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Movies / On DVD / On A Clear Day
On A Clear Day

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On A Clear Day (2006)

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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.

Rated: PG-13 [See Full Rating] for some language

Runtime: 1 hr 39 mins

Genre: Dramas

Theatrical Release:Apr 7, 2006 Limited

Box Office: $90,663

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... 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

[See More Credits]

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Release:

Jul 11, 2006

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Reviews for On A Clear Day

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41 - 60 (sorted by date)
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If it weren't for Scotsman Peter Mullan, who's wonderful as Frank Redmond, On a Clear Day would be intolerably pat.

Full Review Source: New York Daily News | comment Comment
04/07/06
Jack Mathews
Jack Mathews
New York Daily News
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

The recent Anthony Hopkins film The World's Fastest Indian, a charming true story loaded with nutty details, painted a similar picture of an older man's quest, but with much brighter colors than the gray tones of On a Clear Day.

Full Review Source: New York Post | comment Comment
04/07/06
Kyle Smith
Kyle Smith
New York Post
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Sweet-natured, if somewhat familiar, On a Clear Day features fine performances by Mullan, Blethyn and Sives. Dellal and cinematographer David Johnson paint an inviting picture of Glasgow.

Full Review Source: Los Angeles Times | comment Comment
04/07/06
Carina Chocano
Carina Chocano
Los Angeles Times
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Another variation of the British feel-good, inspirational dramedy, this time concerning a laid-off shipbuilder who finds new purpose in life.

Full Review Source: Los Angeles Daily News | comment Comment
04/07/06
Glenn Whipp
Glenn Whipp
Los Angeles Daily News

It's The Full Monty in a swimming pool. And it sinks.

Full Review Source: EDGE Boston | comment Comment
04/07/06
Phil Hall
Phil Hall
EDGE Boston

The fish-n-chips reliability of the film is pleasing enough to suffice, but the attention to character detail is what will really pull you in.

Full Review Source: FilmJerk.com | comment Comment
04/06/06
Brian Orndorf
Brian Orndorf
FilmJerk.com

Much of On A Clear Day volleys between quirky and sentimental.

Full Review Source: AV Club | comment Comment
04/06/06
Scott Tobias
Scott Tobias
AV Club

If, like me, you have infinite tolerance for schmaltz-encrusted tales of troubled British proles who seek salvation through recreational self-discovery, go ahead and enjoy strong, silent Peter Mullan as a laid-off Glasgow shipyard worker.

Full Review Source: L.A. Weekly | comment Comment
04/06/06
Ella Taylor
Ella Taylor
L.A. Weekly

An inspiring and uplifting story about self respect. Director Gaby Dellal steers the story without excessive sentimentality, resulting in a rewarding and enjoyable film in the vein of Billy Elliott and The Full Monty.

Full Review Source: Urban Cinefile | comment Comment
04/06/06
Urban Cinefile Critics
Urban Cinefile Critics
Urban Cinefile

[Scottish actor Peter Mullan] saves a drama tangled in the seaweed of life lessons from drowning in pathos.

Full Review Source: Entertainment Weekly | comment Comment
04/05/06
Lisa Schwarzbaum
Lisa Schwarzbaum
Entertainment Weekly
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Gaby Dellal's cynically mushy film, like The Full Monty and its ilk, is best savored only by its target demo: middle-classers who see one imported film a year.

Full Review Source: Village Voice | comment Comment
04/04/06
Michael Atkinson
Michael Atkinson
Village Voice
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

A decent, feelgood pic without gooey sentiment.

Full Review Source: Compuserve | comment Comment
04/04/06
Harvey S. Karten
Harvey S. Karten
Compuserve

It plays a risky game, switching tone from domestic drama to political point-making to broad comedy to sticky sentiment in a matter of moments, rounding everything off with a perfect ending that will make grown men weep.

Full Review Source: Empire Magazine | comment Comment
04/01/06
Alan Morrison
Alan Morrison
Empire Magazine

Its watery theme will guarantee that there is not a dry eye in the house when the end credits roll -and a queue at the bathroom straight after.

Full Review Source: european-films.net | comment Comment
03/24/06
Boyd van Hoeij
Boyd van Hoeij
european-films.net

Astutely scripted by Alex Rose, the narrative is never willing to sell short the characters or to suffuse the story with a surfeit of sentimentality, although it has to be said that the ending will melt even the hardest of hearts.

Full Review Source: Boxoffice Magazine | comment Comment
03/11/06
Richard Mowe
Richard Mowe
Boxoffice Magazine

Schmaltzy, sentimental and predictable, this wannabe crowd-pleaser tries to use the same ingredients of the far better Full Monty, Calendar Girls, Billy Elliott: economic depression, working-class heroes and a physical challenge for the uplifitng finale.

Full Review Source: EmanuelLevy.Com | comment Comment
03/05/06
Emanuel Levy
Emanuel Levy
EmanuelLevy.Com

A pleasantly predictable film which ultimately demonstrates rather less ambition than its protagonist.

Full Review Source: Time Out | comment Comment
02/09/06
Anna Smith
Anna Smith
Time Out

Carries on the tradition of curdled sentimentality wrought by idiosyncratic, inspirational, English-flavored comedies like The Full Monty and Waking Ned Devine.

Full Review Source: Slant Magazine | comment Comment
01/18/06
Nick Schager
Nick Schager
Slant Magazine

As well-acted and well-made as it is it never quite manages brilliance.

Full Review Source: FilmFocus | comment Comment
09/04/05
Joe Utichi
Joe Utichi
FilmFocus

The film is extremely well cast - Peter Mullan probably has "Grumpy bastards a speciality" emblazoned at the top of his CV and he's on top form here as Frank

Full Review Source: ViewLondon | comment Comment
09/03/05
Matthew Turner
Matthew Turner
ViewLondon
 
 
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