"Brassed Off!" - A Great Movie
Ranked #5,630 in Entertainment, #69,809 overall
Whether you love brass band music or not, you can enjoy this movie!
"Brassed Off!" is a movie I came across by chance, but it's one I'll never forget. A wonderful bittersweet story, featuring a brass band, it tells the tale of the closing of the coal mines in England late in the twentieth century. It stars Ewan McGregor, Pete Postlethwaite, and Tara Fitzgerald, and features the Grimethorpe Colliery Band playing the music.
The movie is funny, actually quite hilarious in parts, and tragic, and it does have a love story but that's kind of a minor feature. There are great characters, amazing music, and important social issues here. Oh and did I say it was funny!
Brassed Off!
from Amazon
Table of Contents
- Do You Like Brass Bands?
- "Brassed Off!"
- The Trailer for "Brassed Off!"
- Have you Seen "Brassed Off!"?
- What's great about "Brassed Off!"?
- This is a Flugelhorn!
- Rodrigo's "Concierto de Aranjuez"
- Concierto de Aranjuez (Adagio) with Guitar
- "Danny Boy"
- "William Tell Overture"
- Soundtrack from "Brassed Off!"
- The Grimethorpe Colliery Band
- Are You Ready to be Brassed Off!
- About Me
- More of My Recent Pages on Squidoo
- Copyright Notice
Do You Like Brass Bands?
Old Brass Band
Buy at AllPosters.com
Well, that "old" brass band doesn't look too thrilling does it! But fear not, "Brassed Off!" is not about a boring old brass band. It is about a brass band, and they do play a lot in the movie, but they are never boring. Actually, they play so well you want them to play more not less!
And the movie is about more than just the music, it's about a whole way of life (coal mining in England) coming to an end, and about the people in the community and how that affects them. Of course, there's a love story thrown in, since it's a movie! And it's about a brass band.
"Brassed Off!"
Brassed Off!
Amazon Price: $8.66 (as of 05/26/2012)
List Price: $14.99
A bittersweet tale starring Ewan McGregor, Pete Postlethwaite, and Tara Fitzgerald. And featuring the amazing music of the Grimethorpe Colliery Band.
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The Trailer for "Brassed Off!"
Have you Seen "Brassed Off!"?
What's great about "Brassed Off!"?
It's funny!
In a British style of humor of course. Kind of like "The Full Monty" but without the strippers.
It has great music!
Who would have thought a brass band could sound this good? It's the Grimethorpe Colliery Band that play the music, a real brass band whose story seems to be the inspiration behind this movie. Certainly the music is one of the memorable things about this movie.
It's moving
Tragic as well as funny, this movie addresses real social issues and the way real people react to them. Well, some of the characters seem to be like real people; others are, well, played by amazing actors!
It has Pete Postlethwaite!
I think I could watch this movie over and over just for Pete Postlethwaite. He's so incredible, keeps me laughing! He's been in lots of movies, including another favorite of mine, "Dragonheart," where he plays Brother Gilbert. Funny is hardly the word for his performance in this movie though. Actually his character, Danny, is rather tragic, suffers from black lung and is at death's door for a while. But crazy as he is, Danny embodies much of the best in humanity, rising to the occasion and giving a great speech at the end.
It has Ewan McGregor!
Yes, he's Scottish and he's famous and he's nice to look at. He even acts well in this movie! Course he needs a love interest, so ...
It has Tara Fitzgerald!
Who might she be I asked. Actually she's not bad in the movie, rather attractive really. And she plays flugelhorn (what's a flugelhorn?)
This is a Flugelhorn!
Courtois AC154-1-0 Professionel Bb Flugelhorn, Silver
The Flugelhorn is a brass instrument resembling a trumpet, but with a somewhat deeper and more mellow tone.
Great Moments in
"Brassed Off!"
Rodrigo's "Concierto de Aranjuez"
Originally composed for guitar and orchestra by Joachim Rodrigo, "Concierto de Aranjuez" is just an amazing piece of music, one of my all-time favorites. The brass band call it the "Orange Juice" concerto of course!
The Adagio movement of is the one everyone knows (and the one they play). Adapted for brass band with the flugelhorn taking on the solo it's just incredible. If the sight of the band members when Tara Fitzgerald's character plays, and Pete Postlethwaite's comments, weren't enough to make this scene memorable, brilliantly edited in images of the negotiation talks between the miners and management about closing the colliery make it unforgettable.
Concierto de Aranjuez (Adagio) with Guitar
Hear Rodrigo's music as it was written - for guitar and orchestra.
| Track | Artist | Album | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Concierto de Aranjuez: II. Adagio | John Williams | Rodrigo: Concierto de Aranjuez - Villa-Lobos: Concerto for Guitar and Small Orchestra | |
| Concierto De Aranjuez for Guitar and Orchestra: 2. Adagio | Academy of St. Martin In the Fields, Christine Pendrill, Pepe Romero & Sir Neville Marriner | Guitar Adagios | |
| Concierto de Aranjuez for Guitar and Orchestra: II. Adagio | Orchestra of St. John's Smith Square & John Lubbock | The 100 Most Essential Pieces of Classical Music |
"Danny Boy"
"William Tell Overture"
As the movie nears its climax the band are to perform at the Royal Albert Hall. They play the "William Tell Overture," always a stirring piece of music. In the context of the story, their performance is outstanding.
Soundtrack from "Brassed Off!"
Brassed Off!: Original Soundtrack From The Miramax Motion Picture
Amazon Price: $28.44 (as of 05/26/2012)
List Price: $11.98
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The Grimethorpe Colliery Band
The band in "Brassed Off!" is based on the true story of the Grimethorpe Colliery Band. This band was formed for the mine workers in the early twentieth century and financed by the colliery. Right before the National Brass Band Championships at the Royal Albert Hall in London the announcements were made about closing a large number of coal mines in Britain. To the great shock of the Grimethorpe community, the Grimethorpe colliery was on the list. Still, the band competed and won, becoming the champion band of Great Britain. Despite all the members losing their jobs, the band received financial support and has flourished since that time.
- Grimethorpe Colliery Band
- Website of the Grimethorpe Colliery Band
Are You Ready to be Brassed Off!
What do you think - is this a great movie with a great soundtrack?
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JoyfulPamela
Feb 14, 2011 @ 5:48 am | delete
- Wow! This sounds great! Thanks for the introduction to it. *Blessed!*
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madoc
Jan 29, 2011 @ 11:43 am | delete
- I grew up in coal mining country in North West England and South Wales. My father was actually a brass band secretary (because he could not play for toffee...) I can testify to the accuracy of this film. It is a true tale of the toils and tribulations of trombonists and tuba players!
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WordCustard
Dec 7, 2010 @ 2:02 pm | delete
- I love Concierto de Aranjuez too and it made me smile when they called it 'Orange Juice'! Definitely a good British film. Tara Fitzgerald has been in quite a few British productions.
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free2bme
Aug 4, 2010 @ 10:37 pm | delete
- One of my favorites - Rodrigo's concerto always makes my heart swell, simply beautiful. Love the story as well. Pete Poslethwaite is a favorite. Just a great unknown movie.
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Treasures-By-Brenda
Apr 21, 2010 @ 2:37 pm | delete
- Great review of a movie I've never heard of!
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About Me
More of My Recent Pages on Squidoo
Copyright Notice
Copyright © Jennifer P. Tanabe, 2010.
This page was created on January 7, 2010 and is the property of jptanabe (Jennifer P. Tanabe) and Squidoo, LLC. Please do not copy my material!
by jptanabe
I was born a Brit, my family are into music, we love good movies, and "Brassed Off!" is a good movie!
I'm an academic type - got my B.S. in Biologica...
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