Blackball (film)
Blackball | |
---|---|
Directed by | Mel Smith |
Written by | Tim Firth |
Produced by | James Gay-Rees |
Starring | |
Music by | Stephen Warbeck |
Distributed by | Icon Entertainment International |
Release dates |
|
Running time | 96 minutes |
Country | United Kingdom |
Language | English |
Box office | $48,000 (US) |
Blackball (also known as National Lampoon's Blackball) is a 2003 British
Background
In addition to the main character being modelled after Griff Sanders, the film also spoofs Bjørge Lillelien's infamous commentary from Norway's 2–1 defeat of England at football in 1981.[6] This theme was first riffed by David Baddiel and Frank Skinner on their TV show Fantasy Football League, and the other commentator for the match was Angus Loughran, who played 'Statto' on Fantasy Football.
Blackball was filmed on the Isle of Man and Torquay during October and November 2002. It was released on DVD on 16 February 2004. Various internet games were created in promotion of the movie.[7] Crackerjack, an Australian bowls-based film that pre-dates Blackball, may be the true inspiration for the English version.[citation needed]
Plot
Cliff Starkey (
Starkey is then picked up by
With the sport's popularity at an all-time high, both Speight and Starkey become media celebrities. Schwartz arranges for both Starkey and Speight to take on Australia's unbeaten Doohan brothers in "The Ashes", a one-off tournament in a custom made bowls arena in Torquay. Schwartz; afraid that the relationship with Kerry is affecting Starkey's game; ends his relationship without his consent causing Starkey to fire Schwartz.
Both players have a wide disdain for each other, and are made to use custom bowls for the game. After failing with his woods, and the pressure of the game getting to him, Starkey throws his own woods in a
The final end, a one bowl play-off, sees a perfect front toucher from Mark Doohan. Speight gives the bowl to Starkey, but stops him from playing his intended fire shot, and instead instructs him to play his own signature large inswinging bowl. The shot works, and the two celebrate having defeated the Australian team, and make amends with Trevor and Mutley.
Cast
- Paul Kaye as Cliff Starkey
- Johnny Vegas as Trevor
- Vince Vaughn as Rick Schwartz
- Alice Evans as Kerry Speight
- Kenneth Cranham as Chairman Collins
- Bernard Cribbins as Mutley
- James Cromwell as Ray Speight
- Imelda Staunton as Bridget
- David Ryall as Giles Wilton
- James Fleet as Alan The Pipe
- Ian McNeice as Hugh The Sideburns
Reception
Critical response to the film was mixed. Critical review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes scored the film at 41% based on 22 reviews.[8]
David Aldridge of the Radio Times scored the game 1 out of 5, noting that "the laughs here are way off-target."[9] Nev Pierce of the BBC gave the film 2 out of 5 stars.[1] Ed Colley of Future Movies gave the film 3.5/5 saying that "blackball isn't going to single-handedly save British cinema, but it's a likable comedy all the same, even for those wouldn't know a good in-swinger if it came curving towards them at a frightening pace."[10] William Thomas of Empire Online liked the movie stating "A quintessentially British concoction, but a charming one at that. Good performances and a witty script add up to an entertaining, if whimsical, film."[11]
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References
- ^ a b Pierce, Nev (4 October 2003). "BBC Blackball Review". BBC.com. Archived from the original on 11 October 2003. Retrieved 15 April 2014.
- ^ "Blackball | Film | The Guardian". The Guardian. 7 September 2003. Retrieved 8 February 2018.
- ^ "The Tim Firth Blackball Home Page". Timfirth.com. Retrieved 15 April 2014.
- ^ Colley, Ed (16 September 2003). "Blackball Future Movies Review". futuremovies.co.uk. Archived from the original on 21 February 2014. Retrieved 15 April 2014.
- ^ "Troubled times for the Gazza of the green". The Independent. Retrieved 8 February 2018.
- ^ "Commentator's 'Maggie Thatcher' outburst makes UNESCO list". Thelocal.no. 8 February 2012. Retrieved 8 February 2018.
- ^ "彩神登陆(中国)科技有限公司". Archived from the original on 17 November 2003.
- ^ "NATIONAL LAMPOON'S BLACKBALL (2005)". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 8 February 2018.
- ^ Aldridge, David. "Blackball - Review". Radio Times. Retrieved 8 February 2018.
- ^ Colley, Ed (16 September 2003). "Blackball Review - Future Movies". Future Movies. Retrieved 8 February 2018.
- ^ "Blackball". Empire. 1 January 2000. Retrieved 30 January 2021.
External links
- Official website
- Blackball at IMDb