89-year-old Bernard Jordan is a resident at ‘The Pines’ care home in a British seaside town. Missing out on a special D-day Landings tour, Bernard decides to take matters into his own hands and hop across the Channel by himself. In this based-on-a-true-story pic, Sir Michael Caine takes the lead role, with the late, Glenda Jackson, CBE, playing his wife, Rene.
It’s great to see mature actors up on the screen even as a final salute to two great careers; however, in this film, Caine’s frozen facial expressions and the constant cut-aways to his walking frame do not great acting make. (Was he stuck in a cold wind?)
Jackson’s performance is lively and impish; a highlight of the film are her scenes with Danielle Vitalis, playing Adele, one of the care home’s assistants. Victor Oshin plays a PTSD veteran, who although likeable lacks credibility. (I didn’t believe for one minute that he was an amputee for example.) John Standing (Baronet) is cast as Arthur, a co-traveller who looks like he’s wandered in from the local Am-Dram group.
Will Fletcher does a credible job as the Young Bernard, in the (inevitable) flashback sequences where we share his war experiences and the burgeoning love affair between him and his ‘Rene’. Director, Oliver Parker, attempts to flesh out the storyline with pretty images of sunrises, sunsets and the sea but overall, the plot is just too thin.
RATING: A nice plate of soggy fish n’ chips, anyone?
Worth seeing two screen greats, Caine and Jackson, in their last major on-screen roles.
The Great Escaper
...looks like he's wandered in from his local Am-Dram group.