To be fair it's not bad, story flows - kinda mini 'Top Boy' does snooker.
Only neg - Think main character took same acting lessons as Danny Dyer but still is worth a see.
Ideal if you like a bit of snooker but tonight it's 'movie-night' - even if partner doesn't partake in a bit of velvet ball action both will still be film satisfied. 'A snooker film with knifes, weed, no Steve Davis characters and not much snooker'.
22 Reviews
Snooker loopy
jamespkane3 September 2020
If your hoping for the new "Hustler" or "Colour of money" stay away from this,snooker action is terrible on so many levels,final frame action looks cgi,main character never held a cue in his life.Rest of story is rushed and predictable,never felt anything for character,movie is trying to be 3 different things,pick one and stay with it.
It is called snooker
nogodnomasters10 September 2020
Warning: Spoilers
The film is based on the premise that everyone in the world is the best at something and for most of us we don't know what it is or have not been able to develop it. Spencer Pryde (Sam Gittins ) is one such person. He is a London young adult on a road to nowhere hanging out with his buds and being involved to petty crimes. Spencer is good at snooker and is offered an opportunity to play in the world championship under the coaching of professional Vincent Qiang (David Yip).
The film is not about winning and losing a game of snooker, but winning and losing in life based on choices we make as teens. No swagger. No music montage training piece.
Guide: F-word. No sex or nudity.
The film is not about winning and losing a game of snooker, but winning and losing in life based on choices we make as teens. No swagger. No music montage training piece.
Guide: F-word. No sex or nudity.
Not awful, nothing really here though.
bombersflyup4 September 2020
Warning: Spoilers
Break is watchable, but unevoking and unmemorable.
Every character's unlikable and unrelatable, but not in an annoying way. Spencer's also unsympathetic and uninspiring. The film doesn't give insight or even get involved in the snooker. Spencer doesn't have to overcome anything within the game or out of it for that matter. He's just the best and wins when he decides to. Rutger Hauer's character gets him out of immediate danger, his father puts up the entry fee and expenses and Shelley wagers her car in order for him to get out debt and move on. Nothing uplifting or thought-provoking, the more I speak about it the worse it's getting. :)
Every character's unlikable and unrelatable, but not in an annoying way. Spencer's also unsympathetic and uninspiring. The film doesn't give insight or even get involved in the snooker. Spencer doesn't have to overcome anything within the game or out of it for that matter. He's just the best and wins when he decides to. Rutger Hauer's character gets him out of immediate danger, his father puts up the entry fee and expenses and Shelley wagers her car in order for him to get out debt and move on. Nothing uplifting or thought-provoking, the more I speak about it the worse it's getting. :)
More entertaining watching Ebdon play
mrbwembwem1 September 2020
I tried my best to enjoy Break, but it was hard find anything good about it.
The story is dull and predictable, the main protagonist is unlikeable, the editing in the film is a joke (keep an eye on the scoreboards that aren't changed to correspond to the match and the balls on the table that move around the table during a certain scene where 2 people are talking next to the table, the reds keep moving around!)
Its also laughable, ooh we will make it more legit by getting 3 professional snooker players in the film too for less than 30 seconds of screen time. Its laughably bad.
It ain't great, I love snooker but this is not a good film at all, its up there with one of the worst films I've ever watched.
Only good thing about the film is Ken Dohertys appearance, and thats about it...
People who down vote this - its my opinion and its fairly true, no film goes without criticism and I'm 'that guy'. You can't rate this film a 10, no way... you're pretty much saying its the greatest film of all time if you rate it a 10 - which the film is actually quite the opposite!
The story is dull and predictable, the main protagonist is unlikeable, the editing in the film is a joke (keep an eye on the scoreboards that aren't changed to correspond to the match and the balls on the table that move around the table during a certain scene where 2 people are talking next to the table, the reds keep moving around!)
Its also laughable, ooh we will make it more legit by getting 3 professional snooker players in the film too for less than 30 seconds of screen time. Its laughably bad.
It ain't great, I love snooker but this is not a good film at all, its up there with one of the worst films I've ever watched.
Only good thing about the film is Ken Dohertys appearance, and thats about it...
People who down vote this - its my opinion and its fairly true, no film goes without criticism and I'm 'that guy'. You can't rate this film a 10, no way... you're pretty much saying its the greatest film of all time if you rate it a 10 - which the film is actually quite the opposite!
Snooker is a gentleman's game, this movie is probably not.
cgvsluis19 July 2021
Low grade British film about an impoverished kid from an impoverished neighborhood whose dying father makes a last ditch effort when he gets out of jail to get his son a chance at a Snooker tournament in Hong Kong that will turn his life around. The kid is a small time criminal, wasting his life on drugs and petty crime hanging with his friends...but amazingly has shown a gift for Snooker.
I wish they showed more of the game of Snooker and explained the rules a little, but I guess they figure that is what the internet is for.
The cast was appropriate and well acted, but there were a lot of trite stereotypes...like getting the girl and the bad guy getting taken out.
I would probably give this movie a pass...although I don't have an alternative snooker movie to recommend...there are several pool movies The Hustler (Paul Newman), Stickmen (New Zealand), The Color of Money (Paul Newman).
However, this is the Dutch actor, Rutger Hauer's last film...so if you would like to see him and don't just want to rewatch Bladerunner, Ladyhawke or The Heineken Kidnapping this is the film for you. ...And to Anne Rice fans: He really would have made a much better vampire than the actor who got the role.
I wish they showed more of the game of Snooker and explained the rules a little, but I guess they figure that is what the internet is for.
The cast was appropriate and well acted, but there were a lot of trite stereotypes...like getting the girl and the bad guy getting taken out.
I would probably give this movie a pass...although I don't have an alternative snooker movie to recommend...there are several pool movies The Hustler (Paul Newman), Stickmen (New Zealand), The Color of Money (Paul Newman).
However, this is the Dutch actor, Rutger Hauer's last film...so if you would like to see him and don't just want to rewatch Bladerunner, Ladyhawke or The Heineken Kidnapping this is the film for you. ...And to Anne Rice fans: He really would have made a much better vampire than the actor who got the role.
I liked it
gsethi-118 January 2022
Not the best film I've ever seen but I'm glad I saw it. The lead role played by Sam Gittins was so natural and understated, very impressed by him.
I'm also not the biggest snooker fan but I don't think you need to be to enjoy it. A simple story well told so not sure why it's getting so much hate.
I'm also not the biggest snooker fan but I don't think you need to be to enjoy it. A simple story well told so not sure why it's getting so much hate.
Very well made small film that really delivers
jmacd-324 May 2021
I watched this because it had one of Rutger Hauer's last performances (the film is dedicated to Rutger, having been released posthumously). I expected his performance to be a small component, as it is in many of his later films where he does not play a main character - but his limited screen time is well used here, and he brings gravitas to the important scenes he is in.
The rest of the performances are pretty good, too. With low budget films you never know if they cast actors or just people they happened to have around - luckily it was the former, in this case.
Also, the production values are quite good, the soundtrack, the editing - everything is very well done, especially for a director's first film. It is well paced and the characters have just enough background for us to care about them as much as needed to make the story engaging. There isn't a lot of distracting "creative" film work here, the scenes are set to tell the story, and they do a pretty good job.
So there's a lot of good stuff here, despite this underdog redemption tale not being anything too tremendously new. It has a lot of the tropes of the films that have preceded it, but they are transported into the world of the pool hall.
There have been some very negative review of this film that have left me puzzled. I find the rating in IMDB is far too low for a film of good (if not great) quality. The only ones with comments seem to hone in on the "inaccuracies" of the sport. These complaints may highlight legitimate mistakes either in the performances or the editing, but they did not distract me in the least. Only someone so absorbed in the sport would notice, let alone care. I find it a little absurd, as this is a good character drama with some heart.
The rest of the performances are pretty good, too. With low budget films you never know if they cast actors or just people they happened to have around - luckily it was the former, in this case.
Also, the production values are quite good, the soundtrack, the editing - everything is very well done, especially for a director's first film. It is well paced and the characters have just enough background for us to care about them as much as needed to make the story engaging. There isn't a lot of distracting "creative" film work here, the scenes are set to tell the story, and they do a pretty good job.
So there's a lot of good stuff here, despite this underdog redemption tale not being anything too tremendously new. It has a lot of the tropes of the films that have preceded it, but they are transported into the world of the pool hall.
There have been some very negative review of this film that have left me puzzled. I find the rating in IMDB is far too low for a film of good (if not great) quality. The only ones with comments seem to hone in on the "inaccuracies" of the sport. These complaints may highlight legitimate mistakes either in the performances or the editing, but they did not distract me in the least. Only someone so absorbed in the sport would notice, let alone care. I find it a little absurd, as this is a good character drama with some heart.
Not only about snooker
lr-287381 September 2020
Cracking British movie
samantha-505541 September 2020
I seen this at a drive in and liked it but kinda missed bits so watched again on Sky. Better than I thought fist time around. A really good storyline about a kid in trouble but who's good at snooker. Gets in trouble and has to play his way out. Gonna buy it now for DVD collection. Great cast, really well directed. Watch it
Very good for a debut film
rob-barnes791 September 2020
What a great feeling I got from this film,its a proper rags to riches film,I was impressed by the camera work and was also great to see it filmed in areas I grew up in. The writer/producer Michael Elkin has captured London in its truest form and I cant wait for his next film.
The acting was great,the plot was great and the fact they managed to nab Rutger Hauer (starring in his last role before he died) is a complement to Elkins talent,all in all I had a great time with this film
A great film!
sjvlrd1 September 2020
Instant Brit Classic
haldon-3656 September 2020
This is a Snooker movie you never knew you needed in your life but more than that this is a story about a young man set in his ways that tells us, it is never too late to make those needed changes without clubbing you over the head with tropey cliche nonsense. Break respects it viewer and commands your respect in return.
Excellent and refreshing break from usual dirge of working class British shout fests!
deanseaward3 September 2020
Watched this film and to be honest wasn't expecting much. The whole snooker thing really put me off because its such a boring sport with a nerd following. However, I'm so glad I gave it a chance because it totally won me over and the snooker is really just a back drop, a way out. The story isn't necessarily original but its told in such an entertaining and engaging way, that it was really interesting and the performances were great all round but especially from the lead Sam Gittens. Reminded me of a young Ray Winstone. A really strong script and the ending was so good. I found this so refreshing as a British independent film that chose to stay away from the usual shout fests and swearing contests you see in a lot of gritty UK stuff. I see a few people say the lead is rubbish at snooker. I don't know if he is or not but the guy can act. If you're a snooker ananorak expecting to watch a snooker game then this film probably isn't for you but if you are a film fan, particular British films with a fresh feel and feel good vibe, I would definitely recommend you watch this film.
What a great film.
smilesallround-6021010 September 2020
Warning: Spoilers
Al film about a young man from London who is into drugs etc.... His dad wasn't about but how family can come back together and how you can turn your life around in this case due to snooker. Well acted, great story with some Cockney characters. What more could you really ask for? I really loved it.
Brilliant Drama!
samlhowe3 September 2020
With the help of his Ex-Con father, Spencer embarks on a career in professional snooker.
A very realistic and believable portrayal of a young man in London trying to make more of his life than selling drugs on the streets. From the moment the film started, I cared about the characters. Well acted. Tear jerking at times! And a great rags to riches story all in. It's five stars all the way from me. Great film!
A very realistic and believable portrayal of a young man in London trying to make more of his life than selling drugs on the streets. From the moment the film started, I cared about the characters. Well acted. Tear jerking at times! And a great rags to riches story all in. It's five stars all the way from me. Great film!
Film of the year for me.
johncorrigan-9292513 September 2020
Definitely recommend
topsyturner4012 September 2020
More Ronnie O'Sullivan than Mark Selby.
clancybuild3 September 2020
A really absorbing film with an inspirational storyline. I wasn't sure what to expect but within five minutes I was hooked and then the next thing it was over. Great casting and storyline which had all the highs and lows that you would expect a gritty British film to have. Whether you like snooker or not it's a great film well worth seeing at least once.
Heartwarming story
marylin-936559 December 2020
I don't understand why the rating on this film is so low. I found the film an excellent, heartwarming little story, particularly in showing that young people can realise their dreams. I've been a lifelong sports fan, especially cue sports, going back to the days of Pot Black and the first World Final I ever watched when Terry Griffiths beat Dennis Taylor.
So sad to see that this was Rutger Hauers's last film but he played his character brilliantly.
And Ken Doherty can act! Who knew? :)
Definitely worth the watch.
So sad to see that this was Rutger Hauers's last film but he played his character brilliantly.
And Ken Doherty can act! Who knew? :)
Definitely worth the watch.
watchable English humour
narcozesubtlelites14 January 2021
Review:
I recommended Break (2020) to my brother and my parents for professionalism of it's creators. Recently, it's rare that a film is compelling after the cinema died. This story is held together by cinematic camera movements and a few enticing shots, similar to the Social Network.
Genre: It's got a blend of traditional British crime drama (think Harry Brown 2009) and an athlete's biopic. My buddy was obsessed about writing a bio-pic of an athlete and this film has got him beat.
Genre: It's got a blend of traditional British crime drama (think Harry Brown 2009) and an athlete's biopic. My buddy was obsessed about writing a bio-pic of an athlete and this film has got him beat.
A little gem of a British Indy Film
Gazchurchend28 October 2020
It's all too easy to not expect much from low budget films but every now and again something like Break comes along and re-charges your faith in the British film industry. The film puts good old British indy filmmaking right back on the map with some outstanding performances and a beautiful story.
Sam Gittins performance as Spencer Pryde is nothing short of incredible and I felt the pain of his journey every step of the way, so much so he deserves to pick up an array of awards for it! Also his relationship with his dad played by Luke Mably and how the story between them develops is nothing short of beautiful.
Also Terri Dwyer's performance as Spencer's mom is extremely heartfelt! Noteworthy scene after the house has been raided and Spencer returns home..
There are so many great performances to note here with such names as Rutger Hauer and Jammie Foreman and David Yip.. Scott Peden performance as a bad ass drug dealer is particularly off nerving! Wouldn't want to meet him down a dark alley!
Overall the pace is well kept and the production value feels much higher than what I anticipate the budget probably was.
This is a film that you really need to see that will not disappoint... a hard hitting but ultimately uplifting story that is not to be missed.. I am so glad to see some British productions such as this are getting funded as they demonstrate there is serious talent to be seen not only from cast but from crew.
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