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Archive for the ‘Janet's picks’ Category

Brassed Off!

Posted in Characters, Janet's picks, Movies, Music, Readers' advisory, Setting on January 4, 2008 | Leave a Comment »

The last of my trio of films set in the industrial north of England is Brassed Off! This is a very emotional movie set ten years after the Miner’s Strike of 1984 (featured in Billy Elliot). The mining industry is being systematically dismantled by the Thatcher government and now Grimley, a profitable mine, is threatened [...]

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Billy Elliot

Posted in Characters, Janet's picks, Movies, Readers' advisory, Sense of place on January 3, 2008 | Leave a Comment »

Another film from the economically depressed north of England (where I grew up many years ago) is a story focusing on the inner conflicts and struggles of young Billy Elliot during the Miner’s Strike of 1984 – an event described by some as the most defining moment in British history since World War II.
In stark [...]

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Waking Ned Devine

Posted in Clever dialogue, Humor, Janet's picks, Movies, Quirky characters, Readers' advisory on January 2, 2008 | 1 Comment »

Can you imagine a worse twist of fate than winning big on the lottery only to drop dead with the shock? Well that’s what happens to Ned Devine. Ned’s untimely demise doesn’t stop his neighbors from trying to make sure that Ned’s good fortune is not wasted. They hatch up a simple plan to claim [...]

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The Full Monty

Posted in Clever dialogue, Humor, Janet's picks, Movies, Quirky characters, Readers' advisory on December 31, 2007 | 5 Comments »

A movie about six unemployed steel workers, set in the depressed industrial north of England, doesn’t exactly sound like the recipe for a successful comedy but believe me, The Full Monty is a terrific film. It is British independent film making at its best.
Driven by a desperate need for cash, and inspired by a local [...]

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