Fever Pitch

( 3 )

Overview

A football fan tries to reconcile his obsessive love of the game with his job, his romantic relationships, and his life in general in this comedy/drama. Since he was a child in North London, Paul Ashworth Colin Firth has been a loyal fan of the Arsenal football team; he attended many a match with his father as a child, especially after his parents divorced, and Arsenal's annual season is one of the few emotional anchors in his life. Now in his mid-30s, Paul teaches English at a state-run school and has become ...
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Overview

A football fan tries to reconcile his obsessive love of the game with his job, his romantic relationships, and his life in general in this comedy/drama. Since he was a child in North London, Paul Ashworth Colin Firth has been a loyal fan of the Arsenal football team; he attended many a match with his father as a child, especially after his parents divorced, and Arsenal's annual season is one of the few emotional anchors in his life. Now in his mid-30s, Paul teaches English at a state-run school and has become involved with Sarah Ruth Gemmell, a fellow member of the school staff. While she's pretty, bright, and in nearly all ways a good catch, Sarah doesn't care for football. This lack of interest unfortunately shows itself at a time when Arsenal seems poised to win their first championship in 18 years, and Paul hopes to buy a house near their stadium to make it easier to attend home games. When Sarah becomes pregnant and the long-term stability of their relationship becomes a crucial issue, she forces Paul to decide what he loves more: Sarah and their baby, or Arsenal? For Paul, the answer isn't as simple as one might imagine, as he weighs the joys and responsibilities of adulthood against the passionate enthusiasm that sustained him through his youth. Fever Pitch was based on the semi-autobiographical book by Nick Hornby, who has a cameo as a football coach.
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Editorial Reviews

All Movie Guide
The British "football" played in Fever Pitch is better known as "soccer" to Americans, but while the words are different, the feelings a sports fan has for his or her favorite team are universal. It's this quality that Fever Pitch captures perfectly. If viewers can accept the idea that a diehard soccer fan would even have to consider the dilemma of Paul Ashworth (Colin Firth) -- choosing a wife and child over a seat to the Big Game -- then they are going to enjoy the grittily realistic, painfully funny complications that Paul is compelled to manage in his life. If, on the other hand, such a choice is not even remotely familiar to one's manner of thinking, see Pitch anyway to open a window onto the narrow-minded, lunatic world of sports fanatics. With its superbly controlled acting (Ruth Gemmell could be Emma Thompson's younger sister), its arch period settings (there are long flashbacks to the 1960s and '70s), and its convincingly constructed examination of one man's fanaticism to a team (which has its origins in his relationship with his estranged father), it is perhaps the best sports movie made from a fan's perspective. The film's sports aspects, coupled with its romantic elements, create a film with broad appeal. And if nothing else, the soundtrack includes stellar period hits by the Pretenders, the Who, Fine Young Cannibals, and the Smiths.
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Product Details

  • Release Date: 11/28/2000
  • UPC: 031398749233
  • Original Release: 1997

    • Rating:

  • Source: Vidmark / Trimark
  • Format: VHS

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits
Colin Firth Paul Ashworth
Ruth Gemmell Sarah
Neil Pearson Paul's Dad
Lorraine Ashbourne Paul's Mum
Mark Strong Steve
Holly Aird Jo
Ken Stott Ted, the Headmaster
Stephen Rea Ray, the Governor
Luke Aikman
Richard Claxton
Charles Cork
Bob Curtiss
Annette Ekblom
Bea Guard
Peter Quince
Technical Credits
David Evans Director
Michael Carlin Production Designer
Jim Greenhorn Sound/Sound Designer
Boo Hewerdine Score Composer
Nick Hornby Screenwriter
Neill MacColl Score Composer
Amanda Posey Producer
Nik Powell Executive Producer
Liora Reich Casting
Mary-Jane Reyner Costumes/Costume Designer
Chris Seager Cinematographer
Scott Thomas Editor
Karen Wakefield Art Director
Richard Whelan Asst. Director
Aad Wirtz Sound/Sound Designer
Stephen Woolley Executive Producer
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Customer Reviews

Average Rating 4.5
( 3 )
Rating Distribution

5 Star

(2)

4 Star

(1)

3 Star

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Sort by: Showing all of 3 Customer Reviews

  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    Fever Pitch

    ''Fever Pitch'' is a wonderful romantic comedy. The cast is superb, and the intensive devotion of British football (i.e. soccer) fans to their favorite teams is incredible. Colin Firth is such an amazing actor. He won our hearts as the aloof but passionate aristocrat ''Mr. Darcy'' in the brilliant BBC/A&E ''Pride & Prejudice.'' In ''Fever Pitch'', Firth's protrayal of the passionate Arsenal fan ''Paul Ashworth'' is so convincing. He is fabulous!

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  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    Fever Pitch

    Colin Firth is truly fabulous! He is in top form as the football (soccer) obssessed fan and dedicated teacher. He looks rumpled and boyish, and is definitely THE best buddy to go to the ballgames with! The movie is set in 1989 (with flashbacks to Paul Ashworth's childhood). Even though it is mainly about English football (Paul's favorite team Arsenal's incredible season), devotees of any sports would enjoy the film. Get the DVD version (for English subtitles to understand some of the English slangs!) Based on Nick Hornby's bestseller, but the film is much better as one is not overwhelmed by football statistics, and is treated to a sweet love story. One complain: The artwork on the US version features a nude woman with a pair of soccer cleats. The ''R'' rating is for language. The kissing is very modest, and they do talk in bed, but there is absolutely no graphic bedroom scenes like many other ''R'' rated movies. The British release features a ''Battle of the Sexes'' type photo of Colin Firth (''Paul'') and Ruth Gemmell (''Sara''), which is more true to the romantic spirit of the movie. Hard to find in rental stores. Worth buying!

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  • Anonymous

    Posted February 13, 2009

    No text was provided for this review.

Sort by: Showing all of 3 Customer Reviews