Twelve (film, 2010) and Starter for Ten (novel, 2003)

Twelve (2010)

Twelve on IMDb

Freshly released. I'd heard good things about this, but not got to it at the cinema.

The plot is a drug dealer whose life falls apart with various events, like his friend getting arrested and his cousin being murdered. Chace Crawford plays an emotionless role, depending on whether you like that. The rest of the acting was basically the standard of a many-charactered film. The good members of the cast don't get much screentime, and the rest is bog-standard.

The film, I thought, was well-written. The plot is twisted and intriguing, and the ending is nicely original. However, it isn't particularly well executed, despite a good cast. For those who value the story over the film, this is good. A welcome lack of violence for a 'gritty, drug blah blah' type film.

Compared with films like 4.3.2.1, also starring Emma Roberts, or other films of the genre, this doesn't stand up particularly well. With some more flair, and focus, this film might've been very good. Unfortunately, it lurched rather than flowed, and while its interesting, it's not fascinating.

Watch if you like a story, and a a good cast. Not so good if you prize a work of art.

Starter for Ten (2003)

Author: David Nicholls

I really enjoyed this book. Based on a student who attends University, and joined the University Challenge team to try and get a girl, it's an amusing tale, which lurches from the absurd to the horribly familiar.

Nicholls' writing style is excellent, and works on the fact that a lot of what he writes is intensely relevant and recognisable. If you've ever thought 'I wonder if anyone else thinks this', you'll find it here. The characters are interesting and easy to relate to, which is often difficult to achieve in a book set in the past.

This is a must for anyone who's attended, or wants to attend, University since the 1970s. It'll be embarrassing, amusing, and familiar, but most of all good fun. Bring it all flooding back.