The Great Escaper

The great escaper is a new release this week and is based on the true story of Bernard Jordan played by the iconic Michael Caine. Whilst living in his care home in Hove, England with his wife Irene played brilliantly by Glenda Jackson (RIP) WW2 veteran Bernie wishes to attend the 70th anniversary D day event in France. Unfortunately though he misses the deadline to go with the other veterans and due to being 90 years of age he would perhaps be ill advised to go on his own. That is until Irene convinces him that it's something he must do and so off he embarks on his adventure.

This film is exactly what you'd expect it to be an at times emotional and yet heartwarming story about not letting age stop you from living your life helmed by two icons of cinema. Michael Caine for me is up there in a class of legendary British acting talents like Jim Broadbent and Maggie Smith. It's such a difficult industry to get into to even appear on one film but to have the longevity in this industry that those actors have made for themselves is nothing short of remarkable and should be commended. That being said however it is Glenda Jackson who steals this film. Her character stays behind at the care home whilst Bernie goes off on his adventure and some of the witty lines she has can't help but bring a smile to your face. Whilst at home she reminisces about the past and how she met Bernie and we get flashbacks to the young couple. Whilst away Michael Caines character is still struggling with PTSD like symptoms from the Second World War and whilst I think it's important to remember how horrific war is and the impact it has on peoples lives for years in the future it is perhaps Irene's story that gives us hope. It's the fact that after all these years they've stayed together and looked after eachother. There's a lot of lines of dialogue in this film that I loved but one of my favourites was when Irene says something along the lines of 'we haven't done extravagant things, we've done simple things but we did them bloody well'. Sometimes just finding that right person and getting to spend your entire life with them is enough.

A great film with a lesson of love not war that should be seen on the big screen by people of all ages.

Rating: 7/10.

A film that is quite emotional as a D-Day veteran 'escapes' the confines (not in a jailbreak sense) of his care home to attend the 70th anniversary in France, causing a media frenzy in the process!

Michael Caine and the late Glenda Jackson give wonderful performances as the elderly couple in the care home, Caine playing Bernie the veteran in question and Jackson, Rene his devoted wife who covers up for him as much as possible and encourages him to follow his destiny.

I am used to seeing the two actors in their pomp in sixties and seventies films so this is quite a change.

Look out for good supporting performances from the care home staff and fellow D-Day veterans some with their own demons.

The film uses brief flashback timelines to show the horrors of the D-Day events in the Second World War. However the film is not all excising demons and dwelling on past stressful events. There is plenty of humour as Bernie (Caine) makes the trip and meets up with fellow vets both Allied and German.

Having missed an organised trip to the 70th anniversary of The D-Day landings, 90 year old Bernard John makes his own way to France, leaving behind his wife and care home.

I suppose I'd start by saying that I didn't want this film to end, magical from beginning to end. Bernard's story touched many people, I remember it being on The BBC news back in 2014.

They could have made the film overly sentimental or too sobre, but they struck the perfect mix, it's heartfelt, touching, inspiring and amusing, it's such a moving, real life story.

Several times it tugged away at the heart strings, the most powerful moment for me where Bernard say with The Germans, I had a lump in my throat.

The acting was truly incredible, it's the best I've seen from Michael Caine for many years, the emotion he put into this was quite something. What a send of for the late, great Glenda Jackson, again, a superb performance, the chemistry between her and Caine was noticeable.

John Standing also added to the mix, another actor who'd graced our screens for so long, wonderful.

One I'll happily watch over.

10/10.

An absolutely beautiful film about the thrilling true story of Bernard Jordan, a veteran who travelled alone to the beaches of Normandy in order to pay respects to his fallen comrades. He meets some fellow veterans on his way, an unknowingly becomes a news icon!

The stunning visuals and cinematography are choreographed in such a way to bring out a deep emotional response. I often don't cry at films, but there were a handful of scenes in The Great Escaper that made me shed tears.

There are elements of romance, war drama, and comedy throughout the film, as well as brilliant performances all around, which makes for an enjoyable watch for many.

However, the pacing was way too fast in my opinion. The film is about an hour and a half long, but I feel it would've been better suited to be two hours or two and a half hours.

If you fancy a trip to the cinema, The Great Escaper should be high on your priority list!

Both Michael Caine(? Last film) and Glenda Jackson (her last film)give touching performances as husband and wife, in this nice, decent drama based on a true story.

I hope both Laura and I see out our days in a residential home by the seafront, like the one they live in here!!!

After a slew of hard going thriller/horrors- Nowhere, The Passenger it's nice to see something light and friendly- like a hot chocolate under the duvet on a cold wet day.

I took Mum to see this at the Curzon and she enjoyed it- seeing it at home with Dad in a fugue of cigarette smoke and heavy atmosphere would have dimmed the experience.

The general consensus of the elderly patrons at the screening was that it was a nice, moving film, well acted- I agree.