--- title: "Brassed Off: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/brassed-off/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/brassed-off" critics_score: 72 critics_reviews: 9 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Brassed Off (1996): what the critics said Critics' score 72 from 9 reviews: 8 positive, 1 mixed, 0 negative. Most critics like Brassed Off, and they like it for the same reasons. Pete Postlethwaite’s band leader is named in nearly every review as the film’s centre, with Stephen Tompkinson and the ensemble close behind. The brass band sequences draw steady praise for the music and the way the playing is staged. Reviewers agree the comedy carries anger about the pit closures underneath, and most think the two sit together well. The reservations are about tone. Empire finds the film unsure whether it wants to be a political piece or a light comedy, and says some scenes fall flat as a result; Variety enjoys the first half but thinks it hardens into grandstanding later. Roger Ebert notes the formula, a love story and a national contest, though he finds the acting makes it believable. The spread is narrow, with one qualified verdict and no dislikes. The warmest notices come later, from British writers who treat it as an undervalued classic. ## The i Paper — Mark Butler Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 24 July 2018. The critic calls Brassed Off a true classic that deserves greater recognition as a smartly written, beautifully acted story capturing a moment in British history with an important message. They single out its authentic rawness in depicting the desolation of the mining industry, its balance of gallows humour and tragedy, and standout performances especially by Pete Postlethwaite and Stephen Tompkinson. [Read the review](https://inews.co.uk/culture/film/brassed-off-miner-masterpiece-61231) ## Los Angeles Times — John Anderson Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 23 May 1997. The earnest David vs. Goliath tale about a Yorkshire mining community and its brass band has plenty of emotional wind despite its political timing. Pete Postlethwaite is terrifically moving as the band's leader, making it his film amid the art-vs-livelihood themes. [Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1997-05-23-ca-61492-story.html) ## RogerEbert.com — Roger Ebert Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 30 May 1997. The film is a sweet story with anger at its core, elevated by Pete Postlethwaite's performance as the band leader who believes passionately in the music and the community it represents. It tugs at heartstrings with formulas including a love story and a national contest, but the music and acting make it believable and moving. [Read the review](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/brassed-off-1997) ## The New Yorker — Anthony Lane Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 19 May 1997. The review pairs 'Brassed Off' with another working-class film, highlighting its wit and the band's community spirit amid pit closures. It focuses on the characters' humor and struggles in a northern mining town. [Read the review](https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/1997/05/26/1997-05-26-088-tny-cards-000150958) ## The New York Times — Stephen Holden Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 23 May 1997. The film is a politically charged British comedy that clearly separates heroes (working-class miners and their families) from villains (Tory government officials closing the pits). At its heart is Danny, the band's crusty leader, whose story builds to a dramatic national contest in London. [Read the review](https://archive.nytimes.com/www.nytimes.com/library/film/brassed-film-review.html) ## Time Out — TCh Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 10 September 2012. The film is an angry, tragic story that uses stereotypes and laughs before delivering a harsh message about pit closures and community tensions. It succeeds as popular proletarian comedy with strong performances from the ensemble cast, especially Postlethwaite, Tompkinson and Carter, and highlights the brass band music. [Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/brassed-off) ## Variety — Derek Elley Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 28 October 1996. Festival review. There's a lot to enjoy in the first half with sparky dramedy, rich characterization and northern humor about the miners' brass band, but it darkens into social realism and political grandstanding later. The ensemble cast and verisimilitude of the band sequences stand out despite the tonal shift. [Read the review](https://variety.com/1996/film/reviews/brassed-off-1200447133/) ## Empire — Caroline Westbrook Fi1m's normalised score 60/100 (inferred from the text). 1 January 1996. The critic finds the tone problematic, as the film is unsure whether to be a spirited political piece or light-hearted comedy, causing some vignettes to fall flat. The brass band music and strong performances, especially from Pete Postlethwaite, are singled out for praise. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/brassed-review/) ## Den of Geek — Simon Brew Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 17 June 2016. The critic calls Brassed Off the best of a subset of British comedies with a core of social outrage, and his favorite British film of the previous 20 years. He singles out the relationship between Danny and his son Phil, along with Pete Postlethwaite's performance, as elevating the film. [Read the review](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/brassed-off-a-90s-uk-film-that-demands-not-to-be-forgotten/) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/brassed-off.md