The Rack Pack through a foreigner's eyes

17:16:00 Ramona Dragomir 0 Comments

 
BBC's production "The Rack Pack" first aired on Sunday 17th just after the 2016 Dafabet Masters final finished in a pretty abruptly way thanks to O'Sullivan's hunger for some silverware. 

Unfortunately, being a non-UK resident and all that it was impossible to watch its premiere on BBC iPlayer. Luckily though, that changed. Well, I am still a non-UK resident, but the mighty internet is my friend. And so are those who love snooker to bits, just like me.

I am not going to ruin the film for ya and tell you the story, but I am going to share with you what a foreign viewer thinks of it. This also means that I might be wrong, so bear with me here for a minute or two.

As many of you are well aware, the film captures a small part of the "change of guards" from the "Fast & Furious" Alex Higgins and not-so-much-televised snooker to the "Robotic & Most Seriously" Steve Davis and snooker’s boom-era.

I wasn't there when that happened, to hell with it, I wasn't even in the plan, but these past five years and a half I have watched tons of videos and read books about the golden days of snooker. I have listen feverishly to those who have lived those precious moments and fed on each and every word of praise or dismiss.

Luke Treadaway wonderfully playing the role of A. Higgins

A few hours ago I saw "The Rack Pack" and I am pleased to say that it felt like I was there. The drama, the pressure, the enormous change, the fun, the glory, the failure, the marketing plan, the beginning, the end ... everything.

The film manages to capture a small part of an era that has changed so much through the years, that has had such a huge impact on people's life, that has built characters, altered dreams and created an industry that now is struggling to compete with other sports. 

Although a bit romanticised, the film transports you back in the day when snooker on the telly was the real entertainment and the players were just emerging. The "new kid on the block" Steve Davis was taking over Higgins' empire and things were about to hit a rough patch.

As Steve Davis put it so well on Sunday evening, I started watching it with a huge smile upon my face and ended up crying at the end. 

Will Merrick in the role of Steve Davis

The film is following Alex Higgins reaching the top and winning the 1972 and 1982 World Championship, then smoothly introducing the new sensation (aka. Steve Davis), a player which was like no-one else.

He was like no-one else because he was a bit dork-ish (or a bit more), he was well composed, he was focused and set to play snooker by the book. Plus, he had someone who believed in all that - Barry Hearn.

But you already know this by heart, don’t you? So this is where the story makes an interesting turn because for the first time we see the history being told from the point of view of a person (aka. Higgins) who sees how Hearn is taking over snooker and starts building his empire of top players.

Alex Higgins is pictured as some sort of indirect narrator of Hearn's ruling and how that must have messed with his head and self-confidence.

Clearly avoiding as much as possible Higgins' outbursts of fury and violence, the film closely follows the highs and lows of a ... sportsman; his inner demons, the drugs, the love, the family life, the drinking, the wins, the loses etc.

Kevin Bishop playing Barry Hearn
The language is witty, both clean and dark , close to what the lads would have used back then, while the jokes are funny as hell. 

Davis' stating to his manager that he won't tolerate Higgins' bad treatment is wickedly written: "If he touches me again I won't be held responsible for what I'll do", to which Barry asks: "What will you do?" and Steve answers: "Probably go home."

I was very pleased to see that the actors managed to convey the power of their characters. Truth be told, I don't think it's easy to impersonate or try to play the role of Alex Higgins, nor the one of Barry Hearn for as dull as many would see it (I am strictly referring to the last named one).

As I said it at the beginning I wasn't around during those years, but I feel like I have been brought up with the stories of those times and the film really managed to transport me there.

In the end, the conclusions are easy to see: snooker is a lonely sport, the pressure is enormous and behind every "perfect" life you see on or off the screen, lies something totally different.

The fears, the madness, the fury, the power, the beauty, the luck, the bad luck, the evolution, the torment, the change ... they are all part of the deal. 

If I could sum up everything that I wrote above and if I had to choose one word to describe this film, I think that “goosebumps” would be the most adequate one.

In the end I would just like to add this: be sure to watch the film, but be sure to really watch it!

P.S. An excellent and perfectly legitimate review of the film can be read on SnookerBacker’s blog.

0 comments:

Post a Comment

O'Sullivan conquers 6th Masters crown

23:20:00 Ramona Dragomir 0 Comments

Ronnie O'Sullivan beat 10-1 over Barry Hawkins to win this year's edition of Dafabet Masters tournament and equalise Master Stephen Hendry's record of 6 Masters trophies.

O'Sullivan spent no less than 8 months away from professional snooker tournaments, but he did manage to cope with the pressure of a live and brilliant event such as the Masters.

Although he announced from the very beginning of the tournament that he's struggling with a "bad back" and despite not being at his best throughout the entire event, he did produce fireworks when the situation required it.

The final started with a 27-minutes frame which Hawkins won on the pink, but little did he or we, for that matter, know that this was going to be his last one too.

"The Rocket" fired a 70 break to draw level and made a superb 136 clearance down on frame three to take the lead, to which he added a half-century break (52) for a 4-1 scoreline at the interval.

Hawkins had a pretty good chance at the beginning of frame five, but he missed an early red and was unable to take advantage of his opponent also missing a red 20 points later, thus O'Sullivan extended his lead.

A pretty similar situation was brought to our attention during frame six, in the end of the session O'Sullivan using top breaks of 77 and 72 to go to an ominous 7-1 lead.

Hours later, as the players returned into the arena alongside the ref in charge Olivier Marteel, the commentators were saying that Barry needs to play for honour here, as the scoreline was surely not in his advantage.

Hawkins did try and a 35-minutes 9th frame was a living proof of that, but things just didn't work out for him, O'Sullivan winning it thanks to a fluked pink, to which he added a set of breaks (66 and 82) to seal a crystal clear victory of 10-1.

Gracious in defeat, Barry Hawkins congratulated his opponent and openly admitted that he is very disappointed for not playing better and that is very hard to take positives from such an excruciating defeat. 

However, the fact that this is his best Masters performance, because this is actually the first time he managed to get pass the first round, must mean that better times and yet to come for "The Hawk".

The champion, Ronnie O'Sullivan put on a very honest and heart-felt smile and stated he is "over the moon" with his win and, thanks to Hazel Irvine's poignant questions, let us know he might just make an appearance at the World Championship.

So, this concludes our eight magnificent days at Ally Pally, where the history was written with each ball that was potted, missed, miscued or cleaned. 

Roll on the next tournament! ;-)

0 comments:

Post a Comment

2016 Masters (Day Seven) - O'Sullivan sets rematch with Hawkins

10:59:00 Ramona Dragomir 0 Comments

The second and last semi-final of this year's Dafabet Masters tournament saw Ronnie O'Sullivan beating the current world champion, Stuart Bingham 6-3 in order to set a final clash with the man he also defeated back in 2013 in the final of the World Championship, Barry Hawkins.

The match started very well for Bingham, whose break of 63 was breaking the ice and giving him the opening frame, but when we reached the mid-session interval things looked a bit worrying, as he was being led 3-1.

Although Ronnie's performance during the first session was far from his best, he did manage to produce some absolute crackers, plus a top break of 70 to drink his tea in peace during the mini-break.

When returning into the arena, O'Sullivan put on one of his own special century breaks, a perfect 121 to extend his lead and made the most of a 6th frame despite Bingham making a pretty solid 67 break. The scoreline was now 5-1.

The next frame made us hope for fireworks, as Bingham was on a 147, but he sadly missed the black on 81. Still, it meant he won that frame to which he carefully added the next to keep his hopes up for a full comeback.

But the last frame came with a lot of tension and down to the last red, O'Sullivan showing his brilliant cue-work and getting over the line to get the last seat of Sunday's final.

16 players have started this snooker show one week ago but only 2 remain: Ronnie O'Sullivan and Barry Hawkins. Who will prevail the final and ultimate test?

Find out today from 1pm and 7pm (UK time). 

Photo credit: Monique Limbos

0 comments:

Post a Comment

2016 Masters (Day Seven) - Hawkins gets final spot

18:27:00 Ramona Dragomir 0 Comments

We've just witnessed a glorious first semi-final here at Ally Pally, as Barry Hawkins won 6-4 over Judd Trump in order to conquer the first spot of the 2016 Dafabet Masters final.

The player nicknamed "The Hawk" started in the best possible way, by firing in no more and no less than two century breaks (130 and 128) to take the first two frames of the session.

A bit out of focus Trump regrouped just in time, breaks of 44 and 58 levelling things up at the interval. This was getting interesting!

Soon enough the players, alongside referee Jan Verhaas, returned into the arena and after Judd missed a red to the right middle pocket, Hawkins hit with a 74 break to go back in front.

But his opponent wasn't going to sit in his chair for much longer and thanks to breaks of 103 and 72 Trump was not only drawing level, but also taking the lead for the first time since the start of the match, 4-3.

Hawkins worked one of those special-and-one-visit winning-breaks (78) of his own in frame eight and added a perfect 100 break to go just one away from victory.

The last frame came down to the last red and the colours, with Trump having a slight advantage of 40-34. 

A genuine safety shots battle followed, one which Hawkins won fair and square (and potted an amazing blue!!!) to get his place in tomorrow's final.

The suspense continues tonight from 7pm (UK time) with Ronnie O'Sullivan and Stuart Bingham. Sooo, who's going to be, ey?

0 comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)