Review: Pride

Pride

Director: Matthew Warchus

Starring: Bill Nighy, Paddy Considine, Imelda Staunton, Andrew Scott, Dominic West, George Mackay, Ben Schnetzer, Joseph Gilgun.

Running Time: 120 mins

Certificate: 15

Is this the feel-good film of the year? I challenge anybody to watch Pride and not leave the cinema without a beaming smile on your face and a sudden urge to be part of the LGBT community and the tale of their unlikely friendship and comradery with the striking Welsh miners in 1984.

The film follows a group of LGBT activist, led by Mark (Schnetzher) and Mike (Joseph Gilgun) fighting for equal rights along with newcomer, Joe (Geroge Mackay), who is also terrified of coming out to his parents. During London’s Gay Pride parade Mark realises that the LGBT community and the striking miners have a great deal in common, and a bond is soon struck between the two oppressed minorities.

Not the sort of material that would suggest a charming, feel-good and often hilarious film and it’s not easy for a film like this, based on real people involving real, against-the-odds stories to drift into sentimentality. This is not the case with Pride, however. Yes, it owes a great deal to the likes of Brassed Off, Billy Elliot and Made in Dagenham, but this is its own film entirely in its own right, backed up with a wonderfully witty and often incredibly moving script from Stephen Beresford.

But it’s the performances that really push this film up to the next level. Imelda Staunton is brilliantly hilarious as Hefina Headon as an inquisitive senior, who will have you practising rolling your Rs for days to come. On the opposite side of the spectrum is Ben Schnetzer, who gives a determined and affectionate performance as the leader of the LGBT group, Mark Ashton, and Geroge Mackay as Joe, who brings a fragility and all too realistic edge to the film. Paddy Considine offers an enormous amount of heart and warmth to the preceding and, along with Staunton, is responsible for some of the scripts best lines.

The supporting cast provide just as many memorable moments, especially Dominic West whose dance to Shame Shame, Shame a particular highlight and the delicate Andrew ‘Moriarty’ Scott. It is also great to see Bill Nighy not being Bill Nighy. He is not here to be the funky dad, with the cool suits and witty one-liners, which is a breath of fresh air in his least Nighy-esque performance since Pirates of the Caribbean.

At times it feels like there are too many characters under developed and unnoticed. Potter fans will recognise Jessie Cave, aka Lanvender Brown, however she (and others) is somewhat pushed to the background occasionally involved in the odd chanting/protest scenes. This is somewhat of a blip on an often great, occasionally brilliant film that will have you rolling in the aisles and drying your eyes at the same time.

Verdict: The feel good film of the year so far. One of the most enjoyable films released this year, guaranteed to make you smile, cry and party 80’s style. BAFTA bait, surely?