THEIR FINEST – MOVIE REVIEW
Review by Geoff Jenke
One thing the British do is make great period piece movies and when the BBC is involved the bar just raises. I guess enough time has passed that we now can call 1940 a period piece time. This film is basically about the making of a film.
With Britain firmly entrenched in World War 2 and the Germans bombing London regularly, the British ministry turns to film to boost morale at home. Movies are extremely popular with the people who are still at home. Gemma Arterton plays Catrin Cole, a copyrighter who is seconded to a film studio to help write propaganda short films with woman in mind.
A decision by the ministry to make a feature film brings Cole on board in a male dominated industry. “Naturally we cannot pay you as much as the men” she was told on arrival. She is hired to write the “slop”, girl talk.
Bill Nighy plays former movie star Ambrose Hillard, whose better acting days are behind him. However his agent talks him into taking a role in this new movie about the evacuation of Dunkirk. Ambrose soon realises Catrin’s talent as a scriptwriter and the pair bond.
With the Ministry and director changing direction of the film at a whim, the scriptwriters must work against time to get the film finished.
The 1940 settings of the film are very realistic, both with sets and fashion. Bombed building feature regularly and the people trying to keep a “stiff upper lip” throughout the havoc being created around them is very convincing. The tricks used to make a film about the Dunkirk evacuation, just after the actual evacuation, were also very engrossing.
Directed by Lone Scherfig (An Education, One Day), Their Finest is basically a love story set amongst a war torn London, with people still trying to do their job despite the hardships around them.
It is a thoroughly enjoyable, good natured and lovable British movie featuring “real” people of 1940. It has plenty of twists to keep you engaged for the two hours the film runs.
Also stars Sam Cladlin, Jack Huston and Helen McCrory.
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