Review of Their Finest (2017) by Christopher R — 03 May 2017

Movies about making movies tend to lend themselves to a bit more depth. Paralleling the act of creation with the creation itself gives a level of self-awareness that can elevate a film. This is certainly the case in "Their Finest", a decidedly classy production.

Gemma Arterton, an actress more commonly seen in the US in big budget action roles, gives one of her more reserved performances as a screenwriter for the British film industry during WWII. She is hired on by the Ministry of Information to write for a film about Dunkirk to encourage US involvement in the war and raise morale in Britain.

Coping with her personal life and her rarely attained position amidst a war is arduous, and you feel her triumphs and losses in a story that rides the line between comedy, war drama, romance, and meta-narrative.

There are plenty of "you-go-girl" moments bolstering the theme of female empowerment. Joining her on her journey is Bill Nighy as an hilariously pompous aging actor coming to terms with the future.

They both face the problems of war in their quest for purpose, becoming examples of the dignified resolve that defined the British people during those dire years. The biggest surprise is how effectively the movie within the movie motivates and informs the emotional tone of these arcs.

I got choked up by the end, even with the schmaltzy throwback acting style. Ultimately, "Their Finest" serves as a great reminder why we go to movies: not for reality but for the truth.