Film review - Lucky Break (From Western Telegraph)

Film review - Lucky Break

Director: Peter Cattaneo Starring: James Nesbitt, Timothy Spall, Lennie James, Olivia Williams, Christopher Plummer Cert. 15; Dur. 108 mins

It seems like only yesterday that the summer of Robert Carlyle stripping with some unemployed lads was in full Monty swing.

Director Peter Cattaneo spread the You Can Leave Your Hat On mood in the grim North, showing us that in the wake of the heavy industries there are chain smoking hearts of gold, living out old-fashioned love stories with more than a dash of fairytale.

The Full Monty was whats known in the British film industry as a film-phenomena! In the states theyd call it quite a low budget movie. Unfortunately Cattaneos long awaited follow up wont do the business that The Full Monty did but thats not to say this film isnt good. I may be alone in saying that I enjoyed Cattaneos new release, Lucky Break more than I did its big brother Monty.

Lucky Break stars the man most people think of as the guy from ITVs Cold Feet. In fact James Nesbitt had a film career before the 30-something TV show made him a star. In one of my favourite films ever, Hear My Song, Nesbitt shines as the second lead to Adrian Dunbar. Nesbitts talent is remarkable. He has that rare ability to be able to say any line with charm or mischief but with a complete reality, and of course being Oiiirish is always good for the ratings in a way that being from Dudley isnt.

In Lucky Break he plays Jimmy enjoying a holiday from society at her Majestys pleasure with his partner in crime Rudy (Lennie James) after their last heist has gone wrong. When they get inside they find that the eccentric Governor, played brilliantly by Christopher Plummer, is allowing the inmates to stage a musical.

This it would seem will provide their chance of escape. Unfortunately, the rehabilitation officer is the beautiful Olivia Williams and Jimmy cant help but fall in love with her.

It all takes a while to get going, but when it does its just great. There are fantastic support performances from the ever-brilliant Timothy Spall and from one of my favourite actors, here playing a criminal toff, Bill Nighy.

Lucky Break is definitely the Brit-flick of the year. Hopefully Richard Curtis, the screenwriter with a golden pen, and Peter Cattaneo with an eye for what makes a good British quaint movie will be able to take it in turns and produce a successful British comedy every year. Heaven forbid we actually produce two!

Just a last note. You may not know anything about this but Crocodile Dundee Three, (Crocodile Dundee In Los Angeles) is also released. Can you believe that one of the most famous film characters ever, which made $600 million in the days of the yuppie, can make a comeback with such a resounding media silence? Well it has.

It is a bit sad. Hogans act is the same but a lot more wrinkly. The wife, in real life too of course, is still on board and they have a son this time. The son shares the use of bushmans handy hints in the big, bad city, but theres the usual antics from dad too; Mick charming the locals, combating criminal gangs etc.

I have to say its not bad. It just feels like it was made in 1988. Its predecessors were a little ahead of their time which stops this from being really, really awful and the Dundee gags are still good gags, but its the Australian based (tourist board) footage thats best.

I think that perhaps the 70s and 80s had seen too many successful men being a bit camp (glam rock and new romantic). The antithesis of this was Mick Dundee. Nineties man though is not camp, but hes not ignorant either. However sensitive or charming or knowing of nature Dundee is, he doesnt seem to fit now. At least hes not nearly so refreshing.

Its amazing how our cultural interest moves on and leaves some characters, icons even, so far behind, so quickly.