Sometimes it's not about knowing the right answer. Starter for 10 is directed by Tom Vaughan and adapted to screenplay by David Nicholls from his own novel of the same name. It stars James McAvoy, Alice Eve, Rebecca Hall, Dominic Cooper, Benedict Cumberbatch, Catherine Tate and Elaine Tan. Music is by Blake Neely and cinematography by Ashley Rowe. Set in 1985 England, working-class student Brian Jackson (McAvoy) navigates his first year at Bristol University - which lends him the opportunity to feature on his favourite ever TV Quiz Show - University Challenge. I have never read the book so have no frame of reference there, thus the complaints from devotees of the written source are null and void to me. For I absolutely loved this film, a fresh and breezy coming of age comedy that's tinted with dramatic intelligence. How nice to have a pic of this genre ilk that's not built around trying to lose one's virginity, or standing up to bullies etc. For sure there's a whole load of angst on show, a bit of class distinction dichotomy, the perils of formative fumbling romances, and of course whimsy. Yet the framework of education, the thirst for knowledge and an understanding of the problems evident in the world at time of pic's setting, all make this a smarter than your average bear British rites of passage piece. Cast are on splendid form to make the multidimensional characters work (each main character moves away from being mere caricatures). McAvoy is splendidly affable as Brian, who is still nursing the loss of his father years previously, and then has to watch as his mother (Tate) takes a lover - the local ice-cream man (John Henshaw). It's no easier at University, where he lusts after the blonde bomber (Eve) when in fact he obviously should cop on to the fact that the girl for him is bleeding heart socialist Rebecca Epstein (Hall) - but she isn't the quiz type! McAvoy has a good comedy way about him, gawkish but lovable and perfect when portraying Brian out of his depth in certain scenarios. Of the others it's Cumberbatch who steals the show as Patrick Watts, an absolute toff, an upper class twit who has no comprehension of the working class system and the perils within that structure. He is burned by his miserable failure on University Challenge the previous year, his inadequacies and stubborness blinding him to the benefits that others around him can afford him. The facial expressions, the posh vocab speak and the need to be in charge are brought vividly to comic life by Cumberbatch. Eve smoulders as Alice, but deftly plays her vulnerabilities, Hall has her character down pat, while Cooper, Tate and James Corden leave favourable marks. As do Charles Dance and Lindsay Duncan in unforgettable scenes as Alice's parents. The whole play is covered over with an 80s soundtrack, mixing student favourites with punky pop tunes, while the period detail for Brian's home life prior to going to University (Southend-On-Sea) has been given great nostalgic thought. A lot of the humour is sure to be too British for none UK folk, more so those not familiar with what the mid 1980s were like in Britain, while it has to be acknowledged that where the story ends up holds no surprises. Yet this holds many pleasures for the right audience, so fingers on the button and see if you get this starter for 10.
Love, motherhood and a musical career strike dissonant chords in this dark tale of a young Russian woman who tries to keep her balance among wealthy French expats in New York.
Movie Star Rating : 5.2 Read More
A group of unsuspecting college students explore a haunted house and get more than they bargained for when the sexual frenzy of the paranormal world reveals itself.
Movie Star Rating : 4.8 Read More
A dysfunctional love story about an Irish food writer and a politically committed Spanish woman.
Movie Star Rating : 5.4 Read More
A troubled youth is offered the opportunity to serve as a Senate page in Washington, DC.
Movie Star Rating : 6.5 Read More
An avid detective is assigned to investigate the heist of a batch of precious coins that end up in the hands of a suicidal barber.
Movie Star Rating : 5.7 Read More
After her mother is killed by a car bomb, a 17-year-old girl lives a reckless and decadent lifestyle. She begins having sex with a boy who works at a local ski resort. He falls in love, and she tells him of her suspicions that her strict father was responsible for her mother's death and wants him to help her out of her situation. He must decide whether she's telling the truth or using him to her own ends.
Movie Star Rating : 6.1 Read More
The 1975 film by Georgi Daneliya "Afonya" was an unexpected commercial hit in USSR. The main character "Afonya" Borshev is a plumber, who spends his life partying with "buddies", many of whom he doesn't even remember after nights of heavy drinking. His wife leaves him, his boss places him on probation, his whole life is falling apart, but he doesn't realize it. Afonya met Katya at a dance club, yet didn't pay her much attention. But she is the one, who can save him... In this movie Daneliya achieves a perfect balance of satire and drama. Quotes from the movie gained a cult status in USSR.
Movie Star Rating : 8 Read More
When spoiled young heiress Maggie Richards tries to charge some gasoline at an auto camp run by Bill Davis, he makes her work out her bill by making beds. Resolving to get even, she pretends to have forgiven him, and sends him to her father to get financing for a plan Bill has. What happens next was not part of her original revenge plan.
Movie Star Rating : 6 Read More
Sasquatch Sunset 2024 - Movies (Jun 1st)
Paradox Effect 2023 - Movies (Jun 1st)
Cinderellas Revenge 2024 - Movies (Jun 1st)
Wicked Little Letters 2023 - Movies (May 31st)
The Zone of Interest 2023 - Movies (May 31st)
Alien Invasion 2023 - Movies (Jun 1st)
Darkness of Man 2024 - Movies (Jun 1st)
Ezra 2023 - Movies (Jun 1st)
Maybe Its You 2023 - Movies (Jun 1st)
Binary Samurai 2023 - Movies (May 31st)
Revenge of the Empire of the Apes 2023 - Movies (May 31st)
Zombie Chronicles Infection Zone 2023 - Movies (May 31st)
A Knife in the Dark 2024 - Movies (May 31st)
Poolman 2023 - Movies (May 31st)
No Way Up 2024 - Movies (May 31st)
A Part of You 2024 - Movies (May 31st)
Gasoline Rainbow 2023 - Movies (May 31st)
Jim Henson Idea Man 2024 - Movies (May 31st)
Hate to Love Nickelback 2023 - Movies (May 31st)
The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar and Three More 2024 - Movies (May 30th)
The Wrath of Becky 2023 - Movies (May 30th)
The Beat with Ari Melber - (Jun 2nd)
Weekends with Jonathan Capehart - (Jun 2nd)
Gutfeld! - (Jun 1st)
Outnumbered - (Jun 1st)
Tucker on X - (Jun 1st)
Ace of Base- All That She Wants - (Jun 1st)
WWE Main Event - (Jun 1st)
The Ingraham Angle - (Jun 1st)
The Five - (Jun 1st)
Hannity - (Jun 1st)
Casualty - (Jun 1st)
MotoGP Unlimited - (Jun 1st)
The Last American Vagabond - (Jun 1st)
RV There Yet? - (Jun 1st)
The Kitchen - (Jun 1st)
Tiger - (Jun 1st)
Dont Hate the Player - (Jun 1st)
WWE SmackDown - (Jun 1st)
Police 24/7 - (Jun 1st)
James Martins Saturday Morning - (Jun 1st)