Brassed Off

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 cast that includes Ewan McGregor and Pete Postlethwaite.