Less than a month before WWII, a German girls school on the English coast becomes the quiet center of some serious spy action in SIX MINUTES TO MIDNIGHT.
Loaded with the daughters of the most senior officers of the Nazi regime, Bexhill-On-Sea is an elite high school run by the firm but matronly Miss Rocholi. Judy Dench is excellent as Rocholi, a woman in denial of the impending war and convinced that the German school in England is just the right message of détente for the world.
Her right hand person Elsa (Carla Juri from Blade Runner 2049) is close to the girls and appears ready to carry on the school’s legacy.
When their English teacher suddenly disappears, his replacement Thomas Miller arrives quietly, the only apparent applicant for the job. He adapts quickly, becoming a trusted ally to some of the girls. That comes in handy as he is also an English spy, convinced that there is valuable intel to be discovered about Germany’s impending war plans.
Eddie Izzard is great as Miller, showing grit and dedication to Queen and country as Hitler’s grip tightens around the country.
While the film looks like a stately BBC period piece, it’s actually a very good spy thriller, loaded with red herrings, narrow escapes and plenty of suspense.
Jim Broadbent (Moulin Rouge, Game of Thrones) brings comic relief and surprising depth as a local bus driver, James D’Arcy (Dunkirk) nails it as tough nosed English inspector Drey and Celyn Jones is memorable as Drey’s asst, Corporal Willis.
With its foot chases and narrow escapes across the windswept English countryside, it reminded me of 1981’s terrific WWII thriller “Eye of the Needle” and that’s damn good company to keep.
Dench and Izzard are powerful actors and both have fine moments throughout.
By the rousing, action packed finale, you’ll find plenty of heroes to cheer and bad guys to curse.
SIX MINUTES TO MIDNIGHT is a class act, earning a solid, old fashioned and enjoyable B.
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