Fever Pitch (1997)

	Directed by: David Evans	COUNTRY United Kingdom GENRE Drama/Romance NORWEGIAN TITLE Tribunefeber RUNNING TIME 102 minutes
	Produced by: Amanda Posey
	Written by (based on his novel): Nick Hornby

Cast includes:
CHARACTER	ACTOR/ACTRESS	RATING
Paul Ashworth	Colin Firth	½
Sarah Hughes	Ruth Gemmell	½
Steve	Mark Strong
Mr. Ashworth	Neil Pearson	-
Mrs. Ashworth	Lorraine Ashbourne	-
Jo	Holly Aird	-
Ray	Stephen Rea	-

Review

Colin Firth is almost fully believable as the die-hard Arsenal fan Paul Ashworth in this adaptation of Nick Hornby's award-winning, autobiographical 1992 novel of the same name. As a look at football fandom, the film is among the most level-headed and realistic out there. There is an agonising authenticity to how deeply Arsenal's fixture list and results affect Paul's entire life. And with him being a typical pessimist, we get to experience his frustrations to an uncomfortable degree. Hornby's screenplay finds a good balance between its literary basis and the film medium's mandatory narrative arcs. Its only weakness is the somewhat formulaic – and frankly rather uninspiring – romance between Paul and Sarah. They are both interesting characters in their own right, but their interest in each other doesn't quite ring true. Mark Strong is brilliant as Paul's lifelong Arsenal pal Steve – especially in the film's climax, when the two watch that famous final game of the 1988–89 season between Liverpool and Arsenal.