An entertaining comedy about fictional player Rocky Goldfingers is spoiled by its protagonist’s cockney-lite gags
It probably helps to be a darts fan to get a proper laugh out of this mockumentary from Simon Sprackling, who must have shot some of the scenes here at actual darts events. It all blends in so seamlessly (and had me reaching for my phone repeatedly to Google whether characters were real or invented).
What we’re watching is a fake documentary about darts player Rocky Goldfingers (Geoff Ball); loud, nasty and flashy in his gold-sequined shirt, Rocky is as much a professional geezer as a professional darts player. For the past 15 years, he’s been banged up for murdering a rival, Perry “The Poison Arrow” Peters – a crime Rocky says he didn’t commit.
It probably helps to be a darts fan to get a proper laugh out of this mockumentary from Simon Sprackling, who must have shot some of the scenes here at actual darts events. It all blends in so seamlessly (and had me reaching for my phone repeatedly to Google whether characters were real or invented).
What we’re watching is a fake documentary about darts player Rocky Goldfingers (Geoff Ball); loud, nasty and flashy in his gold-sequined shirt, Rocky is as much a professional geezer as a professional darts player. For the past 15 years, he’s been banged up for murdering a rival, Perry “The Poison Arrow” Peters – a crime Rocky says he didn’t commit.
- 12/19/2022
- by Cath Clarke
- The Guardian - Film News
Kirsten Howard Aug 8, 2017
Producer Jonathan Sothcott talks about running an independent film company in the UK, finding the right project and a post-Brexit industry.
Jonathan Sothcott has had a hand in producing a whole lot of independent films here in the UK over the last decade. You may have even seen a fair few of them yourself, especially if you’re a Danny Dyer completest.
See related Game Of Thrones season 6 recap Game Of Thrones spinoffs: HBO not keen to "overexploit it” Game Of Thrones: 8 ideas for prequel spinoffs
He’s the man behind Hereford Films, the production and financing company he runs with partner Damien Morley. If that name rings a bell, it might well be because Morley owns a modelling agency that takes care of most of the Page 3 girls, and the entrepreneur has even recently launched a bid to buy the Page 3 brand off The Sun himself.
Producer Jonathan Sothcott talks about running an independent film company in the UK, finding the right project and a post-Brexit industry.
Jonathan Sothcott has had a hand in producing a whole lot of independent films here in the UK over the last decade. You may have even seen a fair few of them yourself, especially if you’re a Danny Dyer completest.
See related Game Of Thrones season 6 recap Game Of Thrones spinoffs: HBO not keen to "overexploit it” Game Of Thrones: 8 ideas for prequel spinoffs
He’s the man behind Hereford Films, the production and financing company he runs with partner Damien Morley. If that name rings a bell, it might well be because Morley owns a modelling agency that takes care of most of the Page 3 girls, and the entrepreneur has even recently launched a bid to buy the Page 3 brand off The Sun himself.
- 7/18/2017
- Den of Geek
Blue Is The Warmest Colour | The Hunger Games: Catching Fire | Computer Chess : Parkland | The Family | Breakfast With Johnny Wilkinson | Flu | ¡Vivan Las Antipodas! | Vendetta
Blue Is The Warmest Colour (18)
(Abdellatif Kechiche, 2013, Fra/Bel/Sp) Adèle Exarchopoulos, Léa Seydoux, Jérémie Laheurte. 180 mins
Beyond making viewers feel lecherous, this Cannes winner's already notorious sexual frankness is just one element in an intense, sensual study of a young woman learning about love, life and, yes, sex. It's storytelling at its finest: simple but detailed, and at times unbearably emotional.
The Hunger Games: Catching Fire (12A)
(Francis Lawrence, 2013, Us) Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson. 146 mins
The only post-Twilight teen franchise left standing brings media manipulation and simmering revolution to its next round of youth combat.
Computer Chess (15)
(Andrew Bujalski, 2013, Us) Patrick Riester, Myles Paige, James Curry. 91 mins
The cruddy video quality and geeky insularity of the early computing era are fondly rebooted in this delightful retro farce.
Blue Is The Warmest Colour (18)
(Abdellatif Kechiche, 2013, Fra/Bel/Sp) Adèle Exarchopoulos, Léa Seydoux, Jérémie Laheurte. 180 mins
Beyond making viewers feel lecherous, this Cannes winner's already notorious sexual frankness is just one element in an intense, sensual study of a young woman learning about love, life and, yes, sex. It's storytelling at its finest: simple but detailed, and at times unbearably emotional.
The Hunger Games: Catching Fire (12A)
(Francis Lawrence, 2013, Us) Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson. 146 mins
The only post-Twilight teen franchise left standing brings media manipulation and simmering revolution to its next round of youth combat.
Computer Chess (15)
(Andrew Bujalski, 2013, Us) Patrick Riester, Myles Paige, James Curry. 91 mins
The cruddy video quality and geeky insularity of the early computing era are fondly rebooted in this delightful retro farce.
- 11/23/2013
- by Steve Rose
- The Guardian - Film News
★★☆☆☆Adapted by Chris England from his own 2006 stage comedy of the same name and hoping to recapture some of the magic of England's Rugby World Cup win of a decade ago, director Simon Sprackling's Breakfast with Jonny Wilkinson (2013) has chest-thumping, flag-waving patriotism down to a T. Unfortunately, its rowdy band of rugby-obsessed stock characters inject precious little life into an unremarkable Britcom that swings towards the lowest common denominator a few too many times to really sustain interest. At its very worst, Sprackling's second feature is as stale as a pub carpet the morning after the night before.
- 11/22/2013
- by CineVue UK
- CineVue
No less than a week ago, English actor George MacKay walked away from the Scottish BAFTAs with the Best Actor award to his name, for his spine-chilling performance in For Those In Peril. He now returns in something a little more light-hearted, in Simon Sprackling’s Breakfast with Jonny Wilkinson – and we had the pleasure of speaking to the gifted young actor.
Based on Chris England’s stage play, Breakfast with Jonny Wilkinson takes place on the morning England were victorious in the Rugby World Cup final, beating Australia narrowly. MacKay recalls his own memories of the day, who his own sporting idols are – and he also discusses his future, and whether Hollywood may be on the cards…
Well I’ll start by saying congratulations on the BAFTA, you must have been thrilled?
Yeah thank you very much, I was chuffed, really chuffed. It’s cool. For Those in Peril got Best Feature Film too,...
Based on Chris England’s stage play, Breakfast with Jonny Wilkinson takes place on the morning England were victorious in the Rugby World Cup final, beating Australia narrowly. MacKay recalls his own memories of the day, who his own sporting idols are – and he also discusses his future, and whether Hollywood may be on the cards…
Well I’ll start by saying congratulations on the BAFTA, you must have been thrilled?
Yeah thank you very much, I was chuffed, really chuffed. It’s cool. For Those in Peril got Best Feature Film too,...
- 11/22/2013
- by Stefan Pape
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
There's an engaging daftness about Simon Sprackling's adaptation of Chris England's 2003 rugby World Cup final yarn
Maybe you need to be a rugby fan to enjoy this film fully, but there's a cheerful, good-natured daftness here that anyone can understand. It is directed by Simon Sprackling and scripted by Chris England – a variation on a theme England established in 1991 with the stage play he co-wrote with Arthur Smith, An Evening With Gary Lineker. But that Italia 90-themed football drama had an obvious pall of sadness. This is something different. A ragtag bunch of fans show up at their local rugby club at breakfast-time on 22 November 2003 to watch the nailbiting World Cup final between England and Australia on the clubhouse TV. Among those present is Jake (George MacKay), a talented young amateur player who is convinced he has a supernatural power to help Jonny Wilkinson's kicking. Whenever Wilkinson...
Maybe you need to be a rugby fan to enjoy this film fully, but there's a cheerful, good-natured daftness here that anyone can understand. It is directed by Simon Sprackling and scripted by Chris England – a variation on a theme England established in 1991 with the stage play he co-wrote with Arthur Smith, An Evening With Gary Lineker. But that Italia 90-themed football drama had an obvious pall of sadness. This is something different. A ragtag bunch of fans show up at their local rugby club at breakfast-time on 22 November 2003 to watch the nailbiting World Cup final between England and Australia on the clubhouse TV. Among those present is Jake (George MacKay), a talented young amateur player who is convinced he has a supernatural power to help Jonny Wilkinson's kicking. Whenever Wilkinson...
- 11/22/2013
- by Peter Bradshaw
- The Guardian - Film News
The day that Simon Sprackling’s comedy feature Breakfast with Jonny Wilkinson is released across Britain, is ten years to the day that the England rugby team were gloriously crowned champions of the world, beating Australia in a tense and exhilarating World Cup final. It’s naturally a pleasure to see a film built around such a memorable sporting triumph in recent history, capturing the range of emotions that inevitably come with such an occasion. However from the moment we hear Sam Cooke’s melodious rendition of Swing Low, Sweet Chariot at the beginning of this title, unlike the match this is based upon, the film proceeds to head steadily downhill from there on.
Set at Greyhawks Rugby Club on this fateful day in 2003, Breakfast with Jonny Wilkinson – based on screenwriter Chris England’s original stage play – focuses on a collection of loyal members potentially losing their base to land developers.
Set at Greyhawks Rugby Club on this fateful day in 2003, Breakfast with Jonny Wilkinson – based on screenwriter Chris England’s original stage play – focuses on a collection of loyal members potentially losing their base to land developers.
- 11/21/2013
- by Stefan Pape
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
Low-key concepts and limited budgets have given British horror films a gritty realism that is the envy of the industry – but can they ever really compete with their Us rivals?
Unlike the western or the musical, the horror movie never seems to be under threat of extinction. The occasional phenomenon – a Blair Witch Project or a Paranormal Activity – helps to fortify its commercial appeal, as do hits like Scream or Hostel, which refresh the familiar conventions. But horror remains in perpetually good nick, not least in its UK outpost, from which some of the most inventive shockers of the last 10 years have emerged. Danny Boyle's 28 Days Later kicked off a new wave of Brit horror in 2002, but it fell to emerging film-makers to properly paint the town blood-red, from Edgar Wright (Shaun of the Dead) to Neil Marshall (Dog Soldiers, The Descent), Michael J Bassett (Deathwatch, Wilderness) and Christopher Smith (Creep,...
Unlike the western or the musical, the horror movie never seems to be under threat of extinction. The occasional phenomenon – a Blair Witch Project or a Paranormal Activity – helps to fortify its commercial appeal, as do hits like Scream or Hostel, which refresh the familiar conventions. But horror remains in perpetually good nick, not least in its UK outpost, from which some of the most inventive shockers of the last 10 years have emerged. Danny Boyle's 28 Days Later kicked off a new wave of Brit horror in 2002, but it fell to emerging film-makers to properly paint the town blood-red, from Edgar Wright (Shaun of the Dead) to Neil Marshall (Dog Soldiers, The Descent), Michael J Bassett (Deathwatch, Wilderness) and Christopher Smith (Creep,...
- 6/10/2010
- by Ryan Gilbey
- The Guardian - Film News
The After Dark Horrorfest 4 is just a couple of weeks away. January 29, 2010, to be exact, and we've got another trailer to get you guys all geared up!
Below you can feast your eyes on the trailer debut for The Reeds courtesy of Shock Till You Drop!
The film was written by Chris Baker and Simon Sprackling from a story by Chris Baker. Nick Cohen directs a cast of young actors, including Anna Brewster, O.T. Fagbenle, Will Mellor, Danny Caltagirone, Scarlett Johnson, and Emma Catherwood. Geoff Bell appears as Mr. Croker. The film was produced by Simon Sprackling, with Charlie Gauvain co-producing. Screen East, Silverstream Productions, Altadena Films, Delacheroy Films, and Di Dragon financed the picture.
In The Reeds a weekend boating trip through the Norfolk Broads becomes a deadly ordeal for six 20-something-year-old friends who lose their bearings in the vast reedy tidewaters. Chances of escape and hopes for survival...
Below you can feast your eyes on the trailer debut for The Reeds courtesy of Shock Till You Drop!
The film was written by Chris Baker and Simon Sprackling from a story by Chris Baker. Nick Cohen directs a cast of young actors, including Anna Brewster, O.T. Fagbenle, Will Mellor, Danny Caltagirone, Scarlett Johnson, and Emma Catherwood. Geoff Bell appears as Mr. Croker. The film was produced by Simon Sprackling, with Charlie Gauvain co-producing. Screen East, Silverstream Productions, Altadena Films, Delacheroy Films, and Di Dragon financed the picture.
In The Reeds a weekend boating trip through the Norfolk Broads becomes a deadly ordeal for six 20-something-year-old friends who lose their bearings in the vast reedy tidewaters. Chances of escape and hopes for survival...
- 1/19/2010
- by Uncle Creepy
- DreadCentral.com
Check out the official Horrorfest 4 movie poster for the upcoming film “The Reeds” written by Chris Baker and Simon Sprackling from a story by Chris Baker, directed by Nick Cohen and starring Anna Brewster, O.T. Fagbenle, Will Mellor, Danny Caltagirone, Scarlett Johnson and Emma Catherwood. Geoff Bell appears as Mr. Croker. Synopsis: In The Reeds, a weekend boating trip through the Norfolk Broads becomes a deadly ordeal for six 20-something year old friends who lose their bearings in the vast reedy tidewaters. Chances of escape and hopes for survival diminish as inexplicable forces terrorize the lost and terrified group. Stay tuned to Shockya.com for the latest from “The Reeds”.
- 1/6/2010
- by Brian Corder
- ShockYa
After Dark Horrorfest recently announced Nick Cohen's 'boating trip gone wrong' flick The Reeds as their 7th title for their weeklong 2010 festival (8th if you include Scream of the Banshee, which just wrapped filming). Hit the jump for the poster. The Reeds was written by Chris Baker and Simon Sprackling from a story by Chris Baker. Nick Cohen directs a cast of young actors, including Anna Brewster, O.T. Fagbenle, Will Mellor, Danny Caltagirone, Scarlett Johnson and Emma Catherwood. Geoff Bell appears as Mr. Croker. The film was produced by Simon Sprackling, with Charlie Gauvain Co-Producing. Screen East, Silverstream Productions, Altadena Films, Delacheroy Films and Di Dragon financed the picture. In The...
- 1/5/2010
- FEARnet
It's hard to believe that the After Dark Horrorfest 4 is just a few weeks away. January 29, 2010, to be exact! You guys can be sure that you'll be getting lots of exclusive coverage from the yearly event from us as per usual .... starting right now!
That's right, kids! Below you can feast your eyes on our exclusive look at the one-sheet for The Reeds! The film was written by Chris Baker and Simon Sprackling from a story by Chris Baker. Nick Cohen directs a cast of young actors, including Anna Brewster, O.T. Fagbenle, Will Mellor, Danny Caltagirone, Scarlett Johnson, and Emma Catherwood. Geoff Bell appears as Mr. Croker. The film was produced by Simon Sprackling, with Charlie Gauvain co-producing. Screen East, Silverstream Productions, Altadena Films, Delacheroy Films, and Di Dragon financed the picture.
In The Reeds a weekend boating trip through the Norfolk Broads becomes a deadly ordeal for six 20-something-year-old...
That's right, kids! Below you can feast your eyes on our exclusive look at the one-sheet for The Reeds! The film was written by Chris Baker and Simon Sprackling from a story by Chris Baker. Nick Cohen directs a cast of young actors, including Anna Brewster, O.T. Fagbenle, Will Mellor, Danny Caltagirone, Scarlett Johnson, and Emma Catherwood. Geoff Bell appears as Mr. Croker. The film was produced by Simon Sprackling, with Charlie Gauvain co-producing. Screen East, Silverstream Productions, Altadena Films, Delacheroy Films, and Di Dragon financed the picture.
In The Reeds a weekend boating trip through the Norfolk Broads becomes a deadly ordeal for six 20-something-year-old...
- 1/4/2010
- by Uncle Creepy
- DreadCentral.com
The Reeds is lucky number seven in the After Dark Horrorfest 4 lineup, which opens January 29, 2010 and runs for one week. Nick Cohen directs the film and Chris Baker and Simon Sprackling wrote the script based on a story by Chris Baker. The cast for The Reeds includes Anna Brewster, O.T. Fagbenle, Will Mellor, Danny Caltagirone, Scarlett Johnson and Emma Catherwood. Geoff Bell appears as Mr. Croker. “In The Reeds, a weekend boating trip through the Norfolk Broads becomes a deadly ordeal for six 20-something year old friends who lose their bearings in the vast reedy tidewaters. Chances of escape [...]
Post from: Screamstress...
Post from: Screamstress...
- 12/20/2009
- by Alison
- Screamstress.com
The seventh pick for the Horrorfest 4 Film Festival has been announced as The Reeds. The film was written by Chris Baker and stars Anna Brewster, Will Mellor, Danny Caltagirone, Scarlett Johnson, and Emma Catherwood. Darkly atmospheric and mysterious The Reeds first trailer shows only vague shapes and bubbling swamps. A real test for the imagination, fans can see a brief image of the villain near the end of this two minute trailer. Have a look at the synopsis for the film too!
A synopsis for The Reeds here:
"A weekend boating trip through the Norfolk Brods becomes a deadly ordeal for six 20-something year old friends who lose their bearings in the vast reedy tidewaters. Chances of escape and hopes for survival diminish as inexplicable forces terrorize the lost and terrified group (Horrorfest)."
Release Date: January 29th (limited theatrical, twenty-five markets)
Director: Nick Cohen.
Writer: Chris Baker, Simon Sprackling, and Mark Anthony Galluzzo.
A synopsis for The Reeds here:
"A weekend boating trip through the Norfolk Brods becomes a deadly ordeal for six 20-something year old friends who lose their bearings in the vast reedy tidewaters. Chances of escape and hopes for survival diminish as inexplicable forces terrorize the lost and terrified group (Horrorfest)."
Release Date: January 29th (limited theatrical, twenty-five markets)
Director: Nick Cohen.
Writer: Chris Baker, Simon Sprackling, and Mark Anthony Galluzzo.
- 12/19/2009
- by Michael Ross Allen
- 28 Days Later Analysis
The Reeds joins The Fields, Clive Barker’s Dread, The Graves, Lake Mungo, Hidden and the zombie/comedy Zmd: Zombies of Mass Destruction as the 7th film for After Dark's Horrorfest IV, in theaters January 29, 2010. The film was written by Chris Baker and Simon Sprackling and directed by Nick Cohen... A weekend boating trip through the Norfolk Broads becomes a deadly ordeal for six 20-something year old friends who lose their bearings in the vast reedy tidewaters. Chances of escape and hopes for survival diminish as inexplicable foces terrorize the lost and terrified group.
- 12/19/2009
- by Press Release Robot
- HorrorYearbook
Los Angeles, CA (December 18, 2009) - The Reeds, the seventh pick for After Dark Films Horrorfest 4, was announced today by Adf CEO Courtney Solomon. The national film festival opens January 29, 2010, for one-week in 25 markets. The Reeds was written by Chris Baker and Simon Sprackling from a story by Chris Baker. Nick Cohen directs a cast of young actors, including Anna Brewster, O.T. Fagbenle, Will Mellor, Danny Caltagirone, Scarlett Johnson and Emma Catherwood. Geoff Bell appears as Mr. Croker. The film was produced by Simon Sprackling, with Charlie Gauvain Co-Producing. Screen East, Silverstream Productions, Altadena Films, Delacheroy Films and Di Dragon financed the picture. In The Reeds, a [...]...
- 12/19/2009
- by Brian Corder
- ShockYa
With January 29, 2010, right around the corner, the After Dark Horrorfest 4 draws closer and closer. Today they announced their seventh film to die for -- The Reeds.
From the Press Release
The Reeds was written by Chris Baker and Simon Sprackling from a story by Chris Baker. Nick Cohen directs a cast of young actors, including Anna Brewster, O.T. Fagbenle, Will Mellor, Danny Caltagirone, Scarlett Johnson, and Emma Catherwood. Geoff Bell appears as Mr. Croker. The film was produced by Simon Sprackling, with Charlie Gauvain co-producing. Screen East, Silverstream Productions, Altadena Films, Delacheroy Films, and Di Dragon financed the picture.
In The Reeds a weekend boating trip through the Norfolk Broads becomes a deadly ordeal for six 20-something-year-old friends who lose their bearings in the vast reedy tidewaters. Chances of escape and hopes for survival diminish as inexplicable forces terrorize the lost and terrified group.
Dana Lambert, VP of Acquisitions at After Dark,...
From the Press Release
The Reeds was written by Chris Baker and Simon Sprackling from a story by Chris Baker. Nick Cohen directs a cast of young actors, including Anna Brewster, O.T. Fagbenle, Will Mellor, Danny Caltagirone, Scarlett Johnson, and Emma Catherwood. Geoff Bell appears as Mr. Croker. The film was produced by Simon Sprackling, with Charlie Gauvain co-producing. Screen East, Silverstream Productions, Altadena Films, Delacheroy Films, and Di Dragon financed the picture.
In The Reeds a weekend boating trip through the Norfolk Broads becomes a deadly ordeal for six 20-something-year-old friends who lose their bearings in the vast reedy tidewaters. Chances of escape and hopes for survival diminish as inexplicable forces terrorize the lost and terrified group.
Dana Lambert, VP of Acquisitions at After Dark,...
- 12/19/2009
- by Uncle Creepy
- DreadCentral.com
The second to last film in After Dark Film's upcoming Horrorfest 4, aka 8 Films To Die For has been announced and it's The Reeds . In The Reeds , a weekend boating trip through the Norfolk Broads becomes a deadly ordeal for six 20-something year old friends who lose their bearings in the vast reedy tidewaters. Chances of escape and hopes for survival diminish as inexplicable forces terrorize the lost and terrified group. The Reeds was written by Chris Baker and Simon Sprackling from a story by Chris Baker. Nick Cohen directs a cast of young actors, including Anna Brewster, O.T. Fagbenle, Will Mellor, Danny Caltagirone, Scarlett Johnson and Emma Catherwood. Geoff Bell appears as Mr. Croker. The film was produced by Simon Sprackling, with Charlie Gauvain Co- Producing. Screen...
- 12/18/2009
- shocktillyoudrop.com
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