DramaComedyRomance

Starter for 10

In 1985, against the backdrop of Thatcherism, Brian Jackson enrolls in the University of Bristol, a scholarship boy from seaside Essex with a love of knowledge for its own sake and a childhood spent watching University Challenge, a college quiz show. At Bristol he tries out for the Challenge team and falls under the spell of Alice, a lovely blond with an extensive sexual past.

Release Date : 2006-09-13

Language :English

Adult : false

Status : Released

Production Company : Scion FilmsBBC FilmHBO FilmsNeal Street ProductionsPlaytoneScamp Film and Theatre Ltd.

Production Country : United KingdomUnited States of America

Alternative Titles :

Cast

Character Name : Brian Jackson

Original Name : James McAvoy

Gender : Male

Character Name : Alice Harbinson

Original Name : Alice Eve

Gender : Female

Character Name : Rebecca Epstein

Original Name : Rebecca Hall

Gender : Female

Character Name : Julie Jackson

Original Name : Catherine Tate

Gender : Female

Character Name : Spencer

Original Name : Dominic Cooper

Gender : Male

Character Name : Patrick Watts

Original Name : Benedict Cumberbatch

Gender : Male

Character Name : Tone

Original Name : James Corden

Gender : Male

Character Name : Bamber Gascoigne

Original Name : Mark Gatiss

Gender : Male

Character Name : Dr. Morrison

Original Name : Guy Henry

Gender : Male

Character Name : Des

Original Name : John Henshaw

Gender : Male

Character Name : Lucy Chang

Original Name : Elaine Tan

Gender : Female

Character Name : Josh

Original Name : Simon Woods

Gender : Male

Character Name : Michael Harbinson

Original Name : Charles Dance

Gender : Male

Character Name : Rose Harbison

Original Name : Lindsay Duncan

Gender : Female

Character Name : Marcus

Original Name : Sule Rimi

Gender : Male

Character Name : Colin

Original Name : Ian Bonar

Gender : Male

Character Name : Speaker for Nuclear Disarmament

Original Name : Nicholas Gleaves

Gender : Male

Character Name : Hippy at Party

Original Name : Joe Van Moyland

Gender : Male

Character Name : Martin Jackson

Original Name : James Gaddas

Gender : Male

Character Name : Young Brian

Original Name : Joseph Friend

Gender : Male

Character Name : University Challenge Competitor

Original Name : Rasmus Hardiker

Gender : Male

Character Name : University Challenge Competitor

Original Name : Robert Cawsey

Gender : Male

Character Name : University Challenge Coordinator

Original Name : Ben Willbond

Gender : Male

Character Name : Cleaner

Original Name : Su Elliot

Gender : Female

Character Name : Anthony Salmon

Original Name : Reuben-Henry Biggs

Gender : Male

Character Name : Cordelia Sykes

Original Name : Bethan Bevan

Gender : Male

Character Name : Tristram Neville

Original Name : Tom Allen

Gender : Male

Character Name : Nigel De Havilland

Original Name : Raj Ghatak

Gender : Male

Character Name : Television Director

Original Name : Kenneth Hadley

Gender : Male

Character Name : Waiter

Original Name : Gerard Monaco

Gender : Male

Reviews

John Chard

@John Chard

2024-05-16

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.

RalphRahal

@RalphRahal

2024-12-16

Starter for 10 is a fun and entertaining movie, and it’s even better because it stars three of my favorite actors—James McAvoy, Benedict Cumberbatch, and Alice Eve. James is great as Brian Jackson, a college student trying to fit in at university and make it onto the "University Challenge" quiz team. He really nails the mix of awkwardness and ambition, making his character super relatable. Benedict is hilarious as the overly serious team captain, and Alice Eve adds a lot of charm as Brian’s crush. The cast really makes this movie shine, even if the story itself is pretty predictable. It’s your classic coming-of-age tale, but it’s done in such a fun way with a lot of humor and heart. The soundtrack and 1980s vibe give it a nostalgic feel, and while it’s not perfect, it’s just one of those movies that’s really enjoyable to watch. If you love these actors like I do, it’s definitely worth checking out.