Starter for 10
Release Date: Available now (released July 31, 2007)
Studio: HBO Home Video
Packaging/Materials: Standard single-disc DVD case
Year: 2007
Rating: PG-13
Running Time: 1h36m
Video (Feature): 1.78 Anamorphic
Audio (Feature): Dolby Digital: English 5.1, Spanish 2.0
Video (Special Features): 1.33 standard
Audio (Special Features): Stereo
Subtitles: Feature only: English, Spanish
MSRP: $27.98
The Feature: 3.5/5
Brian Jackson (James McAvoy) is a working class kid from the English seaside, instilled by his now-deceased father with a love for knowledge and education. In 1985 he applies to the University of Bristol and is accepted, an opportunity none of his friends quite understands or desires. When he spots an open call to join the school's trivia team, he jumps at the chance, driven in part by fond memories watching "University Challenge" on television with his father. Within moments he falls for Alice (Alice Eve), a fellow applicant who may not be the "general knowledge god" Brian is, but who certainly defies any assumptions about being the pretty one. As the year progresses, he and Alice develop a genuine friendship, though his coy acquaintanceship with the beret-clad activist Rebecca (Rebecca Hall) also gives him pause. Though ultimately Brian must choose between the two, it's rather remarkable that the film doesn't make the choice come down to obvious generalities like smart vs. dumb or shallow vs. deep, but is based on Brian's own internal journey learning to differentiate between infatuation and love. While the romantic angle of the coming-of-age story takes a refreshing turn from the predictable, some staples of the genre remain intact, in particular the rift between best friends that inevitably gets resolved with a long walk and the protagonist's climactic run in search of his true love. Still, predictable arcs aside, "Starter for 10" has enough refreshing and genuinely humorous moments to resonate with even the most cynical of viewers and will certainly please anyone who enjoyed films like "Four Weddings and A Funeral" and "The Cider House Rules." Recommended, at least for rental.
Video Quality: 4/5
The film is correctly framed at 1.78:1 and is free of dust, dirt, and damage. Black levels are quite good with satisfying depth and shadow detail. The overall tonal range is accurately rendered with pleasing and natural flesh tones. The key fault of the transfer is edge enhancement that leaves the telltale signs of halos along high contrast edges and a digital hardness to the image overall.
Audio Quality: 3/5
The Dolby Digital 5.1 audio track is a mostly utilitarian affair - the center channel getting the most work as dialogue comes through intelligibly and clearly. Subwoofer and surround activity is relatively minimal, perking up mostly to support the heavy 80s pop soundtrack.
Special Features: 3/5
Pop Up Music Guide The feature provides little more than song title and artist for the film's soundtrack selections, but it's handy given not all of us are 80s music aficionados.
"HBO First Look: Starter for 10" (10m17s): Standard promotional featurette covering the bases of plot, character and cast.
Recap
The Feature: 3.5/5
Video Quality: 4/5
Audio Quality: 3/5
Special Features: 3/5
Overall Score (not an average): 3.5/5
An often-clever, not-always-predictable, coming of age film from across the pond gets a decent transfer but a spare set of extras. Few have likely seen the film, but it's more than worthy of a rental.
