Ross622 "On a Clear Day" is a film that really disappointed me mainly because the movie waits until the end to be an actually good movie. The movie tells the story of a middle aged Irishman named Frank (played by Peter Mullan) who is a professional shipbuilder who is going through a tough time with his family mainly with his son Rob (played by Jamie Synes) who are having an estranged relationship with one another. And his wife (played by Brenda Blethyn)and friends Ed (played by Sean McGinley), Chan (played by Benedict Wong), Norman (played by Ron Cook), and his other son Danny (played by Billy Boyd). As I mentioned in the first sentence of this review that the movie takes until the ending of the film to actually look good, mainly because of the screenplay by the at the time inexperienced screenwriter for the first time Alex Rose who I know for a fact didn't revise upon his work for the film, though the director to the film Gaby Dellal is to take part of the blame as well. Now later in the film Frank is going to his local swimming pool to train because he is so determined to swim the English channel and after a few weeks goes for it and acts like a crybaby when he is almost done swimming the English channel until he snaps out of it and keeps going until he reaches the shore. The movie is a mediocre type of movie though it is nothing compared to sports movies like Remember the Titans (2000), Raging Bull (1980), Rocky (1976), Cinderella Man (2005), Million Dollar Baby (2004), or even The Pride of the Yankees (1942). The film itself is just not as bad as other terrible movies that I have seen recently or in the past few years.

wordsmith_57 An endearing everyman movie with a UK setting. Frank, a traditionalist, would rather leave than kowtow to the new management. After 36 years of work he is at odds what to do with himself. He can't communicate his emotions to his wife, he barely expresses his feelings to his chums, and he struggles with his relationship with his son. Woven through this is the 23 year old tragedy of losing his other son to a drowning, which has haunted him all these years. Frank finds a way to redeem his self-esteem and that is to swim the English Channel. The movie weaves this main plot in with several sub-plots and it all works well. Indie movies are brave enough to portray real characters with plausible dialog. A tremendously capable cast with the talents of Billy Boyd (Pippin) as the comic relief, and Brenda Blethyn (Pride and Prejudice) as the stalwart wife, plus the wide array of minor characters, blend to create a thoroughly enjoyable family movie. Some of the lines with Billy Boyd are laugh out loud hilarious.

gradyharp ON A CLEAR DAY is a wee Scottish film that is full to overflowing with heart and fine performances. Writer Alex Rose and Director Gaby Dellal have managed to explore the psyches of the ordinary folk who face the crises of unemployment, of strained family relations and the fear of loss of pride in one's self and have created not only a sympathetic story with a message, but have also delivered their story with humor and a glint of the eye that makes the whole thing work - very well indeed.Frank (Peter Mullen) watches as the last ship he will ever have worked on is launched as his wife Joan (Brenda Blethyn) and his son Rob (Jamie Sives), daughter in law Angela (Johdi May), and grandson twins celebrate the launching. We soon learn that Frank is now jobless, that there is friction with his son Rob (who had been a twin but the other twin died at age 7) who doesn't have a traditional job but instead is a stay at home Dad. Money is tight and Joan secretly is training to be a bus driver. Franks cronies Eddie (Sean McGinley), Danny (Billy Boyd), and Norman (Ron Cook) see Frank slipping into depression. Frank spends his time swimming at the public swimming pool and while there he sees three young physically challenged boys trying and by will power succeeding to swim. Frank decides he needs to prove himself to his friends, family and himself and decides to swim the English Channel. He enlists his buddy Chan (Benedict Wong) and eventually his cronies and they prepare for the challenging swim. The manner in which this drive influences his marriage, his relationship with his son and his perception of himself is the driver for the very tender ending.The cast is first class all the way, acting with that inimitable UK fashion of finding reality in the simplest of characters. The story is a joy to watch for its understated manner and for the glowing theme of the film. Recommended for all audiences. Grady Harp, July 06

Divamo68 First the positives - the acting is fantastic. Wonderful ensemble work, very talented bunch who are a joy to watch work together. Peter Mullan is outstanding. The problem with this story is that it isn't sure what story it wants to tell. Without ruining it, it wanders quiet a bit. There is also some sloppy editing which confuses. There are subplots introduced which just vanish at strange moments in the script. The beginning is full of promise, but it very quickly becomes several films you've seen many times before: forced sentimentality, clichéd and predictable. Not a bad movie, some beautiful shots, but I fail to see what all the fuss was about at Sundance.