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{{More citations needed|date=July 2021}}
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{{Infobox film
{{Infobox film
|name = Lucky Break
| name = Lucky Break
|image = Lucky Break quad.jpg
| image = Lucky Break quad.jpg
|caption = UK quad poster
| caption = UK quad poster
|writer = [[Ronan Bennett]] (screenplay)<br>[[Stephen Fry]] (lyrics)
| writer = [[Ronan Bennett]] (screenplay)<br />[[Stephen Fry]] (lyrics)
| starring = {{Plainlist|
|starring = [[James Nesbitt]]<br>[[Olivia Williams]]<br>[[Timothy Spall]]<br>[[Bill Nighy]]<br>[[Lennie James]]<br>[[Christopher Plummer]]
|music = [[Anne Dudley]]
* [[James Nesbitt]]
* [[Olivia Williams]]
⚫
|director = [[Peter Cattaneo]]
* [[Timothy Spall]]
⚫
|producer = Peter Cattaneo<br>[[Barnaby Thompson]]
* [[Bill Nighy]]
⚫
|cinematography = [[Alwin H. Küchler]]
* [[Lennie James]]
⚫
|editing = [[David Gamble (film editor)|David Gamble]]
* [[Christopher Plummer]]
⚫
|studio = [[Film4 Productions|FilmFour]]
}}
⚫
|distributor = FilmFour Distributors
| music = [[Anne Dudley]]
⚫
|released = 24 August 2001
⚫
| director = [[Peter Cattaneo]]
⚫
|country = United Kingdom
⚫
| producer = Peter Cattaneo <br>[[Barnaby Thompson]]
⚫
|runtime = 107 minutes
⚫
| cinematography = [[Alwin H. Küchler]]
⚫
|language = English
⚫
| editing = [[David Gamble (film editor)|David Gamble]]
⚫
| studio = [[Film4 Productions|FilmFour]]
⚫
| distributor = FilmFour Distribution
⚫
| released = 24 August 2001
⚫
| country = United Kingdom
⚫
| runtime = 107 minutes
⚫
| language = English
| budget =
}}
}}


'''''Lucky Break''''' is a 2001 British comedy film starring [[James Nesbitt]] and directed by [[Peter Cattaneo]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/films/2001/08/08/luck_break_2001_review.shtml|last=Smith|first=Neil|title=BBC - Films - review - Lucky Break|publisher=[[BBC]]|date=23 August 2001|accessdate=29 July 2021}}</ref>
'''''Lucky Break''''' is a 2001 British comedy film starring [[James Nesbitt]] and directed by [[Peter Cattaneo]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/films/2001/08/08/luck_break_2001_review.shtml|last=Smith|first=Neil|title=BBC - Films - review - Lucky Break|publisher=[[BBC]]|date=23 August 2001|access-date=29 July 2021}}</ref>


==Plot==
==Plot==
Line 36: Line 44:


==Cast list==
==Cast list==
*[[James Nesbitt]] as James 'Jimmy' Hands / Lord Nelson in Show
* [[James Nesbitt]] as James 'Jimmy' Hands / Lord Nelson in Show
*[[Olivia Williams]] as Annabel Sweep / Lady Hamilton in Show
* [[Olivia Williams]] as Annabel Sweep / Lady Hamilton in Show
*[[Timothy Spall]] as Cliff Gumbell
* [[Timothy Spall]] as Cliff Gumbell
*[[Bill Nighy]] as Roger 'Rog' Chamberlain / King George III in Show
* [[Bill Nighy]] as Roger 'Rog' Chamberlain / King George III in Show
*[[Lennie James]] as Rudy 'Rud' Guscott / Hardy in Show
* [[Lennie James]] as Rudy 'Rud' Guscott / Hardy in Show
*[[Ron Cook]] as Mr. Perry, the Guard
* [[Ron Cook]] as Mr. Perry, the Guard
*[[Frank Harper]] as John Toombes
* [[Frank Harper]] as John Toombes
*[[Raymond Waring]] as Darren
* [[Raymond Waring]] as Darren
*[[Christopher Plummer]] as Graham Mortimer
* [[Christopher Plummer]] as Graham Mortimer
*[[Julian Barratt]] as Paul Dean
* [[Julian Barratt]] as Paul Dean
*[[Peter Wight (actor)|Peter Wight]] as Officer George Beorge Barratt
* [[Peter Wight (actor)|Peter Wight]] as Officer George Beorge Barratt
*[[Celia Imrie]] as Amy Chamberlin
* [[Celia Imrie]] as Amy Chamberlin
*[[Peter McNamara]] as Ward
* [[Peter McNamara]] as Ward
*[[Andy Linden (actor)|Andy Linden]] as Kenny
* [[Andy Linden (actor)|Andy Linden]] as Kenny
*[[Ram John Holder]] as Old Billy Morris
* [[Ram John Holder]] as Old Billy Morris


==Production==
==Production==
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==Reception==
==Reception==
The film currently holds a 48% rating on [[Rotten Tomatoes]] based on 44 reviews with the critics consensus: "Lucky Break fails to do anything new with The Full Monty formula".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/lucky_break|title=Lucky Break|website=[[Rotten Tomatoes]]|publisher=[[Fandango Media]]|accessdate=29 July 2021}}</ref> At Metacritic, it holds a 48% rating based on 22 reviews, indicating "Mixed or average reviews".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/movie/lucky-break|title=Lucky Break|publisher=[[Metacritic]]|accessdate=29 July 2021}}</ref>
The film holds a 48% rating on [[Rotten Tomatoes]] based on 44 reviews with the critics consensus: "Lucky Break fails to do anything new with The Full Monty formula".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/lucky_break|title=Lucky Break|website=[[Rotten Tomatoes]]|publisher=[[Fandango Media]]|access-date=29 July 2021}}</ref> On [[Metacritic]], it holds a 48% rating based on 22 reviews, indicating "Mixed or average reviews".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/movie/lucky-break|title=Lucky Break|publisher=[[Metacritic]]|access-date=29 July 2021}}</ref>


[[Dave Kehr]] of ''[[The New York Times]]'' said that "Mr. Cattaneo restricts himself to the smiling blandness that has become the stock in trade of British comedies made for export, turning in a film that is forced, familiar and thoroughly condescending".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2002/04/05/movies/film-in-review-lucky-break.html|last=Kehr|first=Dave|authorlink=Dave Kehr|title=Film Review; Lucky Break|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|publisher=[[The New York Times Company]]|date=5 April 2002|accessdate=29 July 2021}}</ref>
[[Dave Kehr]] of ''[[The New York Times]]'' said that "Mr. Cattaneo restricts himself to the smiling blandness that has become the stock in trade of British comedies made for export, turning in a film that is forced, familiar and thoroughly condescending".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2002/04/05/movies/film-in-review-lucky-break.html|last=Kehr|first=Dave|authorlink=Dave Kehr|title=Film Review; Lucky Break|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|publisher=[[The New York Times Company]]|date=5 April 2002|access-date=29 July 2021}}</ref>


Michael O'Sullivan of ''[[The Washington Post]]'' wrote "Apart from the deja vu all over again, ''Lucky Break'' is no worse a film than ''[[Breaking Out]]'', and [that film] was utterly charming".<ref>{{cite news|last=O'Sullivan|first=Michael|title=Lucky Break|date=18 April 2002|work=[[The Washington Post]]}}</ref>
Michael O'Sullivan of ''[[The Washington Post]]'' wrote "Apart from the deja vu all over again, ''Lucky Break'' is no worse a film than ''[[Breaking Out]]'', and [that film] was utterly charming".<ref>{{cite news|last=O'Sullivan|first=Michael|title=Lucky Break|date=18 April 2002|work=[[The Washington Post]]}}</ref>


According to [[Derek Elley]] of ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'', the film is "[c]hained to the floor by a script that isn't particularly funny, direction that goes for realism rather than stylization and an almost complete lack of comic timing".<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Elley|first=Derek|authorlink=Derek Elley|title=Lucky Break|date=14 August 2001|magazine=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]}}</ref>
According to [[Derek Elley]] of ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'', the film is "[c]hained to the floor by a script that isn't particularly funny, direction that goes for realism rather than stylization and an almost complete lack of comic timing".<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Elley|first=Derek|author-link=Derek Elley|title=Lucky Break|date=14 August 2001|magazine=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]}}</ref>


==References==
==References==
Line 72: Line 80:


==External links==
==External links==
*{{IMDb title|0246134}}
* {{IMDb title|0246134}}


{{Peter Cattaneo}}
{{Peter Cattaneo}}

Revision as of 14:05, 8 February 2022

Lucky Break
UK quad poster
Directed byPeter Cattaneo
Written byRonan Bennett (screenplay)
Stephen Fry (lyrics)
Produced byPeter Cattaneo
Barnaby Thompson
Starring
CinematographyAlwin H. Küchler
Edited byDavid Gamble
Music byAnne Dudley
Production
company
Distributed byFilmFour Distribution
Release date
24 August 2001
Running time
107 minutes
CountryUnited Kingdom
LanguageEnglish

Lucky Break is a 2001 British comedy film starring James Nesbitt and directed by Peter Cattaneo.[1]

Plot

James 'Jimmy' Hands and Rudy 'Rud' Guscott are two friends who used to play "Cops & Robbers" when they were young. Now adults, they plan to actually rob a bank, but the robbery goes wrong and Hands flees the bank leaving Guscott trapped behind the security shutters. Hands is caught and arrested not long later.

After being sentenced to do time in prison, Hands and Guscott make a daring escape plan as the prison is scheduled to put on a theatrical show of Nelson: The Musical. Hands and Guscott plan to use the show as cover their daring break-out attempt. During rehearsals, the inmates are unable to find a pianist for the show, until one inmate, Cliff Gumbell (Timothy Spall) volunteers and impresses them with his amazing piano skills. Hands is cast as Nelson (against his will) and Guscott is cast as Hardy, much to Guscott's dismay as his character kisses Nelson as he dies.

The escape plan proves difficult to proceed with, as one of the guards becomes very suspicious of Hands. Further complications arise when one of the more dangerous inmates threatens Hands to help him escape, as well as Hands warming to a prison employee named Annabel. During a prison visiting day, Gumbell is devastated to learn that his son is spending more time with his uncle, and that his wife is very disappointed being married to a criminal. Unable to live with the shame, Gumbell commits suicide in his cell.

The night of the show arrives and the escape plan is put into action. However, the dangerous inmate is tricked into going over the 30-foot prison wall and falls down the other side, where he is captured. Hands and Guscott are about to escape when Hands reveals his intentions to stay because of his feelings for Annabel. Guscott reluctantly lets Hands go and escapes with two other inmates, one of whom has a friend who arrives in a plane to help them escape.

Back in the prison, one of the guards resigns from his job over frustration of the inmates escaping and becomes a car park warden. Hands is later released from prison and starts a new life with Annabel.

Cast list

Production

Anne Dudley collaborated with Stephen Fry to write and produce songs for the send-up musical "Nelson".

Reception

The film holds a 48% rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 44 reviews with the critics consensus: "Lucky Break fails to do anything new with The Full Monty formula".[2] On Metacritic, it holds a 48% rating based on 22 reviews, indicating "Mixed or average reviews".[3]

Dave Kehr of The New York Times said that "Mr. Cattaneo restricts himself to the smiling blandness that has become the stock in trade of British comedies made for export, turning in a film that is forced, familiar and thoroughly condescending".[4]

Michael O'Sullivan of The Washington Post wrote "Apart from the deja vu all over again, Lucky Break is no worse a film than Breaking Out, and [that film] was utterly charming".[5]

According to Derek Elley of Variety, the film is "[c]hained to the floor by a script that isn't particularly funny, direction that goes for realism rather than stylization and an almost complete lack of comic timing".[6]

References

  1. ^ Smith, Neil (23 August 2001). "BBC - Films - review - Lucky Break". BBC. Retrieved 29 July 2021.
  2. ^ "Lucky Break". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved 29 July 2021.
  3. ^ "Lucky Break". Metacritic. Retrieved 29 July 2021.
  4. ^ Kehr, Dave (5 April 2002). "Film Review; Lucky Break". The New York Times. The New York Times Company. Retrieved 29 July 2021.
  5. ^ O'Sullivan, Michael (18 April 2002). "Lucky Break". The Washington Post.
  6. ^ Elley, Derek (14 August 2001). "Lucky Break". Variety.
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