A satisfying 92 minutes.
On A Clear Day (2006)
Tomatometer
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Reviews Counted: 64
Fresh: 43
Rotten:21
Average Rating: 6.2/10
Consensus: Another blue-collar inspirational feel-good British dramedy, On A Clear Day succeeds on the strength of lead actor Peter Mullan's performance and Gaby Dellal's competent direction.
Synopsis: Shot on location in Glasgow and Dover, director Gaby Dellal's first feature takes off from a true story of one man's determination to swim the English Channel. The film deftly avoids the pitfalls of sentiment through a self-deprecating... Shot on location in Glasgow and Dover, director Gaby Dellal's first feature takes off from a true story of one man's determination to swim the English Channel. The film deftly avoids the pitfalls of sentiment through a self-deprecating humor that recalls THE FULL MONTY in tone and theme, as well as a stunning performance from Peter Mullen (YOUNG ADAM) as protagonist Frank Redmond. After 40 years of working as a shipbuilder, the somewhat taciturn Frank has been "made redundant" and let go from his job. He finds himself utterly unmoored without the routine and trappings that have defined his existence for so long, and suffers a loss of self-respect that he is unable to talk about with his loving wife, Joan (Brenda Blethyn, PRIDE & PREJUDICE), and son, Rob (Jamie Sives). Floundering, Frank becomes obsessed with the idea of swimming the Channel, and undertakes the project with the help of Chan (Benedict Wong, DIRTY PRETTY THINGS), the owner of the local fish-and-chips shop, who becomes Frank's personal trainer. His three best mates (Billy Boyd, Sean McGinley, and Ron Cook) sign on for the ride as well, each discovering new strength in themselves along the way. But it is Frank's relationships with his family that are the most moving part of the film, as he deals with the demons that have hounded him for over 20 years and rediscovers the bonds he shares with his wife and his long-estranged son. [More]
Starring: Peter Mullan, Brenda Blethyn, Billy Boyd, Sean McGinley
Starring: Peter Mullan, Brenda Blethyn, Billy Boyd, Sean McGinley, Jamie Sives, Ron Cook, Benedict Wong, Jodhi May
Director: Gaby Dellal
Director: Gaby Dellal
Screenwriter: Alex Rose
Producer: Sarah Curtis, Dorothy Berwin, Bill Allen
Studio: Focus Features
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Reviews for On A Clear Day
There is much warmth and reconciliation in the final act, indicative of the movie's goodheartedness.
There's an audience for this sort of mush, but don't count me in the mix.
On a Clear Day isn’t so much a bad film as it is a thoroughly familiar and unnecessary one.
One thing that sets On a Clear Day apart from other, like-minded films -- besides its spectacular Scottish location footage -- is the first-rate cast.
Unlike my colleagues, I wiped my eyes instead of rolling them, and I'm hoping you will too. Worth seeing indeed.
The recycled spectacle of yet another downsized U.K. working-class type being reduced to an act of feel-good against-all-odds crowd-pleasing redemption.
Flawed by moments of sitcom humour, On A Clear Day still manages to tell an engaging story about men, work and friendship.
The wonder here, if not the redemption, is that so many toil so hard to make this saccharine stuff palatable.
... despite its familiarity, it works, mostly on the strength of a fine performance by the Scottish actor Peter Mullan.
Fans of Mullan's more intense work will find this soft and all-too maudlin.
The movie reaches for an emotional climax that is simply beyond the filmmakers' grasp.
The social, economic and personal stresses don't seem very surely addressed by the big swim.
Mullan makes the journey more than worthwhile, but don't go in expecting profundity.
Nothing in On a Clear Day is especially compelling. The movie doesn't dig deep enough.
Does any of this work? Sure, but only through the graces of a cast that knows better than to play to our hearts.
A thoughtful, thoroughly engaging portrait of fractured family and friends pulling together for an impossible dream.
Latest News for On A Clear Day
January 31, 2006:
Tackling male mid-life crisis in such a manly fashion should work. ![]()
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