Last Orders is an appropriate phrase regarding the British film industry but there are occasional blips on the radar such as this tragic yet heartwarming drama with a cast list that reads like a who's who of classic British acting from the last half century. What we have is an honest portrayal of friendship, the ups & the downs as three mates & a son travel to Margate with the ashes of butcher Jack Dodds. But this is more than a physical journey as throughout the day buried secrets, regrets & grievances emerge. These are all superbly told in flashbacks that throw new light onto this circle of friends, part of a dying breed, the working class that lived & fought through wartime & followed their fathers into the family trade.
All the actors here are of course superb with Helen Mirren outstanding as the grieving wife, in a very male-orientated tale. The younger cast playing the youthful, idealistic friends equip themselves well never falling into the trap of simply impersonating the elder thespians. Their present day counterparts Caine, Courtenay and Hemmings bring to the screen the same intensity & honesty of performance which must have inspired the likes of Hoskins & Winstone to act & they too give outstanding examples that British acting does not have to involve gangsters or cartoon bad guys in the latest Hollywood blockbuster. This film is the stuff of true sentiment rather than the artificial sentimentality so often present in Hollywood cinema & every father or son can watch & find some small reflection of their own regrets & joys, lovingly & honestly brought to the screen.
All the actors here are of course superb with Helen Mirren outstanding as the grieving wife, in a very male-orientated tale. The younger cast playing the youthful, idealistic friends equip themselves well never falling into the trap of simply impersonating the elder thespians. Their present day counterparts Caine, Courtenay and Hemmings bring to the screen the same intensity & honesty of performance which must have inspired the likes of Hoskins & Winstone to act & they too give outstanding examples that British acting does not have to involve gangsters or cartoon bad guys in the latest Hollywood blockbuster. This film is the stuff of true sentiment rather than the artificial sentimentality so often present in Hollywood cinema & every father or son can watch & find some small reflection of their own regrets & joys, lovingly & honestly brought to the screen.