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{{short description|2001 film by Peter Cattaneo}}
{{Short description|2000 film by Peter Cattaneo}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2016}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2021}}
{{Use British English|date=June 2016}}
{{Use British English|date=July 2021}}
{{More citations needed|date=December 2014}}
{{More citations needed|date=July 2021}}
{{Infobox film
{{Infobox film
| name = Lucky Break
| name = Lucky Break
Line 8: Line 8:
| 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]]
* [[James Nesbitt]]
* [[Olivia Williams]]
* [[Timothy Spall]]
* [[Bill Nighy]]
* [[Lennie James]]
* [[Christopher Plummer]]
}}
| music = [[Anne Dudley]]
| music = [[Anne Dudley]]
| director = [[Peter Cattaneo]]
| director = [[Peter Cattaneo]]
| producer = Peter Cattaneo<br>[[Barnaby Thompson]]
| producer = Peter Cattaneo <br>[[Barnaby Thompson]]
| cinematography = [[Alwin H. Küchler]]
| cinematography = [[Alwin H. Küchler]]
| editing = [[David Gamble (film editor)|David Gamble]]
| editing = [[David Gamble (film editor)|David Gamble]]
| studio = [[FilmFour]]
| studio = [[Film4 Productions|FilmFour Productions]]<br>Fragile Films<br>Senator Film
| distributor = FilmFour (UK) <br>[[Paramount Pictures]]<br>[[Miramax Films]] (USA)
| distributor = FilmFour Distributors (United Kingdom)<br>Senator Filmverleih (Germany)<br>[[Paramount Pictures]]<br>[[Miramax|Miramax Films]] (United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand)
| released = 24 August 2001
| released = {{Film date|2001|08|24|UK|2001|11|08|Germany|2002|04|19|U.S.|df=y}}
| country = United Kingdom
| country = United Kingdom<br>Germany<br>United States
| runtime = 107 min.
| runtime = 107 minutes
| language = English
| language = English
| budget =
| budget =
}}
}}


'''''Lucky Break''''' is a 2001 British comedy film starring [[James Nesbitt]] and directed by Peter Cattaneo.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/films/2001/08/08/luck_break_2001_review.shtml|title=BBC - Films - review - Lucky Break|website=Bbc.co.uk|accessdate=14 October 2017}}</ref>
'''''Lucky Break''''' is a 2001 crime 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> The film is a co-production between the United Kingdom, United States and Germany.


==Plot==
==Plot==
James 'Jimmy' Hands ([[James Nesbitt]]) and Rudy 'Rud' Guscott ([[Lennie James]]) 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.
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.
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 ([[Olivia Williams]]). 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 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.
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.
Line 37: 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==
{{Multiple issues|section=yes|
{{Multiple issues|section=yes|
{{expand section|date=December 2014}}
{{expand section|date=July 2021}}
{{Unreferenced section|date=December 2014}}
{{Unreferenced section|date=July 2021}}
}}
}}
[[Anne Dudley]] collaborated with [[Stephen Fry]] to write and produce songs for the send-up musical "Nelson".
[[Anne Dudley]] collaborated with [[Stephen Fry]] to write and produce songs for the send-up musical "Nelson".

Exterior prison scenes were filmed at Dartmoor Prison, Princetown.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Prison to host film premiere. - Free Online Library |url=https://www.thefreelibrary.com/Prison+to+host+film+premiere.-a077549939 |access-date=2023-02-06 |website=www.thefreelibrary.com}}</ref>


==Reception==
==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".<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>
{{Expand section|date=December 2014}}

⚫
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=http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/lucky_break/|title=Lucky Break|publisher=[[Rotten Tomatoes]]|accessdate=14 October 2017}}</ref> At Metacritic, it holds a 48% rating based on 22 reviews, indicating "Mixed or average reviews."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.metacritic.com/movie/lucky-break|title=Lucky Break|publisher=[[Metacritic]]|accessdate=14 October 2017}}</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]]|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 (film)|Breaking Out]]'', and [that film] was utterly charming".<ref>{{cite news|last=O'Sullivan|first=Michael|title=Lucky Break|date=18 April 2002|newspaper=[[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|author-link=Derek Elley|title=Lucky Break|date=14 August 2001|magazine=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]}}</ref>


==References==
==References==
Line 68: Line 82:


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


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


[[Category:2001 films]]
[[Category:2001 films]]
[[Category:British films]]
[[Category:British crime comedy films]]
[[Category:British comedy films]]
[[Category:American crime comedy films]]
[[Category:German crime comedy films]]
[[Category:2001 comedy films]]
[[Category:2001 comedy films]]
[[Category:British prison films]]
[[Category:British prison films]]
[[Category:American prison films]]
[[Category:Film4 Productions films]]
[[Category:Film4 Productions films]]
[[Category:Miramax films]]
[[Category:Paramount Pictures films]]
[[Category:Films directed by Peter Cattaneo]]
[[Category:Films scored by Anne Dudley]]
[[Category:Films scored by Anne Dudley]]
[[Category:2000s English-language films]]
[[Category:2000s British films]]
[[Category:2000s German films]]
[[Category:2000s American films]]
[[Category:English-language German films]]

Latest revision as of 16:42, 24 November 2024

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
companies
FilmFour Productions
Fragile Films
Senator Film
Distributed byFilmFour Distributors (United Kingdom)
Senator Filmverleih (Germany)
Paramount Pictures
Miramax Films (United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand)
Release dates
  • 24 August 2001 (2001-08-24) (UK)
  • 8 November 2001 (2001-11-08) (Germany)
  • 19 April 2002 (2002-04-19) (U.S.)
Running time
107 minutes
CountriesUnited Kingdom
Germany
United States
LanguageEnglish

Lucky Break is a 2001 crime comedy film starring James Nesbitt and directed by Peter Cattaneo.[1] The film is a co-production between the United Kingdom, United States and Germany.

Plot

[edit]

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

[edit]

Production

[edit]

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

Exterior prison scenes were filmed at Dartmoor Prison, Princetown.[2]

Reception

[edit]

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".[3] On Metacritic, it holds a 48% rating based on 22 reviews, indicating "Mixed or average reviews".[4]

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".[5]

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".[6]

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".[7]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Smith, Neil (23 August 2001). "BBC - Films - review - Lucky Break". BBC. Retrieved 29 July 2021.
  2. ^ "Prison to host film premiere. - Free Online Library". www.thefreelibrary.com. Retrieved 6 February 2023.
  3. ^ "Lucky Break". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved 29 July 2021.
  4. ^ "Lucky Break". Metacritic. Retrieved 29 July 2021.
  5. ^ Kehr, Dave (5 April 2002). "Film Review; Lucky Break". The New York Times. Retrieved 29 July 2021.
  6. ^ O'Sullivan, Michael (18 April 2002). "Lucky Break". The Washington Post.
  7. ^ Elley, Derek (14 August 2001). "Lucky Break". Variety.
[edit]
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