Richard Attenborough has always been an actor’s director, drawing career highs from the likes of Ben Kingsley in Gandhi and Robert Downey Jr. in Chaplin. Now he adds Shirley MacLaine to his list. While the initially confusing story jumps between 1941 and 1991, Michigan and Belfast, World War II airmen and IRA bombings, MacLaine delivers a surprisingly restrained performance.
Metaphors about digging around in the past and papering over truths are handled heavily, but an eclectic cast (Pete Postlethwaite, Brenda Fricker, Mischa Barton) lightens the film’s contrivances.
After disappointments In Love And War and Grey Owl, 84 year-old Attenborough is back on better, albeit old-fashioned, form.