One Chance – Einmal im Leben (2013)

One Chance – Einmal im Leben: Directed by David Frankel. With James Corden, Alexandra Roach, Julie Walters, Colm Meaney. The true story of Paul Potts, a shy, bullied shop assistant by day and an amateur opera singer by night who became a phenomenon after being chosen for — and ultimately winning — Britain’s Got Talent (2007).

“When people say they donu0026#39;t make movies like they used to, hereu0026#39;s proof that they still do sometimes. u0026quot;One Chanceu0026quot; has the charm of the old Earling Comedies and maybe even a touch of the magic of Frank Capra.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThis 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 u0026quot;Britainu0026#39;s Got Talentu0026quot; in 2007.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThe film actually ends at the audition because itu0026#39;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, u0026quot;Vincerou0026quot;, in u0026quot;Nessun Dormau0026quot;; the operatic equivalent of clearing the bar and setting a new world record in the Olympic pole-vault. Itu0026#39;s a stunning scene – as it was in real life.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThere is so much to like about this movie. Sure, the filmmakers took the crash course in u0026#39;Feel Good Movies 101u0026#39;, itu0026#39;s predictable and sentimental with the highs and lows in all the right places, but it works.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThere 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 Paulu0026#39;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 Cowellu0026#39;s face when he realises that the hesitant, shy, slightly awkward contestant possesses show-stopping talent, u0026quot;I wasnu0026#39;t expecting that Paulu0026quot;.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eu0026quot;One Chanceu0026quot; 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 Cowellu0026#39;s comment to the real Paul Potts on the night of his u0026quot;BGTu0026quot; audition, u0026quot;This is a complete breath of fresh airu0026quot;.”