Sixty Six & Starter for Ten.

Noticed something. Both these films have practically turned up out of the blue in the past week and started getting TV coverage. It’s one of those ”...and opening this weekend...” moments we often get with British films, films set in Britain. They just pop-up.

Not spotted anything much about them before now, so just going to give both a mention because they do look good, they’re not around often, and because each features a favourite or two of mine and of Twitch. So, ’Sixty Six‘ is set in 1966, the year England won our one and only World Cup - but it’s not about the football, it’s about a kids bar mitzvah falling on the day of the final (July 30th) which he figures out some nine months before the event and slowly he watches it all collapse around his ears, and although it’s a shame this is another period piece about British Life it’s based on a true story and is specific to the time and events in a way that isn’t entirely romantic or unrealistic. Shame, looks damn good. Anyway, Catherine Tate is in this, as are Stephen Rea, Eddie Marsan (one of my all-time favourite actors - stunning), and Peter Serafinowicz.

‘Sixty Six‘ Synopsis and Quicktime Trailer at Working Title Films.

I give this next one a mention because it’s based around one of Britains legendary TV shows, ’University Challenge‘, something which has been around for decades (on and off) and reamins a firm favourite of mine… when I catch it. In the past incarnation of the show it was Bamber Gascoigne (played here by Mark Gattiss - i think. Spotted his familiar face in the trailer, I’m sure) who preseted this quiz.

Now, the title refers to the format of the show, a phrase which has become used in everyday conversation around here. For a nation that revolves around TV like the British one does, it does actually take a lot for something like that to happen. Here it refers to the initial question open to both teams of opposing University Students which, if answered correctly, leads to questions specifically for their side.

All kinds of topics in here, music to science, both related to higher education and general knowledge (it’s a posh pub quiz!) some great competative spirits always on show - especially a lowly University being pitched against one of the big wigs (Cambridge, Oxford) and trashing them, or simply allowing them to hang themselves with their own ignorance. Now, although I’ve seen a trailer for this one, I know only that it’s about a group of students entering the competition (show...) and that’s the biggest hurdle to get over in terms of enjoying it. Again, Catherine Tate turns up in this, as does the great James McAvoy.

‘Starter for Ten‘ Official Website, Quicktime Trailer within.
‘University Challenge‘ at Wikipedia.