Emotional Backgammon: Difference between revisions
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| image = EmotionalBackgammonDVDcover.jpg |
| image = EmotionalBackgammonDVDcover.jpg |
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| caption = DVD cover |
| caption = DVD cover |
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| director = [[Leon Herbert]]<ref name="EncycBF">{{cite book|title=The Encyclopedia of British film |last=McFarlane |first=Brian |publisher=[[Methuen Publishing]] |year=2005 |page=321 |isbn=978-0-413-77301-2|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bT8OAQAAMAAJ&q=%22emotional+backgammon%22 |
| director = [[Leon Herbert]]<ref name="EncycBF">{{cite book|title=The Encyclopedia of British film |last=McFarlane |first=Brian |publisher=[[Methuen Publishing]] |year=2005 |page=321 |isbn=978-0-413-77301-2|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bT8OAQAAMAAJ&q=%22emotional+backgammon%22 |
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}}</ref> |
}}</ref> |
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| ⚫ | | producer = Matthew Hope<ref name="Script">{{cite web|title=Script |publisher=emotional-backgammon.com |url=http://www.emotional-backgammon.com/script.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010723161141/http://www.emotional-backgammon.com/script.html |archive-date=23 July 2001 |url-status=unfit }}</ref><br/>Harry F. Rushton |
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| executive producer = |
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| ⚫ | | producer = Matthew Hope<ref name="Script">{{cite web|title=Script |publisher=emotional-backgammon.com |url=http://www.emotional-backgammon.com/script.html | |
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| writer = Leon Herbert<br/>Matthew Hope |
| writer = Leon Herbert<br/>Matthew Hope |
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| starring = Leon Herbert<br/>[[Wil Johnson]]<br/>[[Daniela Lavender]]<br/>Jacqueline de Peza<br/>Tracey Vanessa Brown<br/> |
| starring = Leon Herbert<br/>[[Wil Johnson]]<br/>[[Daniela Lavender]]<br/>Jacqueline de Peza<br/>Tracey Vanessa Brown<br/>Bob Mercer<br/>[[Steve Weston]]<br/>Steve Edwin<ref name="IMDBCred"/> |
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| music = Paul Foss<br/>Chris Nicolaides |
| music = Paul Foss<br/>Chris Nicolaides |
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| cinematography = [[Koutaiba Al Janabi|Koutaiba Al-Janabi]] |
| cinematography = [[Koutaiba Al Janabi|Koutaiba Al-Janabi]] |
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| country = United Kingdom |
| country = United Kingdom |
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| language = English |
| language = English |
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| budget = |
| budget = £6,000{{citation needed|date=May 2020}} |
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| gross = |
| gross = |
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}} |
}} |
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|work= |
|work= |
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|url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2000/oct/06/features.theguardian |
|url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2000/oct/06/features.theguardian |
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}}</ref> With a budget of £6,000,{{ |
}}</ref> With a budget of £6,000,{{citation needed|date=May 2020}} it was shot on location in [[London, England]] "in a total of 18 days in July 1999"<ref name="IMDBCred"/><ref name="Background">{{cite web |
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|title=Film Background |
|title=Film Background |
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|publisher=emotional-backgammon.com |
|publisher=emotional-backgammon.com |
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|url=http://www.emotional-backgammon.com/filmbackground.html |
|url=http://www.emotional-backgammon.com/filmbackground.html |
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|url-status=dead |
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|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010717115359/http://www.emotional-backgammon.com/filmbackground.html |
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|archive-date=17 July 2001 |
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}}</ref> in [[35mm movie film|35mm]] by award-winning cinematographer [[Koutaiba Al Janabi|Koutaiba Al-Janabi]].<ref>{{cite web |
}}</ref> in [[35mm movie film|35mm]] by award-winning cinematographer [[Koutaiba Al Janabi|Koutaiba Al-Janabi]].<ref>{{cite web |
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|title=Koutaiba Al-Janabi HSC (Hungarian Society of Cinematographers) |
|title=Koutaiba Al-Janabi HSC (Hungarian Society of Cinematographers) |
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|publisher=emotional-backgammon.com |
|publisher=emotional-backgammon.com |
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|url=http://www.emotional-backgammon.com/Koutaiba-Al-Janabi.html |
|url=http://www.emotional-backgammon.com/Koutaiba-Al-Janabi.html |
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| |
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020115215630/http://www.emotional-backgammon.com/Koutaiba-Al-Janabi.html |
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|archive-date=15 January 2002 |
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}}</ref> Soundtrack artists included [[Kele Le Roc|Kelly Le Roc]], Lamarr, [[Incognito (band)|Incognito]], [[Lynden David Hall|David Lynden Hall]], [[Fierce]] and [[Shola Ama]] (title track).<ref name="Background"/> |
}}</ref> Soundtrack artists included [[Kele Le Roc|Kelly Le Roc]], Lamarr, [[Incognito (band)|Incognito]], [[Lynden David Hall|David Lynden Hall]], [[Fierce]] and [[Shola Ama]] (title track).<ref name="Background"/> |
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The film was met with very mixed reviews. The BBC review called it neither "a diamond hiding in the rough, or even a half decent feature", referring to the acting as "woeful", the soundtrack "cloyingly overbearing", which "deadens each scene", and the films sexual politics "dubious, unironic, and completely uninterrogated."<ref name="BBC"/> According to the reviewer, the film's lack of understanding of sexual politics is illustrated by Steve's taking a role in Shakespeare's ''Taming of the Shrew'', and the film is a "clunking, and offensive, drama."<ref name="BBC"/> |
The film was met with very mixed reviews. The BBC review called it neither "a diamond hiding in the rough, or even a half decent feature", referring to the acting as "woeful", the soundtrack "cloyingly overbearing", which "deadens each scene", and the films sexual politics "dubious, unironic, and completely uninterrogated."<ref name="BBC"/> According to the reviewer, the film's lack of understanding of sexual politics is illustrated by Steve's taking a role in Shakespeare's ''Taming of the Shrew'', and the film is a "clunking, and offensive, drama."<ref name="BBC"/> |
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Rich Cline called the film an "enjoyable low-budget British relationship comedy [which] has a serious sting in its tale at the end that almost undoes it altogether."<ref name="Cline">Cline, Rich (21 August 2003). [http://www.shadowsonthewall.co.uk/03/emotback.htm "''Emotional Backgammon'' (review)"]. Shadows on the Wall.</ref> Cline enjoyed the film's "style and substance", "visuals" and acting, but found the plot to be similar to ''[[Two Can Play That Game]]''. He appreciated the use of London locations, intercut with "witty fantasy sequences" for character point of view, but found the film to take "seriously disturbing turns" in which misogyny, "rape, murder, and homosexuality" are introduced at the climax of the film, and "seriously weaken the clever and funny film that went before."<ref name="Cline"/> |
Rich Cline called the film an "enjoyable low-budget British relationship comedy [which] has a serious sting in its tale at the end that almost undoes it altogether."<ref name="Cline">Cline, Rich (21 August 2003). [http://www.shadowsonthewall.co.uk/03/emotback.htm "''Emotional Backgammon'' (review)"]. Shadows on the Wall.</ref> Cline enjoyed the film's "style and substance", "visuals" and acting, but found the plot to be similar to ''[[Two Can Play That Game (film)|Two Can Play That Game]]''. He appreciated the use of London locations, intercut with "witty fantasy sequences" for character point of view, but found the film to take "seriously disturbing turns" in which misogyny, "rape, murder, and homosexuality" are introduced at the climax of the film, and "seriously weaken the clever and funny film that went before."<ref name="Cline"/> |
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Angela Swift wrote that even though she hoped it would succeed, and was prepared to grant considerable latitude for any faults, the film "unfortunately, does not measure up to our hopes or expectations."<ref name="Swift">{{cite web| last=Swift |first=Angela |date=10 October 2003<!-- date of first archive.org copy--> |url=http://www.talkingpix.co.uk/ReviewsEmotionalBackgammon.html |title=''Emotional Backgammon''|format=review |publisher= TalkingPix (UK) }}</ref> Some of the "admirable work" includes the nearly all-black cast, portraying "unabashed ethnicity" and the film's "almost clever" idea with "a few good twists". Swift found the backgammon-human-relationship simile to be overused, though visually interesting: "overkill drowns out any notion of ingenuity", and the film's repeated use of a pun on "Taming of the shrew" to be "without subtlety or insight." Overall, the film is "relatively unfunny and unsophisticated".<ref name="Swift"/> |
Angela Swift wrote that even though she hoped it would succeed, and was prepared to grant considerable latitude for any faults, the film "unfortunately, does not measure up to our hopes or expectations."<ref name="Swift">{{cite web| last=Swift |first=Angela |date=10 October 2003<!-- date of first archive.org copy--> |url=http://www.talkingpix.co.uk/ReviewsEmotionalBackgammon.html |title=''Emotional Backgammon''|format=review |publisher= TalkingPix (UK) }}</ref> Some of the "admirable work" includes the nearly all-black cast, portraying "unabashed ethnicity" and the film's "almost clever" idea with "a few good twists". Swift found the backgammon-human-relationship simile to be overused, though visually interesting: "overkill drowns out any notion of ingenuity", and the film's repeated use of a pun on "Taming of the shrew" to be "without subtlety or insight." Overall, the film is "relatively unfunny and unsophisticated".<ref name="Swift"/> |
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The ''[[Time Out (magazine)|Time Out]]'' reviewer wondered "Are Steve and Jane to blame for what ensues? Or [...] Shakespeare [...]?", and found that, although model/actor Johnson "manages to cut an intriguing figure, the film leaves the viewer perplexed. Is Herbert just playing with his audience? If so, it's a dangerous game."<ref>ACP (2003). [http://www.timeout.com/film/reviews/63849/emotional-backgammon.html ''Emotional Backgammon'']. ''TimeOut Film Guide''. ''[[Time Out (magazine)|Time Out]]''.</ref> |
The ''[[Time Out (magazine)|Time Out]]'' reviewer wondered "Are Steve and Jane to blame for what ensues? Or [...] Shakespeare [...]?", and found that, although model/actor Johnson "manages to cut an intriguing figure, the film leaves the viewer perplexed. Is Herbert just playing with his audience? If so, it's a dangerous game."<ref>ACP (2003). [http://www.timeout.com/film/reviews/63849/emotional-backgammon.html ''Emotional Backgammon'']. ''TimeOut Film Guide''. ''[[Time Out (magazine)|Time Out]]''.</ref> |
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According to ''The Guerrilla Film Maker's Handbook'', the film grossed £1056, for 209 tickets sold.<ref>{{cite book |title=The Guerrilla Film Makers Handbook | |
According to ''The Guerrilla Film Maker's Handbook'', the film grossed £1056, for 209 tickets sold.<ref>{{cite book |title=The Guerrilla Film Makers Handbook |first1=Chris |last1=Jones |first2= Genevieve |last2=Jolliffe |page=448 |
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|publisher= [[Continuum International Publishing Group|Continuum]] |
|publisher= [[Continuum International Publishing Group|Continuum]] |
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|year=2006 |
|year=2006 |
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|isbn=978-0-8264-7988-4 |
|isbn=978-0-8264-7988-4 |
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|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pap7NL-Y1SgC&pg=PA448 |
|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pap7NL-Y1SgC&pg=PA448 |
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}}</ref> |
}}</ref> |
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==References== |
==References== |
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{{ |
{{Reflist}} |
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==External links== |
==External links== |
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Emotional Backgammon}} |
{{DEFAULTSORT:Emotional Backgammon}} |
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[[Category:2003 films]] |
[[Category:2003 films]] |
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[[Category: |
[[Category:2003 comedy-drama films]] |
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[[Category:Black British |
[[Category:Black British films]] |
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| ⚫ | |||
[[Category:British independent films]] |
[[Category:British independent films]] |
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[[Category:British films]] |
[[Category:British comedy-drama films]] |
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[[Category: |
[[Category:2003 independent films]] |
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| ⚫ | |||
[[Category:2000s British films]] |
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[[Category:Backgammon]] |
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[[Category:Films about games]] |
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[[Category:English-language comedy-drama films]] |
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[[Category:English-language independent films]] |
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Latest revision as of 18:00, 15 September 2024
| Emotional Backgammon | |
|---|---|
 DVD cover | |
| Directed by | Leon Herbert[1] |
| Written by | Leon Herbert Matthew Hope |
| Produced by | Matthew Hope[2] Harry F. Rushton |
| Starring | Leon Herbert Wil Johnson Daniela Lavender Jacqueline de Peza Tracey Vanessa Brown Bob Mercer Steve Weston Steve Edwin[3] |
| Cinematography | Koutaiba Al-Janabi |
| Edited by | Christopher Bird |
| Music by | Paul Foss Chris Nicolaides |
| Distributed by | Odeon/Buccaneer |
Release dates |
14 December 2004 (DVD) |
Running time | 93 minutes |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
| Budget | £6,000[citation needed] |
Emotional Backgammon is a 2003 British independent comedy-drama about couples strategizing to repair relationships, with unexpected results.[4] The film was written by Leon Herbert and Matthew Hope, directed by Herbert, and stars Herbert, Wil Johnson, Daniela Lavender, and Jacqueline de Peza. It is Herbert's first feature-length film.[1] During its development it was featured on UK Channel 4's Movie Virgins series; upon its release, it received mixed reviews.
Plot
[edit]John is crushed when his girlfriend, Mary, announces that she's leaving him to "find herself", at the very moment John was about to ask her to marry him. John seeks out advice from his best friend Steve on strategies to win her back. Steve uses backgammon as a metaphor for approaches to take, telling John to "roll the dice, for love is a game." At the same time, Mary begins taking advice from her best friend, also employing complicated strategies. It is revealed that both John and Jane share a bitter, complicated past.
Cast
[edit]- Leon Herbert as Steve
- Wil Johnson as John
- Daniela Lavender as Mary
- Jacqueline de Peza as Jane
- Bob Mercer as Paul
- Steve Weston as Cab driver
- Steve Edwin as Psychiatrist
- Dee Cannon as Theatre Director[3][4]
Production
[edit]Herbert and Hope stated that, "The script idea was drawn from countless conversations with friends in problematic relationships. It is a story about emotional black-mail, but also an analysis of insecurities, and the charged and complex control tactics we resort to in the game of love."[2] The film's production was featured on UK Channel 4's series Movie Virgins.[4][5] With a budget of £6,000,[citation needed] it was shot on location in London, England "in a total of 18 days in July 1999"[3][6] in 35mm by award-winning cinematographer Koutaiba Al-Janabi.[7] Soundtrack artists included Kelly Le Roc, Lamarr, Incognito, David Lynden Hall, Fierce and Shola Ama (title track).[6]
Reception
[edit]The film was met with very mixed reviews. The BBC review called it neither "a diamond hiding in the rough, or even a half decent feature", referring to the acting as "woeful", the soundtrack "cloyingly overbearing", which "deadens each scene", and the films sexual politics "dubious, unironic, and completely uninterrogated."[4] According to the reviewer, the film's lack of understanding of sexual politics is illustrated by Steve's taking a role in Shakespeare's Taming of the Shrew, and the film is a "clunking, and offensive, drama."[4]
Rich Cline called the film an "enjoyable low-budget British relationship comedy [which] has a serious sting in its tale at the end that almost undoes it altogether."[8] Cline enjoyed the film's "style and substance", "visuals" and acting, but found the plot to be similar to Two Can Play That Game. He appreciated the use of London locations, intercut with "witty fantasy sequences" for character point of view, but found the film to take "seriously disturbing turns" in which misogyny, "rape, murder, and homosexuality" are introduced at the climax of the film, and "seriously weaken the clever and funny film that went before."[8]
Angela Swift wrote that even though she hoped it would succeed, and was prepared to grant considerable latitude for any faults, the film "unfortunately, does not measure up to our hopes or expectations."[9] Some of the "admirable work" includes the nearly all-black cast, portraying "unabashed ethnicity" and the film's "almost clever" idea with "a few good twists". Swift found the backgammon-human-relationship simile to be overused, though visually interesting: "overkill drowns out any notion of ingenuity", and the film's repeated use of a pun on "Taming of the shrew" to be "without subtlety or insight." Overall, the film is "relatively unfunny and unsophisticated".[9]
The Time Out reviewer wondered "Are Steve and Jane to blame for what ensues? Or [...] Shakespeare [...]?", and found that, although model/actor Johnson "manages to cut an intriguing figure, the film leaves the viewer perplexed. Is Herbert just playing with his audience? If so, it's a dangerous game."[10]
According to The Guerrilla Film Maker's Handbook, the film grossed £1056, for 209 tickets sold.[11]
References
[edit]- ^ a b McFarlane, Brian (2005). The Encyclopedia of British film. Methuen Publishing. p. 321. ISBN 978-0-413-77301-2.
- ^ a b "Script". emotional-backgammon.com. Archived from the original on 23 July 2001.
- ^ a b c Emotional Backgammon. IMDb Full Credits.
- ^ a b c d e Russell, Jamie (22 August 2003). Emotional Backgammon review. BBC.
- ^ Newson, Gina (6 October 2000). "Boys on Film". The Guardian (UK).
- ^ a b "Film Background". emotional-backgammon.com. Archived from the original on 17 July 2001.
- ^ "Koutaiba Al-Janabi HSC (Hungarian Society of Cinematographers)". emotional-backgammon.com. Archived from the original on 15 January 2002.
- ^ a b Cline, Rich (21 August 2003). "Emotional Backgammon (review)". Shadows on the Wall.
- ^ a b Swift, Angela (10 October 2003). "Emotional Backgammon" (review). TalkingPix (UK).
- ^ ACP (2003). Emotional Backgammon. TimeOut Film Guide. Time Out.
- ^ Jones, Chris; Jolliffe, Genevieve (2006). The Guerrilla Film Makers Handbook. Continuum. p. 448. ISBN 978-0-8264-7988-4.
External links
[edit]- Official web site at the Wayback Machine (archived 13 June 2001)
- Emotional Backgammon at IMDb
- Interview with the 'Movie Virgins' at the Wayback Machine (archived 7 September 2001). Simeon Brody, 2000. New Producer, New Producers Alliance.