See buying choices for this item to see if it's one of the millions that are eligible for Amazon Prime.

15 used & new from £2.78
See All Buying Options
Have one to sell? Sell yours here
 
   
Blackball [DVD] [2003]
 
See larger image 
Share your own customer images

Blackball [DVD] [2003]

DVD ~ Paul Kaye|James Cromwell|Alice Evans
4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (8 customer reviews)

Available from these sellers.


6 new from £14.59 9 used from £2.78
Learn about Lovefilm
Amazon's choice for DVD rental.
With a 14 day FREE trial. Learn more

What Do Customers Ultimately Buy After Viewing This Item?

Blackball [DVD] [2003]
86% buy the item featured on this page:
Blackball [DVD] [2003] 4.0 out of 5 stars (8)
The Crazy World of Bowls (Crazy World of...)
6% buy
The Crazy World of Bowls (Crazy World of...) 4.0 out of 5 stars (1)
Bowls: Skills, Techniques, Tactics (Crowood Sports Guides)
5% buy
Bowls: Skills, Techniques, Tactics (Crowood Sports Guides) 5.0 out of 5 stars (2)
£9.99
The Story Of Bowls [DVD]
3% buy
The Story Of Bowls [DVD] 4.0 out of 5 stars (1)
£17.59
Explore similar items

Product details

  • Actors: Paul Kaye|James Cromwell|Alice Evans
  • Directors: Mel Smith
  • Format: PAL
  • Language English
  • Region: Region 2 (This DVD may not be viewable outside Europe. Read more about DVD formats.)
  • Aspect Ratio: 1.77:1
  • Number of discs: 1
  • Classification: 15
  • Studio: Warner Home Video (Icon)
  • DVD Release Date: 16 Feb 2004
  • Run Time: 93 minutes
  • Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
  • ASIN: B0000BK6T5
  • Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 9,021 in DVD (See Bestsellers in DVD)

    •  Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?

Reviews

Amazon.co.uk Review
Blackball marks the feature debut of Paul Kaye, who spins a somewhat more likeable variation on his arrogant Perfect World TV persona in this underdog-triumphs-over-adversity comedy. Set, like Fawlty Towers, in the holiday resort of Torquay, and echoing the small-town seaside pettiness of Tony Hancock's The Punch and Judy Man (1963), Blackball is as bitterly class conscious as either, with Kaye as a working-class, potentially world-champion bowler with an enormous chip on his shoulder. Written by Tim Firth (the man also responsible for 2003's Calendar Girls), the film seems unsure what it wants to be, aiming potshots at the corrupting influence of big money TV deals and commercial tie-ins on traditional values, while simultaneously trampling on those very values by celebrating the repugnant antics of Kaye's MTV-generation angry young sportsman.

Director Mel Smith eventually swamps any satiric intent under a full slate of feel-good comedy clichés, though he does win fine performances from James Cromwell and Bernard Cribbins as Kaye's proud nemesis and kindly uncle respectively. While parts of the script involving their back stories seems to have been left on the cutting room floor, the restrained dignity these two elder statesmen bring to their roles speaks volumes about changes in attitudes between the generations. Consistently amusing, though too predictable to be hilarious, Blackball features strong support from Vince Vaughn, Johnny Vegas, Imelda Staunton and Alice Evans. Stephen Warbeck's score really elevates proceedings once the product-placed rock soundtrack stands aside. --Gary S Dalkin

Special Features
Director's Commentary
Cast and Crew Interviews
Trailers and TV Spots
Subtitles: English, English and English HOH
Aspect ratio: 16:9

See all Reviews

Customers Who Bought This Item Also Bought

The Crazy World of Bowls (Crazy World of...)

The Crazy World of Bowls (Crazy World of...)

by Bill Stott
4.0 out of 5 stars (1) 
It's All Gone Pete Tong [DVD]

It's All Gone Pete Tong [DVD]

DVD ~ Paul Kaye
4.3 out of 5 stars (15) 
Bowls: Skills, Techniques, Tactics (Crowood Sports Guides)

Bowls: Skills, Techniques, Tactics (Crowood Sports Guides)

by John Bell
5.0 out of 5 stars (2)  £9.99
Tropic Thunder - Single Disc [DVD] [2008]

Tropic Thunder - Single Disc [DVD] [2008]

DVD ~ Ben Stiller
2.9 out of 5 stars (72)  £5.97
The Story Of Bowls [DVD]

The Story Of Bowls [DVD]

DVD ~ David Bryant
4.0 out of 5 stars (1)  £17.59
› Explore similar items

Suggested Tags from Similar Products

 (What's this?)
Be the first one to add a relevant tag (keyword that's strongly related to this product)
Check a corresponding box or enter your own tags in the field below
(1)
(1)
(1)
(1)
(1)
(1)
(1)
(1)
(1)
(1)
(1)

Your tags: Add your first tag
 
See most popular tags
 

Customer Reviews

8 Reviews
5 star:
 (3)
4 star:
 (4)
3 star:    (0)
2 star:    (0)
1 star:
 (1)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
4.0 out of 5 stars (8 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
Share your thoughts with other customers:
Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
15 of 18 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars Blackball, 26 Sep 2003
An entertaining comedy about a young talented but unconventional bowls player Cliff Starkey (Paul Kay) who is desperate to play in the England team against Australia. He doesnt play by the rule book, and having won a place on the team by beating local champ Ray Speight (James Cromwell) he promptly loses it by writing "tosser" in the rule book. This gets him a fifteen year ban from playing bowls. The love interest is Kerry Speight (Alice Evans) who happens to be Ray Speights duaghter, a side splitting moment occurs at a dinner, when Speight discovers his daughter has slept with Cliff Sparkey! The plot keeps bowling along and predictably the fifteen year ban gets overturned and both Sparkey and Speight play the Aussies for the Ashes. Bernard Cribbins is excellent as Sparkeys father.
Even if you know nothing about bowls or play regularly it is a light hearted comedy worth watching at any age 15- 90. There is a lot of gratuitous swearing which is why I only gave it 4 stars.
Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)



 
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars The Badboy of Bowling., 12 Jan 2008
By DangermouseZilla "He's the strongest, he's th... (Doncaster, Yorkshire, UK.) - See all my reviews
(TOP 100 REVIEWER)   


I've seen this film a couple of times now and this is one which I'd give 3.5 stars if I could - but have to decide on either 3 or 4.

After what must have been a few lengthy seconds of deliberation I've opted for 4 stars.

Now, this isn't a film which will blow you away - but it does have some genuinely very funny moments and is one of those heart-warming comedies which doesn't get too sickly (unlike like the wretch-worthy Love Actually). There is a romance, but the film doesn't lose itself and become a Rom-Com, it's more of a comedy involved with class struggle and poking fun at the modern media obsession with 'celebrity'.

The clichés you expect from a film like this are all there - but they aren't all consuming. You can still enjoy the story of the Badboy of Bowls and laugh at the jokes, many of which are visual - I love watching Tony Slattery's hair getting bigger and bigger towards the end of the film.

Paul Kay is brilliant as Cliff Starkey, the orphaned wildchild from the rough estate who learned bowls whilst being brought up by his granddad. His energy makes the film, and the conflict in relationships between his friend and girlfriend is portrayed well thanks to Johnny Vegas' emotional gushing after feeling excluded and used.

Vince Vaughan seems to stand out like a sore thumb as the pushy American agent, his over the top performance seems out of kilter with the rest of the film. His scenes tend to have a "straight to video movie" feel about them. A lot of the plot devices he is involved in are crucial to the film (they show the shallowness of the celebrity fixated media world") but you can't help but think that his casting was purely to help guarantee more box office success. Which is ironic really seeing as the film mocks that sort of behavior.

Little touches such as the pastiche on modern sporting events (becoming over-hyped TV spectaculars) help to raise this film above being a naff conveyor
Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)



 
2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars BLACKBALL, 11 Nov 2005
Highly enjoyable British movie. Funny story and good acting. Worth viewing !
Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)


Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
 
 
 
Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Black ball
"Is it on the ritzler" fantastic you start laughing at the start and and still laugh when you are watching the special features. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Andrew Winfrow

5.0 out of 5 stars Blackball
A Modern British classic based on a true story about the dangerous and exiting world of lawn bowls on the mean streets of Torquay. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Nigel Bevan

4.0 out of 5 stars Clever, funny and very watchable!
I first watched this film at university and was very impressed. The interactions between characters was beautifully crafted. Read more
Published on 31 May 2005

5.0 out of 5 stars blackball
I eargerly awaited the release of blackball on video as it was not released in australia.
Having spent a good chunk of my life in Torquay i found the movie to be a very funny... Read more
Published on 21 Oct 2004 by mw

1.0 out of 5 stars Boring
Another dud British film. This 'comedy' is truly unamusing which is a very disappointing given the talents of Paul Kaye and Johnny Vegas but then again they weren't the ones who... Read more
Published on 25 Feb 2004 by s_bancroft

Only search this product's reviews


Customer Discussions

 Beta (What's this?)
This product's forum (0 discussions)
  Discussion Replies Latest Post
  No discussions yet

Ask questions, Share opinions, Gain insight
Start a new discussion
Topic:
First post:
Prompts for sign-in
  [Cancel]


Active discussions in related forums
   
Related forums

Listmania!

Create a Listmania! list

Look for similar items by category

Look for similar items by subject








i.e., each product must be in subject 1 AND subject 2 AND ...

Feedback

The Body Shop

The Body Shop - Vitamin C Skin Boost
Protect and boost your glow with The Body Shop Vitamin C Skin Boost.

›Shop The Body Shop

  

Beauty without the Beast

Olay Regenerist Daily 3 Point Treatment Cream
From au naturel to party glam, we have all the best names in cosmetics and skincare.

›Discover Beauty at Amazon.co.uk

  

We've Got Converse

Converse
Stock up on your favourite styles with great deals on Converse shoes.

›Shop Converse

  

Treat Someone

Amazon.co.uk Gift Certificates--available in any amount from £5 to £500 With an Amazon.co.uk Gift Certificate, you can get them what they want (even if you don't know what that is).

›Learn more about Gift Certificates

  
Ad

Where's My Stuff?

Delivery and Returns

Need Help?

Your Recent History

  (What's this?)
You have no recently viewed items or searches.

After viewing product detail pages or search results, look here to find an easy way to navigate back to pages you are interested in.

Look to the right column to find helpful suggestions for your shopping session.
Continue Shopping: Top Sellers

amazon.co.uk Amazon Home
International Sites:  United States  |  Germany  |  France  |  Japan  |  Canada  |  China
Business Programs: Sell on Amazon  |  Fulfilment by Amazon  |  Join Associates  |  Join Advantage
Customer Service  |  Help  |  View Basket  |  Your Account
About Amazon.co.uk  |  Careers at Amazon
Conditions of Use & Sale |  Privacy Notice  © 1996-2009, Amazon.com, Inc. and its affiliates