Rating: Sizzling Popcorn
England, the summer of ‘66 and the country is about to be consumed by World Cup Fever. For 12-year-old Bernie (GREGG SULKIN), the biggest day of his life is looming, the day he becomes a man - his Bar Mitzvah. However Bernie’s North London family seems a little distracted. His father Manny (EDDIE MARSAN) is concerned about the giant supermarket opening opposite his grocery shop, a business he shares with his more charismatic younger brother, Jimmy (PETER SERAFINOWICZ) — and it’s making Manny’s bizarre obsessive compulsive disorder even worse than usual. Between worrying about Manny and Bernie’s older brother Alvie (BEN NEWTON), mother Esther (HELENA BONHAM CARTER) barely has time to notice her better behaved younger son, and the only attention Bernie ever gets from Alvie is a punch for stepping onto the wrong side of their shared bedroom. Bernie believes his Bar Mitzvah is about to change all this. He’ll no longer be the kid everyone ignores, and he envisions and begins to plan the perfect ceremony and reception, where everyone assembled will acknowledge his new status as a man. Unfortunately for Bernie, things don’t quite go according to plan.
First, Manny’s business fails, and suddenly the lavish hotel party that Bernie had been promised is replaced with a tiny affair in his parent’s front room. Worse than that though, the World Cup Final is scheduled for the same day as his Bar Mitzvah. Despite Bernie’s pleas, Manny and Esther won’t hear of moving the date, as “England will never get through to the final.” Bernie senses it’s not wise to push the issue with his increasingly neurotic parents, but he is panic-stricken. His only solace comes from his relationships with asthma specialist, Dr. Barrie (STEPHEN REA), and his blind Hebrew instructor, Rabbi Linov (RICHARD KATZ), who give Bernie life lessons reminding him what it really means to become a man.
Over the next few weeks, Bernie spends his spare time watching the World Cup like a hawk as England wins through the qualifying rounds, and ultimately earns a spot in the final against West Germany. Bernie’s worst nightmare has come true. Back at home things reach crisis point when the house catches fire and Manny’s life savings go up in smoke. Manny is so depressed he is prepared to walk out on his family. It’s only when Jimmy falls off a ladder and injures himself and impresses upon Manny his familial responsibilities that he finally pulls himself together.
The big day finally arrives and an excited hum spreads across the country - not so for Bernie. As he predicted, only a handful of relatives turn up to his Bar Mitzvah, and even they can’t hide their desperation to get back home to watch the match. Amidst the chaos and disappointment, Bernie decides enough is enough. He runs to the sanctuary of Dr. Barrie’s house only to discover that Dr. Barrie’s life isn’t so perfect either. Meanwhile, Manny and Esther discover their son’s meticulously laid plans for the biggest Bar Mitzvah ever, and realize how much this day meant to him. Manny decides to make it up to his son the only way he can - by taking him to the biggest celebration in England that day - the World Cup final. As father and son unite, they make a mad dash for Wembley and arrive just in time to see the final goal making Bernie’s Bar Mitzvah day one to remember.
Based on the real life experience of director Paul Weiland (Made of Honor), Sixty Six is a coming-of-age comedy starring Eddie Marsan (Mission Impossible III, Vera Drake), Helena Bonham Carter (Charlie & The Chocolate Factory, Big Fish), Stephen Rea (V for Vendetta, Breakfast on Pluto), Catherine Tate, Peter Serafinowicz (Shaun Of The Dead), Geraldine Somerville, Richard Katz, Ben Newton and Gregg Sulkin.
We, at SizzlingPopcorn.com, were able to receive an advance copy of Sixty Six, which opens in select theaters on August 1st, 2008. It is a hilarious movie that includes some great acting by the cast. The Brits really know how to make people laugh! What is very eye catching is the realism of this down-to-earth story.
We really like parallel relationships between the brothers. Between Jimmy and Manny, Jimmy is always “the better” of the two. Jimmy was always liked by everybody while Manny was left alone and thought of as a “loser”. The same thing occurs in Manny’s two sons, Alvie and Bernie: Alvie receives all the attention while Bernie is non-existent as nobody bothers with him.
Sixty Six is not only about a young Jewish boy’s journey through life and the relationships between brothers, but it’s a story about the relationship between father and son (Manny and Bernie).
The idea of Sixty Six was thought of when director Paul Weiland was giving a speech at his fiftieth birthday. “I had been dreading making a speech”, says Paul. “I had been to several fiftieth birthday parties given by distinguished people who had all made great speeches. Leading up to the party I was so preoccupied with what to talk about and all I managed to come up with was the story of what a complete disaster my last big party had been.”
“For years, people had encouraged me to do something based around my North London Jewish background,” explains Weiland. “The reaction to my telling the story of my thirteenth birthday was not only a validation of that vulnerable time in my life but also an indication that the story could strike a universal chord.”
Richard Curtis soon came on board to help write a treatment. “It was almost a perfect film experience to work with a really close friend to make a film about his life,” says Curtis. “I can’t remember a film where we laughed more during the process than this one.” Once Paul and Richard were confident that the narrative was strong and the characters clearly drawn, Paul hired Peter Straughan and Bridget O’Connor, a writing couple with whom he was already developing another project, to write the script. Working Title loved it and committed as soon as they had read it. At this point, they also approached Elizabeth Karlsen to produce. “I read the script and thought it was so well written. It was very charming, very funny, the drama was well
constructed, the characters and their voices were very clear”, says Karlsen. She was as enthusiastic about the opportunity to work with Weiland as she was the script. “Paul is fantastically talented and extremely creative and not only did he have a strong vision for the project, but also a real frame of reference - his childhood. I was very happy to come on board.”
Sixty Six was filmed over 8 weeks, on location for the first 4 and on built sets at Pinewood Studios for the last 4. One of the exterior location from the first half of shooting included Craven Cottage, home of the Fulham Football Club, where the crew recreated the 1966 Wembley Football Stadium.
The reason why we’re giving Sixty Six a Sizzling Popcorn rating is because the film is one of the best real-life comedies out there that doesn’t butcher itself with stupidities and bad acting. Sixty Six will not only make you laugh, but it will also warm your heart as Bernie presses on to have the Bar Mitzvah he deserves.
First Independent Pictures will be releasing Sixty Six to the North American market on August 1st in select cities. It will open first in New York City and then expand from there. We will give you an update when we find out more cities and dates.
What would you do if you were in Bernie’s situation? Have you ever been in a similar position? Feel free to share.
Listen to our interview with director Paul Weiland.
Theatrical Release Date: August 1, 2008
5 Comments, Comment or Ping
Loretta Zack
I just wanted you to know that as an ex-pat living in Boston, MA, I thoroughly enjoyed your film. I laughed, I cried, I remembered and I wanted more. I felt at home. I was in the UK in 66 and was 15 at the time and remember standing at the top of my road as West Ham brought the cup home to show everyone they had taken part in the England team - Bobbie Moore, Geoff Hurst & Martin Peters - ah the good old days.
Thank you so much.
Aug 20th, 2008
Arlene
I would like to buy the film Sixty Six. Where can I buy it?
Oct 13th, 2008
Jean Brunet
Thank you Arlene for your inquiry! I have e-mailed the distributor and one of my media contacts. Just waiting for their response. I checked on Amazon.com, but it doesn’t look like it’s out on DVD yet. It was only released in North America at the beginning of August. I’ll keep you posted when and where you can buy it.
Oct 13th, 2008
Jean Brunet
Arlene - I just received an e-mail from the studio. Here’s what he had to say about the DVD release:
“The film is still playing in festivals and theaters. Please have the this reader and any other reader continue checking our site. (http://www.firstindependentpictures.com/)
We do have a blockbuster deal early next year and soon after that, you will be able to order the title thru Amazon.com”
Oct 15th, 2008
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