Review of Glorious 39 (2009) by Mikey M — 30 May 2011

A big fatty lump of period drama. Dreadfully realised with visual story being hammered home by dialogue overlaps throughout. The personal story throughout might have been the most interesting part had it not been for the terrible decision to frame the story from the future - and from a character who couldn't possibly have known most of what we are shown as the past. The film also relies heavily on too many thriller elements which are often horribly coincidental or laughably set-up (the scene where Garai is in front of the cinema screen recording voice-over is one of the most un-intentionally funny things I have ever seen). Oh and did I mention that Garai reveals huge chunks of exposition through dialogue with her Cat?

I feel sorry for the excellent acting talent that attached themselves. Quite frankly, those who are responsible for this guff should be thoroughly ashamed of themselves -- someone genuinely needed to reign Poliakoff in. If our film industry continues to pump funding into films like this, we are truly fucked.