Cashback (2006)
UK 102m, Colour
Director: Sean Ellis; Cast: Sean Biggerstaff, Emilia Fox, Shaun Evans, Michelle Ryan, Stuart Goodwin
Cashback is a surprisingly smart erotic/comedy/romance that appears to be based on an idea from the 1994 novel “The Fermata” by Nicholson Baker which deals with the concept of what you might do if you could stop time. The film follows Ben, a heartbroken art student who uses his new found ability to stop time in order to undress, observe and draw the female form in unlikely places such as the supermarket. Interestingly, Cashback is decidedly far less lurid than The Fermata, and while the film contains copious amounts of nudity, it is much less about sex and more about beauty and love which are skillfully portrayed through Ben’s artistic “process” and his relationships with women (Klaus Ming May 2010).
Awesome you gave it a shot, and seems like you enjoyed it. Copious, you’ve got that right, but it really is artfully done so it’s not sleazy or off putting.
I thoroughly enjoyed the film, I liked the progression, the quirky/colorful characters (that “grab my arm” scene just kills me) and the ending worked out nicely. Almost a purely fantasy film but a similarly grounded and well done production all around!
Yeah, I really did enjoy it. Considering where they could have gone with the premise, it is a thoughtful and very well made film.
The movie title seems little to do with the movie as you’ve described it. As a fan of the book, I would never have thought that this movie, based on the title, would be anything to do with it. Does the title make sense in the context of the movie?
You’re absolutely right, “Cashback” is pretty much irrelevant as a title. I would never have paid much attention to it, save for the fact that Marc reviewed it on his site.