Brassed Off (1996)

Average rating

(71%)

Starring:	Pete Postlethwaite \| Ewan McGregor \| Tara Fitzgerald \| Stephen Tompkinson \| Jim Carter \| Philip Jackson \| Stephen Moore \| Ronnie Stevens \| Sally Ann Matthews \| Melanie Hill \| Sue Johnston \| Jim Carter \| Peter Gunn \| Ken Kitson \| Olga Grahame \| Ronnie Stev
Director:	Mark Herman
Studio:	CINEMA CLUB
Run time:	103 mins
Genres:	Drama
Languages:	English
Subtitles:	None
Released:	March 20, 2004
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When government cutbacks threaten a century-old Yorkshire mine, the brass band consisting of the miners and their families struggles to keep it together in the face of economic repression and emotional turmoil. The charming comedic drama stars Ewan McGregor, Pete Postlethwaite, and Tara Fitzgerald.

Rating of 4 stars out of 5

It was almost inevitable that comparisons would be made between this Yorkshire-set drama and The Full Monty. But, whereas The Full Monty was an unashamedly feel-good movie, this is a much less cosy affair, in which the future of an entire community is at stake. There's a certain Ealing-like quality in the way the mining town of Grimley rallies around the colliery's brass band as it progresses to the national finals amid talk of pit closures and redundancies. But there's no coy comedy here. The humour is acerbic and near the knuckle. Also missing is the Capra-esque last act in which the everyday folk triumph over adversity. Instead, there's only the promise of more struggle and the grim realisation that a way of life has gone for ever. The edgy pace writer/director Mark Herman brings to the drama and his presentation of the musical sequences can't be faulted, and he draws remarkable performances from a strong cast.

Rating of 1 stars out of 5
Halliwell's Film Guide

Sentimental comedy mixed with political preaching, saved from bathos by some good character acting.

Highest rated reviews

17 out of 17 people found the following review helpful:

Stereotypes and the

Derek Pearson from Saddleworth, 2nd June, 2005

Forget the heavy handed sermonising, this film makes a valid point. The need to belong, the sense of community destroyed during Thatcher's 80's, all loom large in this excellent piece of cinema. OK, I know there's a hundred stereotypes on show and there are more cyphers here than there are real characters but for all it's shortcomings it's a damn good 'watch'. The brass band as a metaphor for all the things the community holds dear is a pretty good one, and how can anyone with a heart not be moved by the (non) acceptance speech at The Albert Hall? Great Film, great acting and above all 'A Bloody Good Noise' by Grimethorpe' (plus a view of our villages in the 'Band Contest' scenes). What more could one ask for RECOMMENDED

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3 out of 5 people found the following review helpful:

Disappointment...

Pilgrim828 from Hampshire, 17th February, 2005

I was really looking forward to this film but having seen it am afraid I can't agree with the other reviewers. I found this film neither particularly funny, dramatic nor tragic. Rather a wet-sop attempt to romanticise a shameful episode in recent English history.

Once again we are asked to accept an improbable romance, this time between stunning crumpet and local, unshaven, beer-swilling, smoking, pool-addict - they sleep together immediately... happens all the town round our way. The speech in the Albert Hall and playing their instruments on the top of a London bus were a farcical end to a film which promised so much more. If you want to see a real illustration of northern English life rent 'Kes' instead.

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2 out of 2 people found the following review helpful:

True acting

ALLEN from LONDONDERRY, 25th January, 2005

This film was interesting in that it stirred a lot of interest from the ‘Ewan McGregor’ fans. “Brassed Off” tells a story of a mining community – no not in Wales as you might expect, but ‘Grimley’ a town in Yorkshire. Basically the story goes that the pit is due to close down. The fear is that the miners fear that their ‘Brass Band’ may suffer financially, as a result of miners leaving the area and the pit closing. The story continues to make a statement on anti-governmental control of the pits. “Does the band survive?” is the issue in this film.

The comedy in this film can be sometimes obscure and you might have to look for it but essentially this is a drama. There are some excellent performances from Stephen Tomkinson and Sue Johnston. But this is essentially a film about miners, so the cast is mainly men.

Another good point about this film is the fact that 90% of the cast have appeared before on other BBC shows – Royle Family, Poirot, Juliet Bravo etc, so this helps the film run smoothly.

Recommended viewing.

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Most recent reviews

Time and Place

KenS from from London, 12th October, 2008

This is a very British film with most of the often cliched, very familiar British 'qualities'. Triumph of the underdog, courage in the face of adversity and injustice, the plucky 'ordinary-man-in-the-street, tough guy turns softy, basic decency of the 'working classes', the duplicity of 'them', as opposed to 'us', thoughtfulness overcoming prejudice, and etc. What saves it from overwhelming sentimentality is the strength of the acting, and the very full sense of the time and the place. It's a very enjoyable way to spend a couple of hours, and at the end one can't help but wish life could really be like that!!

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