Cashback (2006)

User Rating:

7.5/10   

Director:

Sean Ellis

Writer:

Sean Ellis (written by)

Release Date:

17 January 2007 (Belgium)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

Tagline:

Sometimes love is hiding between the seconds of your life

Plot:

After a painful breakup, Ben develops insomnia. To kill time, he starts working the late night shift at the local supermarket, where his artistic imagination runs wild.

Plot Keywords:

Art | Insomnia | Night Shift | Supermarket | Student

Awards:

2 wins

Cast

Sean Biggerstaff	...	Ben Willis
Emilia Fox	...	Sharon Pintey
Shaun Evans	...	Sean Higgins
Michelle Ryan	...	Suzy
Stuart Goodwin	...	Jenkins
Michael Dixon	...	Barry Brickman
Michael Lambourne	...	Matt Stephens
Marc Pickering	...	Brian 'Kung-Fu'
Frank Hesketh	...	Young Ben Willis
Erica Ellis	...	Canteen Lady
Kenneth Fahy	...	Art Class Life Model
Stan Ellis	...	Art Class Teacher
Katie Ball	...	Art Class Girl
Celesta Hodge	...	Deer Girl in Sainsbury's
Nia Roberts	...	Woman at the Till
Hatti Riemer	...	Old Lady at Deli Counter
Kinvara Balfour	...	Shampoo / Frozen Girl 1
Cherie Nichole	...	Shampoo / Frozen Girl 2
Winnie Li	...	Betting Employee
Lene Bausager	...	Woman with Trolley
Irene Bagach	...	Frozen Beautiful Girl
Hayley-Marie Coppin	...	Swedish Student (as Hayley Marie Coppin)
Keeley Hazell	...	Frozen Girl in Sainsbury's (as Keeley Hazel)
Nadia Alkhashab	...	Frozen Girl in Sainsbury's
Christine Fuller	...	Frozen Girl in Sainsbury's
Michelle Bentley	...	Nightclub Girl
Gary Beeson	...	Young Sean
Katarina Olsson	...	Sean's Mother
Gayle Dudley	...	Natalie's Mother
Nelly Lyster-Smith	...	Young Natalie
Henrietta Bass	...	Ben's Mother (as Henrietta Bess)
Samantha Bloom	...	Mrs. Booth
Emilia Fenton	...	Tanya
Nick Hancock	...	Rory Davies
Howard Ward	...	Football Referee
Roddy Adair	...	Sainsbury's Islington Footballer
Lee Wilson	...	Sainsbury's Islington Footballer
James Smith	...	Sainsbury's Islington Footballer
Wayne Ploughman	...	Sainsbury's Islington Footballer
Gary McNulty	...	Sainsbury's Islington Footballer
Natalie Denning	...	Busty Customer
Matthew Hodgson	...	'Spread Eagle' Barman
Tree Carr	...	'Spread Eagle' Girl
Bianca Drakes	...	'Spread Eagle' Stripper
Katrine Falkenberg	...	Katrine at the Party
Hayden Jones	...	Jim the Bouncer
Janine-May Tinsley	...	Adult Natalie (as Janine May Tinsley)
Graham Ward	...	Man with Dog
Kubrick Ellis	...	Dog
Lucy Holt	...	Lucy at Proud Galleries
Daphne Guinness	...	Anna Shapiro
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Just Ardalan-Raikes	...	Time traveller (uncredited)
Martin Ballantyne	...	Strip Club Patron (uncredited)
Rebecca Calder	...	Cinema Date (uncredited)
Jared Harris	...	Alex Proud (uncredited)
Marysia Kay	...	Girl in Gallery (uncredited)
Jemi Paretas	...	(uncredited)

Directed by
Sean Ellis

Writing credits
Sean Ellis		(written by)

Produced by
Lene Bausager	....	producer
Sean Ellis	....	producer
Daphne Guinness	....	executive producer
Peter Hampden	....	executive producer
Marshall Leviten	....	line producer
Winnie Li	....	associate producer
Norman Merry	....	executive producer
Vijay Thakur	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Guy Farley

Cinematography by
Angus Hudson

Film Editing by
Carlos Domeque
Scott Thomas

Production Design by
Morgan Kennedy

Art Direction by
Emma Jones

Costume Design by
Vicki Russell
Victoria Russell

Makeup Department
Anastasia Pappas	....	additional hairdresser
Emma Williams	....	additional makeup artist
Louisa Murray	....	makeup artist (uncredited)

Production Management
Bianca Gavin	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Ori Latter	....	crowd assistant director
Sarah MacFarlane	....	additional third assistant director
Adam Morris	....	third assistant director
Steve Newton	....	first assistant director
Emily Perowne	....	trainee assistant director
Tom White	....	second assistant director

Art Department
Mark Billingham	....	prop man
Steven Blundell	....	prop man (as Steve Blundell)
Catherine Byrne	....	draughtsperson
Stuart Clarke	....	scenic artist
Peter Fentem	....	prop master (as Pete Fentem)
Owen Grundy	....	assistant art director (as Owen Gundry)
Sophie Phillips	....	prop buyer
Graham Ward	....	stand-by art director
Steven Blundell	....	assistant art director (uncredited)

Sound Department
Paul Cotterell	....	sound re-recording mixer
Giancarlo Dellapina	....	sound recordist
Tawa K. Durowoju	....	boom operator
Jamie Gambell	....	sound recordist
Ben Greaves	....	boom operator
Sean Hannah	....	assistant sound re-recording mixer
Kallis Shamaris	....	sound editor
David Smithers	....	supervising sound editor
Tim Surrey	....	cable person
Rowena Wilkinson	....	foley artist

Visual Effects by
Lee Clappison	....	online film editor
James Clarke	....	visual effects
William Foxwell	....	digital lab operator: Lip Sync Post (as Will Foxwell)
Scott Goulding	....	digital lab operator
Julia Hall	....	digital effects artist
Katja Hollmann	....	associate producer: Lipsync Post (as Katja Lazare)
Alasdair MacCuish	....	digital grade producer: Lipsync Post
Adrian Oostergetel	....	digital effects artist
Kevin Phelan	....	head of post production: Lip Sync Post
Angela Rose	....	digital effects artist
Daniel Tomlinson	....	digital lab operator

Stunts
Tom Aitken	....	stunt arranger
Tom Aitken	....	stunt performer

Camera and Electrical Department
Kirsti Abernethy	....	focus puller
Susie Allnutt	....	unit still photographer
Natasha Back	....	additional camera trainee: second unit (as Tasha Back)
Peter Bateson	....	additional focus puller: second unit (as Pete Bateson)
Tim Battersby	....	focus puller
Sergio Bernuzzi	....	additional grip (as Sergio Benuzzi)
Jenny John Chuan	....	additional clapper loader: second unit
Alex Coverley	....	additional grip
Kevin Edland	....	electrician
Dai Evans	....	grip
Sarah Gardiner	....	focus puller: "b" camera, second unit
Dan Garlick	....	additional grip (as Dan Garlic)
Sam Garwood	....	camera operator: "b" camera, second unit
Sam Garwood	....	director of photography: second unit
Charlotte Ginsborg	....	additional clapper loader: second unit
Vron Harris	....	clapper loader: "b" camera, second unit
Adrienne Hayward	....	additional camera trainee: second unit
Nele Hecht	....	additional clapper loader: second unit
Daniel Hegarty	....	technocrane operator (as Dan Hegarty)
Tom North	....	additional grip
Toby Plaskitt	....	grip
Marina Showay	....	additional focus puller: "b" camera, second unit
David Sinfield	....	electrician
Derek Walker	....	Steadicam operator: second unit
Fran Weston	....	clapper loader
Greg Williams	....	special still photographer
Sophie Wilson	....	clapper loader

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Annabel Bonnet	....	costume supervisor (as Annabel Bonnett)
Rebecca Duncan	....	costume assistant (as Becky Duncan)

Editorial Department
Simon Davis	....	assistant editor
Stuart Fyvie	....	digital colorist
Jason Wheeler	....	negative cutter

Music Department
Andy Brown	....	music contractor
Will Johnstone	....	additional programmer
The London Metropolitan Orchestra	....	music performed by
Amanda Street	....	score supervisor

Transportation Department
Russell Chipz Chipping	....	driver: props (as Chips Chipping)

Other crew
James Clarke	....	digital laboratory supervisor
Kash Javaid	....	unit publicist
Kriss Landin	....	additional script supervisor
Hallam Rice-Edwards	....	production assistant
Tina Shadick	....	production accountant
Elizabeth Tremblay	....	script supervisor
Rupert Lloyd	....	production assistant (uncredited)

Thanks
Bryan Adams	....	very special thanks
Rick Astley	....	very special thanks
Blaise Douglas	....	thanks
Jared Harris	....	very special thanks

Production Companies

• Left Turn Films
• Lipsync Productions
• Ugly Duckling Films

Distributors

• Atlantic Film (2007) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• CK Entertainment (2008) (Japan) (theatrical)
• Culture Publishers (CP) (2008) (Japan) (theatrical)
• Festive Films (2007) (Singapore) (theatrical)
• Gaumont/Columbia TriStar Films (2007) (France) (theatrical)
• Golden Village Entertainment (2007) (Singapore) (theatrical)
• Magnolia Pictures (2007) (USA) (theatrical)
• Moonlight Films (2007) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Vivafilm (2007) (USA) (theatrical)
• Argentina Video Home (2008) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Brunbro Entertainment Group (2006) (Belgium) (all media)
• CK Entertainment (2008) (Japan) (DVD)
• Distribution Company (2008) (Argentina) (all media)
• Future Film (2007) (Finland) (DVD)
• HD Net (2007) (USA) (TV)
• Indies Home Entertainment (2008) (Netherlands) (DVD) (retail)
• Magnolia Home Entertainment (2007) (USA) (DVD)
• Movie Bank (2008) (Netherlands) (DVD) (rental)
• Odeon (2007) (Greece) (all media)
• Shoval Film Production (2006) (Israel) (all media)
• Works UK Distribution, The (2008) (UK) (all media)

Other Companies

• Pinewood Studios  movie studio
• DNA Music  score coordination
• EuroKids & Adults International Casting and Model Agency  casting
• For Goodness Sake  catering
• Lip Sync Post  digital intermediate
• Lip Sync Post  sound design: ADR and re-recording
• Lip Sync Post  visual effects
• London Editing Machines Ltd.  editing equipment
• Panavision UK  camera equipment provided by

Also Known As:

Cashback (USA)

MPAA:

Rated R for graphic nudity, sexual content and language.

Runtime:

102 min | Canada:90 min (Toronto International Film Festival)

Country:

UK

Language:

English | Spanish

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Switzerland:12 (canton of Vaud) | Switzerland:12 (canton of Geneva) | France:Unrated | Australia:MA | Netherlands:12 | Hong Kong:IIB | USA:R | Singapore:R21 | Singapore:M18 (edited version) | South Korea:18 | Finland:K-13 | Germany:12 | Japan:R-15 | Argentina:16 | UK:18 | Sweden:Btl | New Zealand:R16

Filming Locations:

London, England, UK

Company:

Left Turn Films

Trivia:

The single shot of Ben falling from the payphone into bed was done in camera and a whole day to film out of the 25 day shooting schedule.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: At the end of the freezed supermarket scene, when Ben pulls down the woman's top she moves her left arm away from her body.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Ben Willis: It take approximately 500 lbs to crush a human skull. But the human emotion is a much more delicate thing. Take Suzy, my first real girl friend. My first real break-up, happening right in front of me. I never thought it was going to be similar to a car crash...
[...]

Movie Connections:

References Diner (1982)

Soundtrack:

What Else Is There?

I kept smiling like an idiot

What an intense and creative film this is and what a treat it was to have the charming Sean Biggerstaff present it at the Stockholm International Film Festival. He is proud of 'Cashback', and rightly so – for you will be pressed to find a prettier fantasy or funnier characters in a film this year.

'Cashback' is director Sean Ellis' debut feature and he recreates the atmosphere of his same-titled short film with deft strokes, breathing life into a fantasy movie masking as a romantic comedy. Do not write it off on the basis of this negatively-connoted label, rather see it as a creative drama that delivers comedy by the bucketload. The fact is that 'Cashback' delves deep into the emotions of its protagonist Ben Willis (Sean Biggerstaff) much like a drama. It opens with his girlfriend dumping him, screaming and throwing things. In the following weeks, Ben suffers from insomnia and thus finds that he has eight extra hours at his disposal. To pass the time, he works the dreary nightshift at Sainsbury's.

The supermarket job is mundane at first but soon offers an outlet for Ben's creative side. As an art student, he learns to find the beauty in still images every second of the day. This includes the unspeakable beauty in a spilled bag of green peas on aisle four. It also includes freezing time and undressing women (Ben finds great source of interest in the female form), arguably the film's most intense sequences. Here there is a kind of seamless intercutting of scenes, scenery, flashbacks, reality and fantasy that all melt together fluently as the director navigates through Ben's life and thoughts. The latter soothingly narrates the course of events, which cements his likability as a central character.

The unspeakable beauty in the dreamy cinematography is rivalled only by the other side of the tapestry – the comedy. I was rather unprepared for this diversion into hilarity, and expected Cashback to be a drama. Naturally, the amount of well-placed comedy floored my low expectations. In the front row for hilarity sits Ben's two colleagues at Sainsbury's, whom he introduces in brilliant ways. These are two dumb and goofy guys in their late teens who pass their time doing pranks and acting like idiots, such as smuggling sex toys in women's shopping bags at Sainsbury's and guffawing at the effect when she sees it and picks it up. The passing of time indeed proves a central theme in 'Cashback'.

But there is a wide array of noteworthy performances from the supporting cast, not just in Barry and Matt. Ben's boss also proves a massive crowd-pleaser and the level of seriousness which he applies to situations (such as the mighty football tournaments between supermarkets) is a goldmine for comedy. As ever, there is a romantic interest (Emilia Fox) – a girl who works at the same supermarket during the same shifts – who is the film's most likable and interesting character, bar none. My theatre audience also demanded Sean Biggerstaff on some info on this lovely actress.

It needs to be said that 'Cashback' is a sexually aggressive film with plenty of nudity and stories of sexual awakening. All women are also suspiciously attractive (it has often been brought up, beamed Biggerstaff in the Q&A session). It's funny, it's sexy and it's sweet – puffed full of insights in Ben's narration. Better yet, it is a surprisingly ambitious film that strikes me more as a mainstream feature than quirky indie fare (if it wasn't for the nudity). For instance, the classical score is so epic and well-fitted that it sounds like it belongs in 'Gladiator' or any other high-profile sweeping epic. For that matter, Sean Ellis has worked in a homage to the latter at one point when the boss gives a rallying speech during the football tournament, telling his employers to think of him 'as Russell Crowe'.

The film has only two faults as far as I can see it: its wildly unfocused story and its slightly cheesy ending. The former did not prove a problem or a distraction, but rather made it feel like 'Cashback' attempted a lot of different story lines and detours and diversions. That said, I can see how it could be considered a problem. The ending discards some of the unpredictable magic by tipping into saccharine but it is nothing fatal. The fact is that Cashback is a remarkable film in both comedy and drama aspects and I urge you to watch it if you are even a slight fan of Biggerstaff.

9 out of 10