Review of Brassed Off (1996) by Edith N — 29 May 2007

The frustrating thing about this story, for me, is that the more I learn about nuclear, the smarter an idea it seems. (It needs to be handled [i]way[/i] better, but it's hardly [i]The Simpsons[/i].) Coal is certainly far from the best source of energy we have. However, the loss of mines kills towns with no other way of supporting themselves. Thousands [i]have[/i] lost their jobs to the nuclear industry, which does not seem to me to require as many people. And Dame Maggie Thatcher, the Children's Milk Snatcher, was never much on jobs retraining anyway.

So this is the second Plucky British People Fighting Obstacles story I can name that has a company brass band as a major aspect of its story. Another one has a coal pit as an important aspect of the story. Several have troubled father-son relationships. And, of course, they all feature Triumphing Against the Odds. It's hardly an original story (and I have [i]Kinky Boots[/i] yet; Graham brought it home with him). Ergo, what matters more--since what we have is a genre movie--is how it's done.

It's been done better. We've got a good cast, here. Pete Postlethwaite is always good, and he's got a great last name, even if it always looks to me as though I've spelled it wrong. Ewan McGregor, of course. Tara Fitzgerald has appeared in a few movies here and will doubtless appear in more. But let us focus on one cast member a moment, one who has been in another Plucky British People Fighting Obstacles movie, though one people don't think of when they think of the genre.

That man would be Jim Carter, rather better known as Ralph, from [i]Shakespeare in Love[/i]. (Also Deja Vu from [i]Top Secret![/i], his second film role.) He's got a minor role in this one, too, but I'd like to take just a minute to admire his sheer exuberance at conducting, toward the end of the film. This is a man who loves what he's doing. You can tell, because he plays an instrument he has to explain all the time. It's not a trumpet; it's not a tuba. It's closest to being a baritone, but it's not that, either. Unless you're a musician, and specifically a brass musician, you probably don't know what it is. But he's middle-aged and still plays. So there you are. (He shows more energy conducting, though.).

I felt the story was a little uneven. Oh, it had some great moments. Ewan McGregor, having bet away his trumpet, whistling as they stand under Pete Postlethwaite's window and serenade him. Coco the Clown's political rant. Pete Postlethwaite's political rant. (And why do people always clap when speeches like that--not Coco's, however--are finished? Isn't it more probable that people would look at one another awkwardly?) The two delightful older ladies with the bright purple hair. But it's not a very coherent story, and it's not the best-written one in the world, either.

Still, the music is great, and the cast is great, and the energy's pretty good. Coal-powered or otherwise.