Before Colin Firth became the actor du jour in Hollywood with A Single Man and The Kings Speech, he was a jobbing British Thespian combining TV roles and theatre with the odd feature thrown in for good measure including some fine work as the definitive Mr Darcy in Pride & Prejudice for the BBC and starred in today's film, Fever Pitch.
A very loose adaptation of Nick Hornby's best selling account of his life as an Arsenal fan. Hornby fictionalised his story into an account of Arsenal's 1989 title chasing season, creating the character of Paul Ashworth, ably played by Firth, a teacher at a North London comprehensive school. The film opens with the school year as a new teacher joins the staff, Sarah Hughes played by Ruth Gemmell. Initially appalled with Paul's obsession with all things Arsenal, they soon become an item. From extended flashbacks to Paul's childhood in the 60's and 70's, we begin to see the root of Paul's obsession. How his divorced father tried to use football as a means of making a connection with an increasingly disaffected Paul and how it gradually grew into the most important thing in his life above all else including his work and personal relationships. There are some fine supporting performances from the likes of Neil Pearson as Paul's dad and Mark Strong as Paul's best friend.
The film is different enough to the book to stand on its own feet and be judged accordingly. As such it is a fine account of the obsessiveness of football fans, capturing the raw spirit and passion of fandom. Firth is excellent, giving an understated performance. It is at its best in these scenes, including an excellent scene showing the madness of the terraces set to The Who's "Baba O'Reilly" climaxing in the Hillsborough disaster that in many ways changed football in England forever.
All in all, this is an excellent film, funny, wise and true. It captures the nature of obsession, and is one of the best accounts of sport I've come across. It also has one of the great climaxes, with Paul and Sarah's relationship reaching a critical juncture as Arsenal are within touching distance of the title. In and ending so theatrical, you couldn't make it up, Arsenal must beat Liverpool 2 nil in the final game of the season to win the title. Its well worth a look if you get the chance.
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