House!
Encyclopedia
House! is a 2000
British
comedy film
written by Eric Styles and Jason Sutton
and directed by Julian Kemp. The film stars Kelly MacDonald
, known for independent films such as Trainspotting
and mainstream releases such as Nanny McPhee
.
). In its heyday, it was the United Kingdom
's biggest bingo hall, but its glory days are gone... and though the facility is run-down, the staff is loyal. Gavin (Jason Hughes
) is the cheeky bingo caller. When a large international conglomerate announces they are about to open a huge family entertainment center nearby, promising competition through large payouts for their own bingo competitions, Linda (Kelly Macdonald
) comes to the aid of the La Scala using her psychic gift.
called House! an "Ealing-style
light comedy", writing that the film was "helmed with impressive technical finesse" by director Julian Kemp" and "propelled by a knockout performance from Kelly Macdonald". Praising Jason Sutton
's script, he wrote "none of this would have worked if the characters were simply cutouts and the thesps just mugging along in colorful accents. But Sutton's script, which also makes room for a variety of smaller roles, allows the protags to grow and isn't, as becomes clear later on, simply about winning."
Angus Wolfe Murray of Eye for Film
wrote that in "the British tradition of little-things-mean-a-lot, House! fits like chips with fish," and that the film "has the feel good factor in spades." He closes by admiring Sutton's writing and Macdonald's performance.
eFilmCritic.com wrote that the film began with a "classic Tarantino pastiche" but became "soon obvious that this isn't your typical lottery funded mishap", noting that director Kemp managed to "inject a sense of life and excitement into the dullest of premises". They summarized by offering that the film was "definitely quirky, and no-ones idea of a main-stream hit, this film has a bit of magic about it."
2000 in film
The year 2000 in film involved some significant events.The top grosser worldwide was Mission: Impossible II. Domestically in North America, Gladiator won the Academy Awards for Best Picture and Best Actor ....
British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
comedy film
Comedy film
Comedy film is a genre of film in which the main emphasis is on humour. They are designed to elicit laughter from the audience. Comedies are mostly light-hearted dramas and are made to amuse and entertain the audiences...
written by Eric Styles and Jason Sutton
Jason Sutton
Jason Paul Sutton OBE is a Royal Air Force Regiment officer who was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire for his actions whilst serving in Iraq in 2007....
and directed by Julian Kemp. The film stars Kelly MacDonald
Kelly Macdonald
Kelly Macdonald is a Scottish actress, known for her role in the independent film Trainspotting and mainstream releases such as Nanny McPhee, Gosford Park, Intermission, No Country for Old Men and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2...
, known for independent films such as Trainspotting
Trainspotting (film)
Trainspotting is a 1996 British satirical/drama film directed by Danny Boyle based on the novel of the same name by Irvine Welsh. The movie follows a group of heroin addicts in a late 1980s economically depressed area of Edinburgh and their passage through life...
and mainstream releases such as Nanny McPhee
Nanny McPhee
Nanny McPhee is a 2005 fantasy film starring Emma Thompson and Colin Firth. Thompson also wrote the screenplay, which is adapted from Christianna Brand's Nurse Matilda books.-Plot:...
.
Plot
The aging "La Scala" bingo hall is administered by Welsh-Italian Giovanni Anzani (Freddie JonesFreddie Jones
Frederick Charles "Freddie" Jones is an English character actor.Jones was born in the town of Longton, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, the son of Ida Elizabeth and Charles Edward Jones. He became an actor after ten years of working as a laboratory assistant with a firm making ceramic products,...
). In its heyday, it was the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
's biggest bingo hall, but its glory days are gone... and though the facility is run-down, the staff is loyal. Gavin (Jason Hughes
Jason Hughes (actor)
Jason Hughes is a Welsh actor born in Porthcawl, Wales in 1971 best known for playing lawyer Warren Jones in the BBC TV series This Life from 1996 to 1997 , and as Detective Sergeant Ben Jones in Midsomer Murders since 2005.Hughes was a very good rugby player, but was persuaded to take up acting...
) is the cheeky bingo caller. When a large international conglomerate announces they are about to open a huge family entertainment center nearby, promising competition through large payouts for their own bingo competitions, Linda (Kelly Macdonald
Kelly Macdonald
Kelly Macdonald is a Scottish actress, known for her role in the independent film Trainspotting and mainstream releases such as Nanny McPhee, Gosford Park, Intermission, No Country for Old Men and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2...
) comes to the aid of the La Scala using her psychic gift.
Partial cast
- Kelly MacdonaldKelly MacdonaldKelly Macdonald is a Scottish actress, known for her role in the independent film Trainspotting and mainstream releases such as Nanny McPhee, Gosford Park, Intermission, No Country for Old Men and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2...
as Linda - Keith ChegwinKeith ChegwinKeith Chegwin is an English television presenter, former child actor and singer.-Early career:Chegwin's early roles were in works of the Children's Film Foundation, appearing as Egghead Wentworth in The Troublesome Double Egghead's Robot . He also appeared as a stowaway in Doomwatch episode...
as himself - Dean DaviesDean DaviesDean Davies is a Welsh film and television actor; he is also a stunt performer.-Career:His best-known acting role is appearing as Lee in the independent film Human Traffic , which explores the relationship between coming of age and the nightclub culture of the 1990s.-Films:* Human Traffic as Lee *...
as Food Operative - Bruce ForsythBruce ForsythSir Bruce Joseph Forsyth-Johnson, CBE , commonly known as Bruce Forsyth, or Brucie, is an English TV personality...
as Himself - Helen GriffinHelen GriffinHelen Griffin is a Welsh actress, playwright and screenwriter. She has appeared regularly in Welsh theatre and television and wrote and starred in the 2005 film Little White Lies...
as Marilyn - Miriam MargolyesMiriam MargolyesMiriam Margolyes, OBE is an English actress and voice artist. Her earliest roles were in theatre and after several supporting roles in film and television she won a BAFTA Award for her role in The Age of Innocence .-Early life:...
as Beth - Daniel RobertsDaniel RobertsDaniel Roberts, born 1969, in New York City, is a playwright, editor and educator.-Early life and career:Daniel graduated with a B.A. and M.A. from the University of Pennsylvania. He edited the literary magazine Press from 1995–2001...
as Andy - Hywel SimonsHywel SimonsHywel Simons , is a Welsh actor.Born in Neath, he was brought up in Porthcawl. He started acting while a pupil at Porthcawl Comprehensive School, before he went on to study at LAMDA....
as Tan - Jason HughesJason HughesJason Hughes is the owner-driver of the Kartworld Racing auto racing team, which has competed in the British Touring Car Championship from 2003 to 2008...
as Gavin - Lynn HunterLynn HunterLynn Hunter was a member of the Canadian House of Commons from 1988 to 1993. Her background prior to election included graduating with distinction in Political Science and History from the University of Victoria in 1985...
as Moira - Freddie JonesFreddie JonesFrederick Charles "Freddie" Jones is an English character actor.Jones was born in the town of Longton, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, the son of Ida Elizabeth and Charles Edward Jones. He became an actor after ten years of working as a laboratory assistant with a firm making ceramic products,...
as Mr. Anzani - lynette colwill OBE as bingo winner
Reception
Derek Elley of VarietyVariety (magazine)
Variety is an American weekly entertainment-trade magazine founded in New York City, New York, in 1905 by Sime Silverman. With the rise of the importance of the motion-picture industry, Daily Variety, a daily edition based in Los Angeles, California, was founded by Silverman in 1933. In 1998, the...
called House! an "Ealing-style
Ealing Studios
Ealing Studios is a television and film production company and facilities provider at Ealing Green in West London. Will Barker bought the White Lodge on Ealing Green in 1902 as a base for film making, and films have been made on the site ever since...
light comedy", writing that the film was "helmed with impressive technical finesse" by director Julian Kemp" and "propelled by a knockout performance from Kelly Macdonald". Praising Jason Sutton
Jason Sutton
Jason Paul Sutton OBE is a Royal Air Force Regiment officer who was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire for his actions whilst serving in Iraq in 2007....
's script, he wrote "none of this would have worked if the characters were simply cutouts and the thesps just mugging along in colorful accents. But Sutton's script, which also makes room for a variety of smaller roles, allows the protags to grow and isn't, as becomes clear later on, simply about winning."
Angus Wolfe Murray of Eye for Film
Eye For Film
Eye For Film is an online film magazine based in the United Kingdom. It launched in August 2006 and has been growing ever since. It is updated with new content on a daily basis.-Features:...
wrote that in "the British tradition of little-things-mean-a-lot, House! fits like chips with fish," and that the film "has the feel good factor in spades." He closes by admiring Sutton's writing and Macdonald's performance.
eFilmCritic.com wrote that the film began with a "classic Tarantino pastiche" but became "soon obvious that this isn't your typical lottery funded mishap", noting that director Kemp managed to "inject a sense of life and excitement into the dullest of premises". They summarized by offering that the film was "definitely quirky, and no-ones idea of a main-stream hit, this film has a bit of magic about it."
External links
- House! at the Internet Movie DatabaseInternet Movie DatabaseInternet Movie Database is an online database of information related to movies, television shows, actors, production crew personnel, video games and fictional characters featured in visual entertainment media. It is one of the most popular online entertainment destinations, with over 100 million...