Sparkle (2007)

User Rating:

5.9/10   

Directors:

Tom Hunsinger
Neil Hunter

Writers:

Tom Hunsinger (writer)
Neil Hunter (writer)

Release Date:

17 August 2007 (UK)

Genre:

Comedy

Plot:

Sam is a charming, young chancer who has ambitions in the glamorous world of public relations when he moves to London. However, his best laid plans suffer a real setback when true love turns his world upside down in the most unexpected of circumstances.

Plot Keywords:

One Word Title

Cast

Stockard Channing	...	Sheila
Shaun Evans	...	Sam
Anthony Head	...	Tony
Bob Hoskins	...	Vince
Lesley Manville	...	Jill
Amanda Ryan	...	Kate
John Shrapnel	...	Bernie
Peter Gordon	...	Ivor
Lorenzo Martelli	...	Rooftop party man
Roy Carruthers	...	Frank
Sophia Dawnay	...	Camilla
Ellie Haddington	...	Frances
David Woodcock	...	Simon
Omar Berdouni	...	Luis
Richard Cant	...	Adrian

Runtime:

Germany:100 min (European Film Market)

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Certification:

New Zealand:M

Filming Locations:

Castletown, Isle of Man

Company:

Isle of Man Film Commission

Trivia:

Originally the main character, Sam, was going to be an electrician and that is why the title was Sparkle. (In the UK, a sparky is a nickname for someone in that profession.) However over time the plot developed and Sam's character was just looking for any kind work when he went to London. The producers however still wanted to call the film Sparkle, so had to come up with another reason for that. They gave Sam the surname Sparks, and developed his mum's character as a singer, so that they could continue to use Sparkle as the film's title.

not really feel-good

Not as good as the writers'/directors' previous effort, LAWLESS HEART, despite an array of fine actors. I think the problem lies in the limited range of the male lead. Scenes between everyone else work well enough, but his cheeky-chap persona grates after a while. This is more of a criticism of the script than of the actor. When we finally see his vulnerable side, it's too late for the rom-com ending.

The relationship between the characters also seems too conveniently close-knit to convince. Sure, by definition every work of fiction is artificial, a fabrication. There was a central idea in LAWLESS HEART - a bereavement - that bound the whole thing together. Here, unfortunately, the inter-connections seem worthier of a novel than a movie.

Bob Hoskins is particularly endearing in SPARKLE, so fans of his should see the movie if they can. Otherwise, in spite of reliable performances from reliable performers, this feels like a rather half-hearted attempt at a feelgood movie.