MovieChat Forums > Starter for 10 (2007) Discussion > Does anyone else think James McAvoy is w...

Does anyone else think James McAvoy is way too good for this film?

posted 12 years ago by lukasmayfield
12 replies | jump to latest

I thought it was an OK film, I just couldn't help thinking the whole time how much he stands out. He was kind of wasted in this performance... What a genius.

[–] tazikhay 12 years ago

It's a film that centres around one character so ofcourse he stands out, I actually think this is a very underrated film. Just look at the other stars who have come out of it Benedict Cumberbatch, Alice Eve, Dominic Cooper, they were all great in there roles. If anything I would say McAvoy's character was much better than the others, but he was very well cast and much of why the film is so watchable and entertaining is down to him.

[–] kaphawoman 12 years ago

McAvoy is certainly the best thing about the film, but it was 6 years ago so he probably wasn't in a place to be so picky about his roles.

[–] 12 years ago

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[–] chunkylefunga 9 years ago

His accent was great and his acting was good. But not outstanding.

I take it you're not English?

He doesn't sound at all like an Essex boy. He's kind of gone for this odd 'rough' South East accent but no-one from England would consider this to be a real English accent and certainly not anywhere near to an Essex one.

He definitely looks too old for the role but then the rest of the cast were too old too. When I was a first year at uni everyone was fresh faced, these guys look older than I am now :D

Apart from the accents the movie has decent acting performances from most of the cast.

[–] Runie 10 years ago

do you realise how many actors in this film have become better than him!!

acting all round was top notch and the majority have gone on to better things.

No he certainly didn't stand out- it was a top cast

[–] Vmary33 10 years ago

I know that none of the actors in this film have become better than James!

It was an all around good cast but James was the stand out who held the film together.

He was then and still is now the best actor of the bunch.

[–] Xori 7 years ago

Benedict Cumberbatch!

[–] runforfree 8 years ago

Better than James?? Who do mean? Because do this day he can out act any of them, don't confuse fame with talent. Benedict Cumberbatch is the only one who even comes close to James acting wise.

[–] 7 years ago

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[–] ewenlyall 10 years ago

He was okay. Not bad, of course, but nowhere near as spectacular as you're making out. It doesn't come close to McAvoy's performances in Filth and Atonement.

My main issue with him in this, though, is his Essex accent. It's all over the place, seemingly yo-yoing in every scene and sometimes switching to a side character from Sexy Beast. I know it's based on a novel, but they could've quite easily made Brian from a small coastal town in Scotland, allowing him to use his actual accent. Wouldn't have taken anything from the overall story.

It seems picky, but accents bug me if they're done lazily. Although, the scene in the grotty Italian restaurant was terrific. One of the highlights of the film.

[–] thepinkrabbit 9 years ago

no he is wayyyyy too old for this role.
When I saw him in the scene at the beginning I though OMg that guy is like 30 and he's supposed to be fresh 18. And so I checked on imdb and indeed he was around 27-28... I dont get it..

[–] looper007 (1126) 10 months ago

No, great actors usually make a fluffy film like this at the start of their careers just to get their names out there.

I like this film, it's got it's heart in the right place. Could do without James Corden in it, he just ruins most stuff. But I thought McAvoy was charming and Rebecca Hall was loveable (would have liked her in more roles like this). Benedict Cumberbatch almost steals the film. It's got a great soundtrack too. Alice Eve is hot too which doesn't hurt.

I like it.