A One Mann’s Movies review of “The Great Escaper” (2023).
I’ve been away on holiday in the States for four weeks, so am behind on the current cinema films. Thankfully, I was able to catch “The Great Escaper” before it leaves cinemas.
Michael Caine has had his share of brilliant film roles during his career (for example in: “Educating Rita”, “The Man Who Would Be King”, “The Ipcress File” … the list goes on and on) and some absolute clunkers (notably in: “The Swarm”, “Beyond the Poseidon Adventure” and “Jaws: The Revenge”). He’s threatened to ‘retire’ multiple times in recent years. But now it looks like he might actually be serious. As he commented on a BBC Today broadcast (referring to this film) “I’ve got wonderful reviews. What am I going to do to beat this?” And I can’t really argue with his logic. For this is a corker to end on.
Bob the Movie Man Rating:
Plot Summary:
Based on a true story set in June 2014, Bernard Jordan (Michael Caine) ‘escaped’ from his South-coast nursing home, with the knowledge of his beloved wife Irene (Glenda Jackson), to attend the D-Day anniversary celebrations in France. The antics of ‘The Great Escaper’ as he was named made national news headlines.
Certification:
UK: 12; US: NR; (From the BBFC web site: “Infrequent strong language, moderate sex references”).
Talent:
Starring: Michael Caine, Glenda Jackson, John Standing, Danielle Vitalis, Victor Oshin, Wolf Kahler, Will Fletcher, Laura Marcus.
Directed by: Oliver Parker.
Written by: William Ivory.
Twitter Handle: #TheGreatEscaper.
Running Time: 1h 36m.
A happily married couple for so many years: Irene (Glenda Jackson) and Bernard (Michael Caine). (Source: BBC Film)
“The Great Escaper” Review:
Positives:
- Michael Caine and Glenda Jackson. What a joy! Two actors still able to knock roles out of the park at the ages of 90 and 87 respectively. There’s a wonderful scene in this film, where Caine recalls, in a taxi, a TV appearance. In the broadcast, his outward jollity hides a deep pain. And it’s done with what? The eyes only? The smallest inflection of the mouth? Such nuance is the mark of a really great actor. And Jackson is equally capable in what proved to be her last role before her sad death in June of this year.
- Impressive supporting roles come from John Standing, as a veteran who befriends Bill; Danielle Vitalis, as Adele, Irene’s caring nurse; Victor Oshin, as Scott (nicely reflecting that veterans with issues aren’t all doddery old folk); and Wolf Kahler as Heinrich, a German officer also at the celebration (reflecting the buried pain present still on both sides of the conflict). (I immediately clocked Kahler, who was of course the unfortunate melting-Dietrich in “Raiders of the Lost Ark”).
- The script is wonderfully balanced. It doesn’t shirk from the indigniities of old-age, but it doesn’t come over as trite or condescending either. There are more than a few laughs included as well. “Who goes to bed at 9pm?” mutters Irene. “The randy and the infirm, that’s who!”. Flashback scenes (with a very well cast Will Fletcher and Laura Marcus as the young Bill and Irene) are well done. The wartime beach scenes are impressive, given the limited financial resources that were no-doubt in play: but this is no “Saving Private Ryan”!
- The score by the wonderful Craig Armstrong is delightful. A beautiful four-note motif, with variations. I stayed right to the end of the end-credits to listen to it (despite nearly getting a parking ticket!)
Negatives:
- Would Adele, as a care-home nurse, get quite so emotional about a particular resident being ill? I’m sure all nursing home staff do CARE…. but this amount of emotion didn’t quite ring true.
Then and now – Michael Caine and Glenda Jackson…. legends of the industry for so many years.
Summary Thoughts on “The Great Escaper”
This is a delightful film that, I’m not ashamed to say, made me well-up at the end. It’s particularly poignant that director Oliver Parker screened the finished film to Michael Caine and Glenda Jackson just a few weeks before Jackson died on June 15th. Wouldn’t it be great if BAFTA recognised Caine and Jackson in the Best Actor/Actress awards next year?
Curiously, I learned that the new Pierce Brosnan film – “The Last Rifleman” – is virtually a carbon-copy of this movie. It is also “based on a true story” (presumably that of Bernard Jordan). It seems that this is just coincidental (but “The Last Rifleman” seems to have been in development before “The Great Escaper”). But with such competing properties, “The Last Rifleman” has been released straight to streaming. You can find this film on Sky/Now TV.
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Trailer for “The Great Escaper”:
The trailer is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dNWp8Kq5JgI .
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