Touching biopic of Oscar-winning Gloria Grahame (Bening) and her relationship with Peter Turner (Bell), a struggling actor 28 years her junior. The couple meet as Grahame’s final days are played out in Liverpool. Director McGuigan brings a finely tuned balance of warmth, sadness and humour to the ill-matched relationship. A career-best performance from Jamie Bell which brings out a tenderness not often seen in his filmography, meanwhile Bening pitches it just right, demanding and vulnerable, romantic and tough. The film based on Turner’s book about the relationship pays fitting tribute to a great star of the 40s and 50s. 

“The complexity came through Gloria rather than Peter, so it was good to have a strong female point of view in a story like that, and one that wasn’t sentimental either.” Director Paul McGuigan

“Bening demonstrates again why she’s one of the best actresses in the business, digging deep to find the woman behind the sex symbol and refusing to settle for the superficial – there’s no suggestion of Grahame’s sexy pout … a touching tribute to both their talents.” Peter Travers, Rolling Stone

‘A beguiling story and Bell and Bening are tremendous as the star-crossed lovers.’ Peter Bradshaw, The Guardian