On a Clear Day

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Cast & Crew

Peter Mullan
Frank

Brenda Blethyn
Joan

Sean McGinley
Eddie

Jamie Sives
Rob

Billy Boyd
Danny

Ron Cook
Norman

Jodhi May
Angela

Benedict Wong
Chan

Anne Marie Timoney
Michelle

Shaun Dingwall
Observer

Gaby Dellal
Director

Alex Rose
Writer

Bill Allan
Executive Producer

Steve Christian
Executive Producer

Leonard Crooks
Executive Producer

Nick Hill
Executive Producer

Andrew Mason
Executive Producer

Sarah Curtis
Producer

Dorothy Berwin
Producer

David Johnson
Cinematographer

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Critic Reviews for On a Clear Day

Audience Reviews for On a Clear Day

• Sep 15, 2013

  Apparently the U.K has a propensity for these sentimental, sometimes even cloying, crowd-pleasing movies where blue-collar workers, or a community, fight against the odds in order to overcome some emotional baggage. This is another one of those types of films and I'd say this was pretty good, all due in part to Peter Mullan's performance. His performance was certainly a pleasant surprise, because Mullan, almost always, tends to play these tough, mean-looking gangster types. And he certainly looks, and acts, the part as he has a very intimidating presence. In this movie he plays a man with far more emotional 'baggage' on him than his other characters, and I think he does a great job here really. I just think the script is probably a little too sentimental for my tastes. It's certainly easy to see why Frank is the way he is, and why he has pushed his only son away, his other son drowned. But I think the movie probably lays on its message, or its drama rather, a little too thick for my tastes. I think it tries too hard to try to tie the symbolism of Frank swimming the English Channel to what happened with his son to each other. I think ONCE Frank says that he's swimming the English Channel, you'll know the reason why he's doing it. They didn't need to lay it on as thickly as they did. The cast is more than solid, no problem there. Peter Mullan is great here and Brenda Blethyn, an incredibly talented woman, is really good here as well but I wish her character's relationship with her husband would've been better developed. It's like these two spend the entire movie apart and there's ONE scene where they share a sweet moment of remembrance to when they were young and dating. It was supposed to be a sweet scene, showcasing that they're truly in love. I think it would've worked in a movie where the husband and wife spent more time interacting with each other. Even if they're arguing throughout the entire movie, that moment where they recall their younger days would've made the entire thing touching. The rest of the cast is good, but none of the characters really have any actual depth. It's clear I wasn't watching Amour last night. And I'm glad that I wasn't, I chose this movie because I was in the mood for something light. And while the humor is pretty light, there's some interesting dramatic developments here. Even if they're laid on a little thickly. Still, this is a solid movie that benefits from a committed performance from Peter Mullan, and the rest of the cast is more than solid too.
  Jesse O Super Reviewer
• Jul 08, 2012

  A typical working class family offering wherein Dad, one of those blokes defined by his job, suddenly gets the sack and now is in need of some serious redefinition. An engaging cast carries this familiar story with some spirit of devotion.
  Kevin M. W Super Reviewer
• Apr 22, 2009

  Laid off Glasgow dock worker tries to find some meaning to his life by swimming the English channel. It's a fairly light, British chum drama that will comfortably fill a spare hour and a half. I found the subplot a rather vague, unnecessary distraction and not all the acting was first class.
  Ross C Super Reviewer
• Apr 29, 2007

  [font=Century Gothic]"On a Clear Day" starts with Frank(Peter Mullan) being made redundant after working thirty-six years at the shipyards. For him, work is everything and is at a loss what to do next, looking for a new job not coming easy. The only hobby he enjoys is swimming at the pool with his pals. Suddenly he has a goal in life - to swim the English Channel.[/font] [font=Century Gothic][/font] [font=Century Gothic]Meanwhile, his wife, Joan(Brenda Blethyn), is secretly learning how to drive a bus...[/font] [font=Century Gothic][/font] [font=Century Gothic][/font] [font=Century Gothic]"On a Clear Day" is a nice pleasant movie about masculinity, the generation gap and trying to find a purpose in life in middle age.(Frank has always supported his family but that may change now that his wife is looking for work outside the home. His son is comfortable taking care of his kids while his wife works at a job center.) But the movie is rather routine, resembling other crowd pleasing movies that center on the working class without seriously discussing politics; the best of which was "Brassed Off." The movie has more than enough silliness and amateur psychology to go around. What makes it all worthwhile is Peter Mullan's magnificient performance capturing all the nuances of his character's conflicting emotions perfectly. [/font]
  Walter M Super Reviewer

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