SYNOPSIS
Inspired by the story of Griff Sanders, the self-styled “John McEnroe” of lawn bowling, who received a nationwide ban from the game for excessive swearing, BLACKBALL is the fictional story of Cliff Starkey and his Rocky-style rise and fall from local bowls maverick to national sporting hero.
PAUL KAYE makes his feature film debut as Cliff. Known on British TV screens for his alter ego bad boy character Dennis Pennis, Kaye recently starred in the acclaimed TV drama Two Thousand Acres of Sky. KAYE is joined by an all star cast including JAMES CROMWELL (LA Confidential, Babe, The Sum of All Fears), actor/comedian JOHNNY VEGAS, ALICE EVANS (102 Dalmations), IMELDA STAUNTON (Shakespeare in Love, Chicken Run), veteran actor BERNARD CRIBBINS, JAMES FLEET (Four Weddings and Funeral, Kevin and Perry Go Large) and VINCE VAUGHN (Swingers, Zoolander, Old School) as aggressive American sports agent Rick Schwartz.
In the sleepy seaside town of Torquay, on ‘The English Riviera’, the game reserved for geriatrics and pensioners is taken VERY seriously. None more so than the reigning champion Ray Speight (JAMES CROMWELL), conservative and stuffy he has been Torquay’s home grown hero for over 20 years…but now his title is threatened…Cliff Starkey a young pretender from the wrong side of town, is daring to go up against him. Armed with his sexy bad-boy persona, a flashy American agent Rick and an army of screaming female fans, Cliff is a fresh and exciting new sex symbol in the game. In fact, he is fast turning Lawn Bowls into the biggest spectator sport in England – possibly the World!!! To add insult to injury, Cliff’s biggest fan is his new girlfriend Kerry (ALICE EVANS)…Ray’s daughter!
