You could almost say this film is a companion piece to Christopher Nolan’s Dunkirk. It might be an experiment to watch them back-to-back. Billed a comedy by some the story is funny but it is on the most gentle of slopes of that genre. There are laughs to be had but you will not be rolling in the aisles.

This is not any form of criticism but having watched the film and hearing some reviews and opinions the casual viewer might feel short-changed looking for lots of laughs.

The story is about many things, the artistic endeavour, the shift of balance that World War 2 brought about for women in the United Kingdom, the horrors of war and accepting change brought about by time alongside the complexity of relationships and romance.

If this sounds like a lot of subjects to cover it is but generally Their Finest covers them with necessarily broad strokes. In particular the pointed observations on the institutionalised sexism at this stage in history is handled very well. At no point did I feel I was being battered over the head with a hammer but more like having gentle pokes with a finger now and then. Likewise, the sadness, ego driven indignation and eventual acceptance embodied in old matinee actor Ambrose Hilliard is pitch perfect.

The romantic aspect of the film is less well handled and almost feels like ‘the distributor wanted this’ section of the film come to life. Of all the aspects of the story these feel rather heavyhanded and in particular, the end (no spoilers here) jarred heavily with the rest of the film and how it was heading. I understand why it was done but it just did not feel right.

Their Finest is clearly an interesting story that definitely needed to be made but the real ace-the-hole for the makers is the stellar cast that pops up on your screen. The three main protagonists are played by Gemma Arterton, Bill Nighy and Sam Clafin so if your honest you know before the production team logos appear you are on safe ground. Then we get the supporting cast, Eddin Marsan, Richard E. Grant, Racheal Stirling, Jeremy Irons and a stand-out Helen McCrory, they only need Toby Jones and few others and I would have watched if it had been a soup advert.

The look and feel of the film seem perfect, I’m not expert so I’m sure they are plenty of anachronist points I missed, and it transports you into that time. There is no shying away from what being bombed nearly every night meant for people at that time and the consequences. Yet somehow the film was still light and still was able to make you chuckle. Basically, it’s a great job by all involved.

Nothing is perfect and for, me the romantic aspect could have be dialled down or removed entirely and it would still have been a fine film but having it included does not detract from the enjoyment or overall storyline.

Their Finest is a showcase of British talent acting in a period piece about attitudes that have changed (ever so slightly) the and prickly world of showbusiness and yet it doesn’t lecture or pander and the whole project appear enfused with a deep love of the story and characters.

Due to this film I have shortlisted the novel it is based on to my Kindle Wishlist

Recommended.

**The war and the cinema!**

The film was based on the book and about filmmaking, particularly screen writing. Fictional comedy-drama that is set in London in 1940. While the war tearing apart the nation, some people are not disturbed by it. They are going ahead with their film projects, especially war themed to boost the people's confidence. That's when the new arrival, Mrs. Cole, begins her career as a writer. So her experience working with the scripts, meeting the real people whose story are getting adapted and her gloomy romance, everything lets us know.

A nice film and a little different than the majority of the film that came this year. The focus was good. I mean while bombs falling from the sky, all this tale concentrated was film business. Something like 'Argo', but given less preference to the war, except its consequences which diverted their plan in some scenario. So there were many small-small twist and turns. It also gets emotional at one stage. A well written and directed film similar to what the film characters did their best in the story.

Gemma was good, but Claflin was totally different, in a good way. As much as I enjoyed, I also thought it should have been even better. Because thematically it was not for everyone. I mean the world war was a good idea, but the filmmaking was not like you are usually familiar with. Besides, it was not a laughing out loud comedy. Between the seriousness of war and fun around making films, the combination was rare and well worked out. Those who love pre 50s, 40s settings in a film would enjoy it for sure. Especially if they like films about films.

_6/10_