Paul Ashworth (Colin Firth) is a school teacher. He is an uncomplicated man whose life consists of his fan obsession with the Arsenal Football team. His growth from adolescence to adulthood is carefully woven with his love of this football team. Paul seems to go through his life totally unaware of the fact that he simply charms everyone. His love of the game is so strong that it affects his mother, sister, co-workers, students, and even their parents. Everyone feels that "Paul is Arsenal and Arsenal is Paul". Enter Sarah Hughes (Ruth Gemmell). Ms. Hughes. Will those charms of Mr. Ashworth work on "iron knickers Hughes"? Will Sarah be able to interest Paul in anything other than Arsenal? It's a joyful fight to the finish, with actual Arsenal football scenes and a look into Paul's young life where the seeds of his obsession began. |
"The
thing that struck me most when I read the book was something to the effect
that a middle-class suburban male, when he steps into a comprehensive school,
steps into a cultural void. We don't have things to weep into our beer
about, we don't have that sense of pride in our identity, and so we go
round trying to invent it, wishing we were Charlie George or someone."
(interviewed by Jasper Rees, Elle UK, May 1997)
"Colin
Firth's adult Paul has the gruffness of his Mr Darcy from Pride and Prejudice,
as well as a lot of the charm. Tousle-haired and habitually apprehensive,
he moves in a jerky, unco-ordinated way, fending off distractions for fear
of complications" (Sandra Hall, Sydney Morning Herald, 23 Aug, 1997)
Which
are yours?
One
of the things that amused me most about the film was incidental - the scenes
with Mr Darcy and Mr Knightley (Mark Strong) being a pair of yobbos and
talking about soccer. Makes you blink, just for a moment.
He
looks like an unmade bed, and doesn't care, and it is exactly right for
the character. The hair has a gorgeous red tinge, especially in outdoors
shots. In some scenes, he looks so handsome you just want to eat him up,
and in others he looks dirty and rumpled and unshaven and - well, not perfect
looking, but totally human. I paid especial attention to the thighs in
the famous Arsenal boxer shorts, and I reckon they look very nice indeed,
quite respectable, if perhaps not objects of lust (!) - but he does have
rather thin arms. I like that - it makes him more vulnerable and approachable.
He gives a lovely, understated, sweet, rumpled performance. Even the voice
worked for me, in context.
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