#pete postlethwaite

[marthajefferson]

They terrorized me for seven days. After that, they threatened to kill my father. I'd have fucking signed anything after that.

Daniel Day-Lewis & Pete Postlethwaite IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER (1993), dir. Jim Sheridan

[haveyouseenthismovie-poll]

[ozu-teapot]

Anchoress | Chris Newby | 1993

[spockvarietyhour]

Dragonheart (1996)

[winter-seance]

Killing Bono (2011)

[loycspotting]

9. Ewan McGregor Movie Review: Brassed Off (1996)

We made it to our last movie of 1996 and boy, is it a good one!

Some fun facts before we begin!

Pete Gunn has a minor role in the movie as the character Simmo. You might remember that he worked alongside Ewan in the movie "Blue Juice"!

While the movie takes place in the village Grimley, the story is actually inspired by the mining village Grimethorpe whose pit was closed just three years before the movie released.

The Grimethorpe Colliery Band performed all the band numbers in the movie.

Ewan's character plays a tenor horn in the band. I think it's a fun fact because when Ewan was a teenager, he played the French horn!

Genre: Comedy/Romance

Rating: R

Director: Mark Herman

Starring: Pete Postlethwaite, Tara Fitzgerald, Ewan McGregor

Synopsis: "Brassed Off" is about the 1980s pit closures in the United Kingdom. It takes place in Grimley, a coal mining village, that is next on the chopping block to have it's colliery shut down. The village is also home to the Grimley Colliery Band which has existed for 100 years and the characters are all part of. But with the possibility of the pit closing comes the possibility of the end of the band for good. Band leader Danny (Pete Postlethwaite) challenges the men to fight one last time to win the National Brass Band Competition in London. When Gloria (Tara Fitzgerald), a former resident of Grimley, makes a surprise return to the village, she joins the band and sets out to bring hope to the weary miners.

Ewan Review: Ewan plays the character Andy Barrows, a coal miner and member of the local band. Andy is initially excited to be reunited with Gloria as the two had a former romance. However, when he learns why Gloria has been keeping her return a secret, he becomes unsure whether he can trust her or if they were ever meant to be. Ewan wears an earring in this role and speaks with a Yorkshire accent. His character is broody so expect a lot of scowls which is a change of pace from his many smiley characters. He has an implied sex scene and a makeout scene. His acting, along with the rest of the cast, gets an A+ from me!

Screentime Percentage: Ewan is on screen for a grand total of 26/107 minutes making his SP 24%.

To Ewan or not to Ewan: Is the movie worth watching for Ewan alone? No. He already doesn't have much to do in this movie and he's part of an ensemble cast so the story is spread out over several different characters. Honestly, I found myself more interested in other storylines than his. He's good when he's on screen and is nice to look at but this just isn't a Ewan content heavy role. Is the movie worth watching in general? Absolutely! This movie has an amazing story, the actors have great chemistry, the music is phenomenal, and you get to learn in an intimate way about an important time in history. I can tell you that before watching this movie I didn't know anything about the miner strikes or pit closures. Now, I'm reading up on the history!

Warning before watching: There is a suicide attempt scene.

Where to Watch: "Brassed Off" is available for rent on YouTube, Fandango at Home, and Amazon Prime Video. You can also watch it for free on soap2day.

Closing Thoughts: This movie so creatively weaves together a story of anger, depression, and hope. The characters are fleshed out and feel real. You hurt for their plight and root for their fight. The movie has a bittersweet ending. I applaud the director, Mark Herman, for sharing with the world the harm done to the miners of the U.K. and their perseverance through it all.

[ratleyland]

I haven't watched this movie in almost 20 years.

Some of the dialogue between Bowen and Draco about life and honour still 'hold up'; even to this day.

[erstwhile-punk-guerito]

[90smovies]

[camyfilms]

ROMEO + JULIET 1996

And when I shall die, take him and cut him up in little stars, and he will make the face of heaven so fine that all the world will fall in love with night and pay no worship to the garish sun.

[swan2swan]

How and why are his business.

[marthajefferson]

"You're very good at the English, aren't you? You see, I don't understand your language. "Justice." "Mercy." "Clemency." I literally don't understand what those words mean. I'd like to put in an application to get all my teeth extracted. That way I could put my fist in my mouth and never speak another word of fuckin' English so long as I live!"

based on a true story, IN THE NAME OF FATHER (1993) dir. Jim Sheridan

[tinyreviews]

Tiny Review: Amistad 1997. Masterful storytelling.

Holy smokes, I love this! Every part of it is superb. Especially the last act where all the buildup comes to a climax. And you can feel the buildup having buildups, and the tension building up.

It’s a well-done (exaggerated) historical fiction. The main events really did happen. The mutiny on Amistad. The court battle. John Quincy Adams, son of the Founding Father John Adams, really did represent the Africans in the case of United States v. The Amistad.

Amistad is also quite a poetic title. Ami, meaning friend. Stad, meaning city. That is, friendship. Ironic, for a slave ship. And fitting, as well, for the bonds between the men.

Besides the main theme of slavery and freedom. There is also side-themes of struggle and greatness and has-beenary and righteousness and spirituality. A heroic tale really.

And the movie does all this with such masterful and poetry. MUST WATCH!

Amistad is a 1997 American historical drama film directed by Steven Spielberg, starring Morgan Freeman, Anthony Hopkins, and Matthew McConaughey starred, with Djimon Hounsou in his breakout role as Cinqué; Pete Postlethwaite, Nigel Hawthorne, and a then unknown Chiwetel Ejiofor.

[letterboxd-loggd]

A Private Function (1984) Malcolm Mowbray

October 28th 2024

[spockvarietyhour]

Pete Postlethwaite

[arkygifs]

𝄢 Brassed Off (1996)