Search - Brassed Off! on DVD

MPAA Rating: R Content Advisory: Adult Situations Movie Release: 1996 DVD Release: 06/15/1999 Format: DVD - Enhanced Wide Screen Letterbox for 16x9 TV Subtitles: English SwapaDVD Credits: 1 Number of Discs: 1 Run Time: 1 hrs 41 mins Studio: Miramax Members Wishing: 20 Genres: Comedy Drama, Ensemble Film, Social Problem Film

Economics and music are the twin focal points of this comedy/drama about a community in crisis. The small British town of Grimley has long been dominated by the coal mine where most of the men work, and the town's greatest source of pride is the Grimley Colliery Band, a brass ensemble that's won a number of nationwide competitions. Danny (Pete Postlewaite) is a retired miner in poor health who directs the band; a national championship is coming up, and Danny is determined that Grimley will walk away with a trophy. But many of his musicians have other things on their minds: word has it that the mine may soon close down, and, in a city already suffering an economic downturn, this is just short of a death sentence. Adding to the intrigue is the return of Gloria (Tara Fitzgerald), who used to live in Grimley and is back in town for a while on an assignment. While the band has traditionally been all-male, Danny considers bending the rules to allow Gloria in the band, as she's a fine fluglehorn player, but her presence is bad news for the town: she works for the government and is investigating the feasibility of closing down the mine. Ace trumpeter Andy (Ewan McGregor) also has mixed feelings about Gloria; they were once a couple, and he still has feelings for her, but he's not sure he wants to set himself up for another breakup. The real-life Grimethorpe Colliery Band performs on the soundtrack. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

Pete Postlethwaite - Danny
Tara Fitzgerald - Gloria
Ewan McGregor - Andy
Jim Carter - Harry
Stephen Tompkinson - Phil
Philip Jackson - Jim

Mark Herman's British comedy Brassed Off comes to DVD with a widescreen transfer that preserves the original theatrical aspect ratio of 1.85:1. The English soundtrack is rendered in Dolby Digital Surround. There are neither subtitles nor closed-captions available on this release. Supplemental materials include the theatrical trailer. Although the film looks and sounds fine, there is nothing extra here to recommend this disc. Fans of working-class British comedies will certainly enjoy the disc, but there is nothing here to draw in the average consumer. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide