Emotional Backgammon
Encyclopedia
Emotional Backgammon is a 2003 British independent
comedy
-drama
about couples strategizing to repair relationships, with unexpected results. 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. During its development it was featured on UK Channel 4's Movie Virgins series; upon its release, it received mixed reviews.
's series Movie Virgins. With a budget of £6,000, it was shot on location in London, England "in a total of 18 days in July 1999" in 35mm by award-winning cinematographer Koutaiba Al-Janabi
. Soundtrack artists included Kelly Le Roc
, Lamarr, Incognito
, David Lynden Hall
, Fierce
and Shola Ama
(title track).
as what "one reviewer called 'an awful misfire'." 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." 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."
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." 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."
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." 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".
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."
According to The Guerrilla Film Maker's Handbook, the film grossed £1056, for 209 tickets sold.
Independent film
An independent film, or indie film, is a professional film production resulting in a feature film that is produced mostly or completely outside of the major film studio system. In addition to being produced and distributed by independent entertainment companies, independent films are also produced...
comedy
Comedy
Comedy , as a popular meaning, is any humorous discourse or work generally intended to amuse by creating laughter, especially in television, film, and stand-up comedy. This must be carefully distinguished from its academic definition, namely the comic theatre, whose Western origins are found in...
-drama
Drama
Drama is the specific mode of fiction represented in performance. The term comes from a Greek word meaning "action" , which is derived from "to do","to act" . The enactment of drama in theatre, performed by actors on a stage before an audience, presupposes collaborative modes of production and a...
about couples strategizing to repair relationships, with unexpected results. The film was written by Leon Herbert
Leon Herbert
Leon Herbert is a British actor, director, writer and producer.Herbert is best known for such films as David Fincher's Alien 3, Batman, Salome's Last Dance, Scandal, Fierce Creatures, Point of No Return, The Girl with the Hungry Eyes, Lucinda's Spell, 9 Dead Gay Guys and Dark Floors.Herbert made...
and Matthew Hope, directed by Herbert, and stars Herbert, Wil Johnson
Wil Johnson
Wilbert "Wil" Johnson is an English actor, who has had notable television roles in Waking the Dead and Babyfather, and on stage in Othello.- Early life :...
, Daniela Lavender
Daniela Lavender
Daniela Lavender, Lady Kinsley is a Brazilian actress, appearing on Brazilian television, and English-language television, film and stage, including touring with the British Shakespeare Company.-Early life:...
, and Jacqueline de Peza. It is Herbert's first feature length film. During its development it was featured on UK Channel 4's Movie Virgins series; upon its release, it received mixed reviews.
Plot
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
- 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
Production
The film's production was featured on UK Channel 4Channel 4
Channel 4 is a British public-service television broadcaster which began working on 2 November 1982. Although largely commercially self-funded, it is ultimately publicly owned; originally a subsidiary of the Independent Broadcasting Authority , the station is now owned and operated by the Channel...
's series Movie Virgins. With a budget of £6,000, it was shot on location in London, England "in a total of 18 days in July 1999" in 35mm by award-winning cinematographer Koutaiba Al-Janabi
Koutaiba Al Janabi
Koutaiba Al Janabi is a Britain-based Iraqi filmmaker, director and photographer born in Baghdad, who documented Wasteland: Between London and Baghdad.Koutaiba attended the Academy of Drama and Cinema in Budapest, Hungary...
. Soundtrack artists included Kelly Le Roc
Kele Le Roc
Kele Le Roc is a British pop, UK garage and R&B singer.-Career:Le Roc began singing at the age of three, and she attended Langdon Comprehensive School in East Ham. She first found widespread acclaim in 1995 with the underground hit "Let Me Know"...
, Lamarr, Incognito
Incognito (band)
Incognito is a British band, as well as one of the members of the United Kingdom's acid jazz movement. Their debut album, Jazz Funk, was released in 1981, with thirteen more albums following, the last of which, Transatlantic RPM, was released in 2010....
, David Lynden Hall
Lynden David Hall
Lynden David Hall was a singer, songwriter, arranger, and producer.- Life and career :Born in Wandsworth, South London, he won the 'best newcomer' accolade at the 1998 MOBO Awards....
, Fierce
Fierce
Fierce was a three-piece, all girl R&B group from the United Kingdom. They were signed to Colin Lester's and Ian McAndrew's Wildstar Records, and scored four hit singles on the UK Singles Chart in 1999 and 2000...
and Shola Ama
Shola Ama
Shola Ama is an English singer who scored her biggest hit in 1997 with a cover of Turley Richards' "You Might Need Somebody".-Early life and career:...
(title track).
Reception
The film was met with very mixed reviews. It was described in the Daily MailDaily Mail
The Daily Mail is a British daily middle-market tabloid newspaper owned by the Daily Mail and General Trust. First published in 1896 by Lord Northcliffe, it is the United Kingdom's second biggest-selling daily newspaper after The Sun. Its sister paper The Mail on Sunday was launched in 1982...
as what "one reviewer called 'an awful misfire'." 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." 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."
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." Cline enjoyed the film's "style and substance", "visuals" and acting, but found the plot to be similar to Two Can Play That Game
Two Can Play That Game
Two Can Play That Game is a 2001 romantic comedy film written and directed by Mark Brown. The film stars Vivica A. Fox, Morris Chestnut, and Anthony Anderson.-Plot:...
. 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."
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." 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".
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."
According to The Guerrilla Film Maker's Handbook, the film grossed £1056, for 209 tickets sold.
External links
- Official web site
- Interview with the 'Movie Virgins'. Simeon Brody, 2000. New Producer, New Producers Alliance.