Sixty Six is a 2006 British biographical comedy-drama film about a bar mitzvah which takes place in London on the day of the 1966 FIFA World Cup Final, based on the true life bar mitzvah of director Paul Weiland.
| Sixty Six | |
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 UK Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Paul Weiland |
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| Story by |
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| Starring | |
| Narrated by | Maximilian Law |
| Cinematography | Daniel Landin |
| Edited by | Paul Tothill |
| Music by | Joby Talbot |
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Running time | 93 minutes |
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| Language | English |
| Box office | $1,873,144 |
Plot
editBernie Reubens, a young Jewish boy, is about to have his bar mitzvah. Initially, he meticulously plans a lavish reception to upstage that of his older brother Alvie, but as the family's finances lurch from one disaster to another, the family is forced to lower Bernie's expectations and stage the bar mitzvah reception at home in North London. When England reaches the 1966 FIFA World Cup Final, held on the same day, most of the guests make excuses not to come to the reception so that they can watch the game. In the end, Bernie's father saves the day by driving Bernie to Wembley Stadium to witness the end of the match.
Cast
edit- Gregg Sulkin as Bernie Reubens
- Helena Bonham Carter as Esther Reubens
- Eddie Marsan as Immanuel "Manny" Reubens
- Ben Newton as Alvie Reubens
- Elliot Cukier as Young Alvie Reubens (uncredited)
- Thomas Drewson as Terry Shivers
- Peter Serafinowicz as Uncle Jimmy / Mr. Reubens, Sr. / Football Commentator
- Stephen Grief as Uncle Henry
- Catherine Tate as Aunt Lila
- Stephen Rea as Dr. Barrie
- Geraldine Somerville as Alice Barrie
- Maria Charles as Mrs Glitzman
- Vincenzo Nicoli as Leo
- Maximilian Law as Narrator (uncredited)
Reception
editOn Rotten Tomatoes, the film has a rating of 65%, based on 52 reviews, with an average rating of 6.00/10. The site's critical consensus reads, "Likable but overly sentimental, Sixty Six has snatches of sharp dialogue but is ultimately too predicable."[3] On Metacritic, the film holds a score of 57 out of 100, based on reviews from 11 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews".[4]
The Hollywood Reporter praised the film, saying "Although the subject might sound specialized, the picture is engineered with such skill that it transcends the ethnic details to become a universal story of a boy trying to find his place in an inhospitable world."[5] Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times reviewed the film as being "enlightened by Bernie's impassioned narration and by a gallery of small comic details."[6] The New York Times described the film as "A dolorous comedy that leans heavily, if inoffensively, on ethnic stereotypes."[7]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Sixty Six "A True...ish Story" (2006)". British Film Institute. Archived from the original on 29 October 2017.
- ^ "Sixty Six (2006)". BBFC. Retrieved 23 March 2022.
- ^ "Sixty Six (2006)". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved 14 February 2021.
- ^ "Sixty Six". Metacritic. Retrieved 22 November 2017.
- ^ "Film Review: Sixty Six". The Hollywood Reporter. 2 July 2008. Archived from the original on 15 July 2009. Retrieved 28 February 2009.
- ^ Ebert, Roger (27 August 2008). "Sixty Six (review)". Chicago Sun-Times. Archived from the original on 29 September 2012. Retrieved 22 November 2021.
- ^ "Movie Review: Sixty Six (2006)-A Struggle Toward Manhood". The New York Times. 1 August 2021.
External links
edit- Sixty Six at BFI
- Sixty Six at British Council–Film
- Sixty Six at Lumiere
- Sixty Six at IMDb
- Sixty Six at Box Office Mojo