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★ 7 / 10
**_Cate Blanchett joins the French Resistance during WW2_**
Wuchak
**_Cate Blanchett joins the French Resistance during WW2_** Shot in 2001, this was based on Sebastian Faulks’ 1998 novel. Contrary to what some say, the…
**_Cate Blanchett joins the French Resistance during WW2_**
Shot in 2001, this was based on Sebastian Faulks’ 1998 novel. Contrary to what some say, the titular character was not based on Nancy Wake's real-life exploits. The author has plainly stated this. Perhaps he was inspired a bit by the New Zealander's story to create the one he wanted to tell, but that's about it.
As with practically any book-to-film adaptation, there are alterations as the exposition of the novel is jettisoned to fit the story into a 2-hour timeframe. The flick debuted seven months after “Pearl Harbor” and there are slight similarities in regards to the romantic dalliances. “Cold Mountain” came out two years later and, again, there are slight parallels. Bits of “Operation Daybreak” (1975) also come to mind, as well as “The Eagle Has Landed,” not to mention it shares the general milieu of Tarantino’s “Inglorious Basterds.”
It's the least of these IMHO, mainly because the dramatics aren’t as compelling as they could be, but nevertheless it delivers the goods if you’re inclined toward a WW2 yarn that focuses on peripheral events rather than conventional battles. The sometimes awe-inspiring locations are authentic and the décor & costumes convincing; plus, there’s an exquisite sense of artistry in the cinematography.
Armchair criticisms of the film are easily explained away. For instance, Roger Ebert complained that Charlotte's presence wasn't necessary to take down the train carrying German arms. Answer: The Resistance fighters would constantly need to train new people since so many of them were being betrayed and killed. He also objected to the German soldier not shooting the protesting Julien as they paraded into the city, but he forgot that that sequence occurred in the "free zone" of southern France in 1942, not the military-occupied northern part of the country. Sure, in the north Julien would've been shot on the spot, but in the south the collaborationist Vichy regime was still in control and German soldiers were instructed accordingly.
I shouldn’t fail to mention that Michael Gambon has a key role and brings to mind Albert Finney in his old age.
It was shot mostly in south-central France (Saint-Antonin-Noble-Val), but also Scotland (Glenfinnan Viaduct, Fort William) and the London area, including Pinewood Studios.
GRADE: B/B-
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★ 7 / 10
Billy Crudup - practically perfect in every way
melp1981
I know this is a serious board devoted to the merits of the movie... but I would like to just mention the fact that rarely does an actor have the effect on me…
I know this is a serious board devoted to the merits of the movie... but I would like to just mention the fact that rarely does an actor have the effect on me that Billy Crudup did in this film. Oh my god what a beauty! Perfect in every way... And obviously extremely talented, made more perfect by his professional choices!
So, the film. Well, as a (some time ago) graduate of military history, with a particular interest in the sociological effects of war I have a special fondness for stories like this. I sought out the book and devoured it. I loved it, absolutely, as I do pretty much everything else by Sebastian Faulks. I also enjoyed this film immensely, but as a separate entity. A film is generally incapable of reaching the depths your imagination can take you to through reading a truly great book, maybe people should spend more time reading!
I don't agree with the mauling this film was given by the critics, it kept me engaged from beginning to end and the happy ending, although a little trite, is a smile worthy event!
Sod the dodgy Scottish, Kate Blanchet was believable as far as I'm concerned. Billy was perfect, as I think I might have mentioned! Michael Gambon - always worth watching and the chap that played the teacher was sufficiently creepy from first sight. The boys were sympathetic without being irritating child actors and the atmosphere was intimidating.
It was emotional without being over the top, the relationship between the leads was wonderfully portrayed and I feel it was a valuable description of the horrific situation of collaboration.
Not the best film I've ever seen but I definitely enjoyed it. And I'm not sure if you've noticed, and I don't like to bring it up, but Billy Crudup is a god among men.
Watch it with an open mind.
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★ 5 / 10
Brave, but lousy script
fadedGlory
Anybody who dares to make a French Resistance movie after the runaway success of the TV spoof 'Allo Allo' gets 5 points for bravery, no less. Unfortunately…
Anybody who dares to make a French Resistance movie after the runaway success of the TV spoof 'Allo Allo' gets 5 points for bravery, no less.
Unfortunately, bravery is not enough to make a good movie. Even bravery coupled with excellent actors, nice cinematography and an eye for detail is not enough. Any film can be ruined by a poor script and Charlote Gray is no exception.
The whole tale is just so unlikely. The way Charlotte gets 'picked up' by the British Secret Service - the guy making the first approach is such an annoying bore, why on Earth would she accept his invitation for a party instead of throwing his business card in the first available bin? Then, she falls in love with this pilot (how's that for cliché's?) and of course he is shot down on his next mission ('don't worry' he said - naturally). So, she joins the Secret Service (as simple as that) and trains to become an agent in the hope to go to France and find him. Now that is really strange - this training would take months, so why would she expect him to still be at the place he was shot down if and when she ever manages to get there? Wouldn't he likely be back in England, or in a POW camp in Germany? Anyway, training over, she gets sent to France on her first mission. But this is very strange - we don't really get any insight in what this mission actually is. She delivers a couple of radio valves to a French contact, but why these haven't simply been dropped as a parcel is a mystery. Later in the film she acts as intermediary between a locally based English agent and the Resistance. Why do they need to send in another British agent to act as intermediary? Why not let the local agent liaise with the Resistance directly? There seems no rhyme or reason for her being there at all.
At the handover of the valves, her contact is arrested (more mysteries - why does this contact insist to receive the valves when she is about to be arrested? A sure way to torture and death!) and Charlotte has to hide. But does she hide? No, not really - she goes to live with the father of the young Resistance leader under the pretext of working as a housekeeper. And next thing, she happily cycles to town as if there was no risk at all that the initial contact would have told the Gestapo all about her drop! So why is she hiding in the first place? A mystery.
And so it goes on and on - every twist of the plot makes it more unlikely. Why do the Resistance take Charlotte along when they attack a train? Why does the Resistance leader risk his life and his group by standing on the street shouting at the Germans? Why do the Germans kill the Resistance fighters in a trap instead of capturing them for interrogation? How do the Germans know where the young Jewish boys are being hidden? In the end, the whole point of the movie seems to be to paint a love triangle against a backdrop of the French Resistance - wow, we really needed a film like that! The script simply sucks, and the actors don't know what to do with it either. The cinematography is very nice, but then of course it is hard to go wrong when filming in the French countryside.
Five stars for bravery, that's what I promised, so I will stick to that.
If only that policeman had said 'Good Moaning', I would have given it six stars for even more bravery.
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