Review of Brassed Off

Video

Brassed Off is presented in 1.85:1 widescreen ratio, and is divided into 26 chapters. As one would expect from a recent film, the video from this DVD is good. No noticeable imperfections were evident.

Audio

There is great brass band music in this film, notably the early track `Rodriquez Concerto de Orange Juice` with Tara Fitzgerald soloing on the Flugle. There is only a Dolby Digital 2.0 soundtrack on this disk, as the film itself never benefited from a 5.1 mix, probably due to it`s low budget. However, this film is not likely to be filled with much rear channel action anyway, and I found the music sequences came across far better in Dolby Digital Stereo, than Dolby ProLogic surround. The brass band pieces just have to be listened to, and through my larger front speakers the sound was far more pleasing than mainly through the centre channel as ProLogic provided.

Features

This disk is awash with extras! Firstly the menus are nicely animated, with brass band music in the background. You get the original trailer for the film, interviews with the cast in a short featurette as well as biographies of the cast members. Also there is a comprehensive photo library, and several sub plots one use of which is to take the listener to all the memorable music tracks in the movie in sequence. Even the DVD itself is in the design of the inside of a trumpet!

Conclusion

This was a very successful low budget British movie, which also did well in the United States. The story is very hard hitting and quite political portraying the Grimly Colliery Band`s journey to play at the Albert Hall, while their coal pit is closed around them. The financial and personal troubles are vividly depicted in the story, as well as the pride the band members enjoy.

The disk is nicely presented with some notable extras. The story is imaginative and hard hitting, and will not look out of place in anyone`s DVD collection.