Six Minutes to Midnight: Eddie Izzard-Guided WWII Drama Intriguing but Unfulfilling
By Thom Ernst
Rating: C+
Director Andy Goddard's (Downton Abbey) espionage thriller Six Minutes to Midnight has a few surprises, the biggest of which is that it comes from a story by famed cross-dressing British comedian and recent trans-identifying person Eddie Izzard, better known for penning comedy specials than feature films about German and British war games.
The year is 1939, mere weeks before the outbreak of the WWII. Thomas Miller (Izzard), an English teacher of mix German and British descent, arrives at a British seaside school for girls—specifically, a girl's school for the daughters of prominent Nazi officers—hoping for a post as a replacement teacher.
The school's headmistress, Mrs. Rocholl (Dame Judi Dench) is far from welcoming, questioning, "What sort of Englishman would accept a position teaching Herr Hitler's League of German girls?" Miller is quick to point out that there doesn't seem to be much competition, and therefore, despite Rocholl's misgivings, he is hired on the spot.
But while Miller is apt to lead the students in a rousing chorus of “It's A Long Way to Tipperary,” the school Mrs. Rocholl joins the students in expressing their support of Germany’s growing national pride by saluting Hitler and shouting ‘sieg hiel.’
“The is no shame is showing one’s pride for their country,” Rocholl explains.
Miller’s real intent, unbeknownst to his colleagues, is to uncover information about his predecessor's disappearance and the disappearance of a camera presumed to have documented evidence of a German subterfuge. But Miller's espionage skills— scouring through cabinet drawers, bookcases, and on occasion spying on others while hiding behind a desk—are not likely the kind to have inspired Ian Fleming.
PROUDLY SUPPORTS ORIGINAL-CIN
Izzard fairs better as English teacher than spy; an intriguing paradox considering Miller is a spy posing as teacher. It’s easy to imagine that in earlier drafts of the script, Miller may have stumbled onto a more rewarding calling in the classroom.
Dench's performance, though sufficient to fulfill the requirements of the harsh and unyielding Mrs. Rocholl, doesn't create enough of a presence for her character to exist beyond the screen. Mrs. Rocholl's appearances tend to come accompanied with an unanticipated excitement of having spotted Dame Judi Dench.
Six Minutes to Midnight shifts focus between classroom drama and war thriller without allowing time for either genre to take shape. And some of the film's choices — a brash and perpetually angry Colonel Smith (David Schofield) and an over-the-top performance from James D'Arcy — suggests that maybe Izzard toyed briefly with making this a comedy.
However, the movie does have a pleasant and rewarding cameo from Jim Broadbent.
Six Minutes to Midnight. Directed by Andy Goddard. Starring Eddie Izzard, James D’Arcy, Dame Judi Dench, David Schofield and Jim Broadbent. Available on Apple TV, iTunes and other VOD platforms beginning March 26.