One Chance (2014)

There have been many deserving winners and stars that have come from Britain's Got Talent, including Diversity, Susan Boyle, Ashleigh and Pudsey, and Richard Jones, but everyone remembers the first ever champion in 2007, this film is all about his journey, directed by David Frankel (The Devil Wears Prada, Marley & Me). Basically Paul Potts (James Corden, with the real Paul Potts as his singing voice) is a shy young man who suffers terribly at the hand of bullies, and damaged his teeth following an accident, he has a great love for operatic music. By day Paul works as a mobile phone salesman for The Carphone Warhouse, alongside incompetent manager and friend Braddon (Mackenzie Crook), but in his own time he dreams of being a professional operatic tenor, like Luciano Pavarotti and Andrea Bocelli. Paul also has a romantic relationship with supermarket worker Julie-Ann "Julz" Cooper (Alexandra Roach), he travels to Venice to attend a professional singing school, where he is mastered at one point by his hero Pavarotti (Stanley Townsend), who unfortunately gives him hard feedback, and he suffers terrible ailments that put his singing ability into turmoil. But Paul, with the support of Julz and his parents, Yvonne (Julie Walters) and Roland (Colm Meaney), pulls through, and he finally plucks up the courage to prove his love for Julz and sing for her, they later are happily married, and Paul is amazed that his singing voice returns. Then Paul sees an opportunity to achieve his dream to become an operatic singer, he gets an internet pop-up advertising auditions for the new talent show, Britain's Got Talent, he and Julz flip a coin to decide whether to go ahead with it, and the application is sent. Paul takes his one chance to stand on stage, introduced by presenters Anthony McPartlin and Declan Donnelly, to perform before the three judges, Simon Cowell (producing this film), Amanda Holden and Piers Morgan, and the theatre audience, with his rendition of "Nessun Dorma", he stuns everyone and goes through to the next round, in the time that follows Paul becomes a YouTube sensation with his auditions, and goes on to win the whole competition, make a number one album, and perform at the Royal Variety Performance before Queen Elizabeth II, and the success continues for Paul . Also starring Jemima Rooper as Hydrangea, Valeria Bilello as Alessandra, The Inbetweeners' Alex Macqueen as Dr. Thorpe and Trystan Gravelle as Matthew. Corden is likable as the every man with a passion for opera and triumphs over adversity, the film is played out like a long version of the introduction video you get before a talent show contestant's audition, with sob story and stuff to tug at the heartstrings, it is cheesy in many places, but when you know the true story you can just sit bit and enjoy the amusing moments, the classic music and the feel good factor, all in all it is a nice biographical comedy drama. It was nominated the Golden Globe for Best Original Song for "Sweeter than Fiction" by Taylor Swift. Worth watching!

And curiosity is the only reason why I watched this movie. I knew Paul Potts like many because of his rise from the bottom of the barrel to stardom at the rhythm of Nessum Dorma. Paul Potts is one of those lovable guys you wish all the luck in the world. Bullied in school, big heart, and always struggling to make a living. His life had all the elements that you normally need in a scripted story to turn it into a mildly interesting movie. In this case, all that was needed was to put it into images without much of an adaptation. I wasn't expecting a lot from it, and I felt like I knew the story even without watching it. I wasn't elated and neither was I disappointed. I got what I wanted and I am just now wondering what Paul Potts is up to. Where is he? Is he wealthy? is he still singing? I have no idea. I guess gooogle might help answer all my questions. In any case, I wish him good luck!

Whether you're familiar with the story of Paul Potts or not, this movie will ensure you're feeling good by the end of it.It's a satisfying story, made all the more powerful by the two strong leads; James Corden and Alexandra Roach, portraying Paul Potts and wife 'Julz'. MacKenzie Crook provides many laughs as the character of Paul's friend, Braddon, successfully leaving me nervous to ever enter a mobile-phone store in Wales.Alexandra Roach's performance almost steals the movie. Her role as Paul's supportive wife, Julie-Ann, made me feel we all could do with a little Julie-Ann support in our lives. The warmth, unwavering support and belief shown by her character will make you fall as madly in love with her as Paul Potts himself.James Corden successfully captures the hilarious and almost hard-to-watch awkwardness of Paul Potts while also giving an authentic, believable portrayal of Paul's impressive talents.One Chance is a well-made, easy-to-watch, triumph over adversity tale in which we can all take a little bit of inspiration from."One foot, then the other".

When people say they don't make movies like they used to, here's proof that they still do sometimes. "One Chance" has the charm of the old Earling Comedies and maybe even a touch of the magic of Frank Capra.This is the almost true story of Paul Potts (James Corden), a shy young mobile phone salesman with a great voice. He wants nothing more than to be an opera singer. After scraping the money together to attend an opera school in Venice, he blows an audition in front of Pavarotti (Stanley Townsend). Crest fallen, he regains his confidence only to have an accident that damages his throat. However, he comes back again with the help of his girlfriend, Julz (Alexandra Roach), and becomes a sensation when he wins the first "Britain's Got Talent" in 2007.The film actually ends at the audition because it's hard to beat a climax where James Corden as Paul Potts has the judges and the audience gulping back the tears as he lifts to that final sustained note, "Vincero", in "Nessun Dorma"; the operatic equivalent of clearing the bar and setting a new world record in the Olympic pole-vault. It's a stunning scene - as it was in real life.There is so much to like about this movie. Sure, the filmmakers took the crash course in 'Feel Good Movies 101', it's predictable and sentimental with the highs and lows in all the right places, but it works.There are a number of scenes I love: when Paul first meets Julz, his online girlfriend at the station; another when the crowd in the club falls silent as they are stunned by the power of Paul's voice; the scene in Venice when he dines beside the canal with the family of Alessandra (Vileria Bilello), the beautiful Italian opera singer; and finally, the look on Simon Cowell's face when he realises that the hesitant, shy, slightly awkward contestant possesses show-stopping talent, "I wasn't expecting that Paul"."One Chance" has perfect casting for mum and dad (Julie Waters and Colm Meaney), witty lines and some opera that cuts though all the Rap, Death Metal and New Weird we are surrounded by today. To paraphrase Simon Cowell's comment to the real Paul Potts on the night of his "BGT" audition, "This is a complete breath of fresh air".