Their Finest

Name: Their Finest
Genre: Drama, Comedy, Romance, War
Released: April 7, 2017
Duration: 117 min
Rating: 76

2017

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Generally favorable reviews based on 30 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 52 Ratings

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6.3

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6.3	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 52 Ratings

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Their Finest: Bill Nighy On How He Became Involved

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Movie Details & Credits

EuropaCorp USA | Release Date: April 7, 2017 | R

Summary: With London emptied of its men now fighting at the Front, Catrin Cole (Gemma Arterton) is hired by the British Ministry as a "slop" scriptwriter charged with bringing "a woman's touch" to morale-boosting propaganda films. Her natural flair quickly gets her noticed by dashing movie producer Buckley (Sam Claflin) whose path would never haveWith London emptied of its men now fighting at the Front, Catrin Cole (Gemma Arterton) is hired by the British Ministry as a "slop" scriptwriter charged with bringing "a woman's touch" to morale-boosting propaganda films. Her natural flair quickly gets her noticed by dashing movie producer Buckley (Sam Claflin) whose path would never have crossed hers in peacetime. As bombs are dropping all around them, Catrin, Buckley and a colorful crew work furiously to make a film that will warm the hearts of the nation. Although Catrin's artist husband looks down on her job, she quickly discovers there is as much camaraderie, laughter and passion behind the camera as there is onscreen. [STX Entertainment]… Expand

Director: Lone Scherfig

Genre(s): Drama, Comedy, Romance, War

Rating: R

Runtime: 117 min

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Critic Reviews

100

Rex Reed

Apr 11, 2017

Beautifully cast, intelligently written and a gorgeously assembled range of beautifully gauged emotions about movies and war, Their Finest is one of the best films of a still-young 2017. Read full review

The Playlist Noel Murray

Sep 17, 2016

The charming, rousing WWII romance Their Finest is a film that openly stumps for two causes: the value of women in the workplace, and the power of cinema to tell stories that people need to hear. Read full review

Peter Keough

Apr 19, 2017

At its best, which is often, Their Finest by Danish director Lone Scherfig (“Italian for Beginners;” “An Education”) manipulates appearance and reality, relief and recognition, with exquisite finesse. As befits a film about making films. Read full review

Marjorie Baumgarten

Apr 12, 2017

Their Finest may ultimately be the best words to describe the amalgamated work of all participants in this film. Read full review

Peter Hartlaub

Apr 20, 2017

A charming and thoughtful movie, about people making a charming and thoughtful movie. Read full review

David Rooney

Sep 17, 2016

While the strong ensemble cast is Their Finest's most valuable asset, the movie also looks quite handsome on what appears to be a modest budget, and includes some delightful glimpses of how screen effects were achieved way back in those handcrafted days. Read full review

The Guardian Nigel M Smith

Sep 17, 2016

At its core, it’s really just a workplace love story that grows increasingly uninterested in its plucky heroine’s journey in favour of hitting familiar rom-com notes – and to give audiences another reason to love Bill Nighy. Read full review

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User Reviews

Daniberns

Apr 25, 2020

I laughed and I cried. Good acting all around! Bill Nighy and Gemma Arterton are fantastic. Also nice music score!

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

BHBarry

Apr 13, 2017

“Their Finest” is a film about life in wartime England and how the country’s Ministry of War sought to produce a film for its audiences at home and overseas in order to draw reluctant allies into World War II. Beautifully acted by Gemma Arterton and Sam Clafin and ably supported by the ever“Their Finest” is a film about life in wartime England and how the country’s Ministry of War sought to produce a film for its audiences at home and overseas in order to draw reluctant allies into World War II. Beautifully acted by Gemma Arterton and Sam Clafin and ably supported by the ever loveable Bill Nighy, the film was adapted for the screen by Gabby Chiappe from the novel by Lissa Evans. Nicely directed by Lone Scherfig (“An Education”, “Italian for Beginners”), the production values in the film are modest to say the least but nevertheless portray the efforts of the filmmakers within the film to achieve their propaganda goal and in the course of it, bring humor and sadness in unique combination as the umbrella of the blitz looms over every scene and occurrence. This is not a great film by any means but it does communicate the British grit as Londoners seek to persevere and survive a difficult time in the mid 1940’s and beyond. I give the film an 8 with special recognition to Ms. Arterton and Mr Nighy who, each in his and her own way, gave it “their finest”.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

GinaK

May 2, 2017

Short-sighted and uneven, Their Finest is still a fun film. It is beautifully acted and the plot twists and turns, although sometimes predictable, are enough to keep you interested. The feminist message gets lost and ends up as good-old-British spunk, but I tended to forgive what my headShort-sighted and uneven, Their Finest is still a fun film. It is beautifully acted and the plot twists and turns, although sometimes predictable, are enough to keep you interested. The feminist message gets lost and ends up as good-old-British spunk, but I tended to forgive what my head objected to since the film was so enjoyable. This is not the kind of film that wins awards, but you can spend a pleasant afternoon or evening watching it.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

DirigiblePulp

Sep 28, 2017

A nice movie, with a few laughs provided by the always welcome Bill Nighy, that fits in as a nice companion piece to 2017's Year of the Dunkirk Remembrance. This film suffers from what amounts to a cop out - it's a feel good piece of cake that then decides it doesn't want to be that andA nice movie, with a few laughs provided by the always welcome Bill Nighy, that fits in as a nice companion piece to 2017's Year of the Dunkirk Remembrance. This film suffers from what amounts to a cop out - it's a feel good piece of cake that then decides it doesn't want to be that and spits in your face for what amounts to no discernible reason.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

TVJerry

May 4, 2017

The British film industry continued during World War II with a focus was on boosting morale and promoting the war effort. Gemma Arterton plays an eager young woman who falls into a scriptwriting job. We follow her experience, including the uncertain relationship with another young writerThe British film industry continued during World War II with a focus was on boosting morale and promoting the war effort. Gemma Arterton plays an eager young woman who falls into a scriptwriting job. We follow her experience, including the uncertain relationship with another young writer (Sam Claflin). At one point, the American producing partners suggest the picture needs more punch. The creators of THIS film could have profited from that advice. The pace never varies…even the dramatic moments and bombings are happen with an underplayed approach. Ultimately, this often makes it rather dull. There are interesting glimpses at period movie production, Bill Nighy's arrogant actor provides some humorous moments and it's a sweet story. A bit more drama and variety would have given it more appeal.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

jeremyp

Apr 26, 2017

As a transplanted Brit I grew up on WW2 films where the English defeated the Nazis. This film goes inside the making of one such film (albeit fictional) and I'm afraid I found it all quite underwhelming. Bill Nighy can't save this one and neither can the supporting cast. Make it for TV butAs a transplanted Brit I grew up on WW2 films where the English defeated the Nazis. This film goes inside the making of one such film (albeit fictional) and I'm afraid I found it all quite underwhelming. Bill Nighy can't save this one and neither can the supporting cast. Make it for TV but don't put this kind of tepid fare on the big screen. It's good to see an attempt to look inside the making of a film but I'm afraid the film they are looking at isn't really worth looking inside of. Add to this our heroine gets knocked down to her knees one to many times, and in the end her final disaster seems too contrived and comes so quickly it doesn't really come across as life changing.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

GreatMartin

Apr 19, 2017

Sitting and watching “Their Finest” I wondered if it worth 120 minutes of your time to go behind the scenes to see how propaganda films were made in Britain during WW2? What about seeing a consummate performance by Bill Nighy as a previously lead actor now older and made to play supportingSitting and watching “Their Finest” I wondered if it worth 120 minutes of your time to go behind the scenes to see how propaganda films were made in Britain during WW2? What about seeing a consummate performance by Bill Nighy as a previously lead actor now older and made to play supporting roles? What about a supporting cast of top rate British actors whose name you might not know or even possibly their faces? Or would you be interested in seeing how women were treated in the 1940s even when the country were short of men who were off to war?

On the other hand are you willing to spend 100 minutes of those 120 sitting through a very slow moving movie where nothing really happens except for a scene now and then between Nighy and Eddie Marsan, the latter playing his agent, which is almost stolen from the latter’s dog? Is it worth trying to decipher very heavy British accents just to get a look on Nighy’s face when he discovers he will be playing a man way past his prime? (A definite yes to that scene!)

There is a somewhat love story that offers little interest, between Gemma Arterton and Jack Huston that becomes a triangle when Sam Claflin, as her co-worker, enters the picture. Also Rachael Stirling as a sort of Ann Southern/EveArden type of second banana offers some humor, and questions, as a member of the Ministry of Information division. Jeremy Irons has a cameo and Jack Lacy plays an American war hero who has to be, I hope on purpose, one of the worst actors ever!

Is it worth sitting through 120 minutes of “Their Finest” to see Bill Nighy? No, just look at the trailer and get an idea of how he elevates the movie just from his quick scenes here.… Expand

0 of 2 users found this helpful02

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