Blackball (2003)

A rebellious young British bowls player teams with another older and more traditional player to take on the Australian bowls team.

Director:

Mel Smith

Writer:

Tim Firth (screenplay)

Stars:

Paul Kaye, James Cromwell, Alice Evans

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Paul Kaye	...	Cliff
James Cromwell	...	Ray
Alice Evans	...	Kerry
Bernard Cribbins	...	Mutley
Johnny Vegas	...	Trevor
Vince Vaughn	...	Rick
Imelda Staunton	...	Bridget
James Fleet	...	Alan the Pipe
David Ryall	...	Giles Wilton
Ian McNeice	...	Hugh The Sideburns
Kenneth Cranham	...	Chairman Collins
Terry Alderton	...	Bouncer Jonno
Emma Amos	...	Local News Reporter
Paul Bentall	...	Gate Guard (as Paul Bental)
Neil Conrich	...	Reporter Dave

Storyline

Try as he might, the roguishly handsome Cliff Starkey, just can't keep out of trouble. In his sleepy home town on the English coast, nothing much inspires him...apart from bowls. Cliff has always preferred to play by his own rules much to the disapproval of the regimented, elderly bowls fraternity. Before long, the bay boy of bowls is turning the sedate and very English pastime upside down with hysterical results.

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Plot Keywords:

sports car | sports agent | rivalry | painter | fish out of water | 

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Taglines:

From the director of "Bean" comes a comedy you will bowl over!

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Sport

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

5 September 2003 (UK)

Also Known As:

National Lampoon's Blackball

Filming Locations:

London, England, UK

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

£376,233 (United Kingdom), 7 September 2003, Limited Release

Company Credits

Production Co:

Midfield Films, Icon Entertainment International, Isle of Man Film

Technical Specs

Runtime:

96 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The tagline "At last a sportsman the British can be proud of..." is actually written "aT last a spOrtSman the britiSh can bE pRoud of..." the capitalized letters spelling the word 'Tosser' which is a word frequently used in the film.

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Goofs

During the England v. Australia match, most of the flags shown (including the graphics behind the "computer" head-shots) are Union Flags - the flag of the United Kingdom - and not St George Crosses - the flag of England.

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Quotes

Cliff: Is it on the condom?
Trevor: IT IS ON THE CONDOM!

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Connections

References Rocky (1976)

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Soundtracks

Don't Stop Me Now
Written by Freddie Mercury
Performed by Queen

User Reviews

You may still stay looking until the end even if you can not stay 5 minutes in front of a real match.

(However I saw some customer leaving before the end of the movie.) Good movie if you keep in mind that the base of it is a absolutely boring game for people as me who do not understand so much at it. I will be sure that is also an outrageous movie for people who are really fan of that game. If you forget the subject, the jokes are not too bad, the movie start very well (good part when Paul K. is coming at the final against James C.) but unfortunately it does not keep the rhythm. A good story ending which may look a bit stupid with a lot of luck for players and reconciliation and bla bla bla... as a "good American movie with a lot of "clichés". However Blackball is a good entertainment.