who probably best know for her work on the 1942 film, Went the Day Well. I say best know; as a lot of her work went uncredited.
Arterton plays the Welsh screenwriter Catrin Cole who's resided in London and eventually ends up writing the 'slop' for a new propaganda film to hopefully encourage the Americans to join the world. She obviously ends up writing much more than just the slop and makes quite a reputation for herself.
Claflin and Nighy are equally brilliant and matched Arterton creating a perfect balance of character. Nighy humorously plays an actor who's rather narcissistic and soon passing his selflife as an actor and Claflin plays fellow writer and employer to Arterton. Arterton is brilliant, even when she lets the accent slip a little.
It's actually very liberating and pays great credit and respect to both script and screen writers. People who don't get the notice they rightly deserve and this film really pushes that. I mean, essentially it's a film about making a film and there's little, if any, attention paid to the director.
It's a turbulent time, WWII is raging, blitz in London and women of course, are far from having the equal rights and respect they deserved and wanted. This becoming rather refreshing whilst being political. Could there be an underlining message someone is trying to get across to us, with this film being released a few months before Dunkirk. Again, a film about making a propaganda film during a time of war.
It's emotional, empowering and surprisingly unpredictable. It's a good film and worth the time but it isn't, as the title suggests, any of theirs finest. It's not going to be a film for many. But those who do decide to see it might be pleasantly surprised.
Running Time: 7
The Cast: 8
Performance: 8
Direction: 7
Story: 8
Script: 8
Creativity: 9
Soundtrack: 7
Job Description: 7
The Extra Bonus Point: 0
Would I buy the Blu-ray?: Nah.
69% 7/10
