So here's where the problems lie: Paul's always throwing her lack of understanding of who he is in her face. After Hillsborough, she says: "I don't get you." Paul replies: "No, no, you don't. It's not just me you don't get, it's any of us." Yet, here she is, wanting to better understand what his life is all about, and he does nothing positive. I don't know about you, ladies, but if a guy were taking me to a football match and wanted me to understand, appreciate or enjoy what was taking place, he would have bought seats! Like his dad did. No, Paul shells out a mere £5 for her to stand on lump of concrete, where you can't see and where you're not even safe. How can anyone learn to love a game if they are part of a rowdy mob?

Shouldn't true "colon-ization" involve a pilgrimage to the holiest of all shrines, the stadium? Why does Paul virtually ensure that she's going to hate it? What's his problem?

Bethan:
He probably doesn't really want Sarah to share his obsession. He sees it as a male-bonding sort of thing. If Sarah really did become an Arsenal fanatic, he'd probably resent it.

Marcia:
The point is well taken that, when the female joins the male in eager fandom and ceases to be the beer-getter and snack-fixer, she is usually not as welcome. She would be wise to play it a little stupid and let his ego have an airing when he tells her for the fortieth time the fine details of rugby, football, cricket, or quoits.

Heide:
(Karen) Why does Paul virtually ensure that she's going to hate it [Arsenal match]?
Actually, Paul may not even realize how awful an outsider might find the whole thing. The lump of concrete is where he wants to be. He's surrounded by his people, in the thick of them where emotions are running highest. He may think this is the best way in the world to watch a match and not have any perception at all how someone else would view it. Interesting how it is Steve who gets Sarah (and Paul) something warm to drink. To Paul's credit, he does see Sarah is in distress and puts his arm around her as she clings to him to stay on her feet. But the look on his face is "Oh, bollocks, why'd she have to come?"

(Bethan) I like the way they walk together at the end, slightly apart and then holding hands, and, yes, I do think that the relationship will last.
Good scene and a point in their favor. They've been apart for awhile but instead of rushing off to bed immediately, they take a long walk and have a cozy chat. Sarah is flirting quite openly with him in this scene and he's certainly enjoying it.

What have film critics said about it? I gather that the movie has been generally well received with some reviewers not able to give it a full endorsement but Colin's performance has been praised. Can  anyone share some reviews they may have saved? Very curious.

Question: after Hillsborough, did Britain outlaw standing room at the ends of the field? I seem to remember that but may be getting it confused with general admissions at rock concerts which was outlawed in the US.

Ann:
(Renate) his book is about football obsession and not about love.
(Karen) from UK Empire (April 1997): "The film...tells how one man's obsession with a football team obstructs the path of true love..."
The movie is not about football, I give you that, but it is about "football obsession." Nothing in the US compares to the level of fanaticism of some British football fans—not Hoosier basketball fans or Green Bay cheeseheads. Without some understanding of the levels football obsession can reach, or an understanding of the whole culture surrounding football fans in Britain, an American audience would have a very difficult time understanding FP. I've watched enough shows like Cracker and enough stories about run-amok British fans to have a fairly good understanding of it, but the general American audience would be mostly lost.

Renate:
(Renate) his book is about football obsession and not about love. He extremely understated the 'falling-in-love routine,' to avoid the cliché.
Since my line above is quoted several times here I feel I have to explain. I mentioned FP the book to emphasize where Nick Hornby comes from, what his original intention on the subject must have been. Even if he wrote a love story into FP the film, it surely was not his home turf, forgive me the mix of metaphors. Moreover, as a male, his idea of a romantic love story must be different from that of, let's say, Jane Austen lovers. ;-). Though I understand and share the disappointment that we don't get more romance, I cannot follow the criticism about the low-keyness of the love story expressed here in the discussion. One cannot expect that a film based on a book about a love affair with a football team turns out to be a chick-flick. Despite some shortcomings in the romantic department, it is for me a feel-good movie.

(Ann) Nothing in the US compares to the level of fanaticism of some British football fans
You have a very good point here. Not only is the fanaticism level different, it seems that sports have another meaning in the US than in Europe. In the US, sports enthusiasm (not fanaticism) seems to be quite common, widely spread and, most important, well accepted. (Please correct me if I am wrong. I don't claim to be an expert in things US/Europe culture gap.) In Germany f.e. sports enthusiasm is more looked upon as something for people with a low intelligence level who cannot be bothered with reading or thinking (a POV represented perfectly by Sarah). An enthusiastic love for sports usually is looked upon as a kind of character deficiency, such as vanity perhaps, or pride :-) Sports fanaticism is a weakness, indeed :-). Particularly football is a low-class pleasure. If you are a sports fanatic and want to be taken seriously intellectually, you have to show something to balance it. The whole thing seems to be a bit schizophrenic, since sports are very important, considering the amount of time spent for sports on TV and the amount of newspaper space. It was a very interesting phenomenon to see, when the World Championship took place it the US, `Fußball', as we call it in Germany, underwent a kind of image lift. Apparently it somehow profited from the different attitude the Americans have toward sports, whatever that may be.

Arami:
(Heide) after Hillsborough, did Britain outlaw standing room at the ends of the field?
Yes. It's seats only now. But the main reason for the disaster was a high chain-link fence preventing the crowd from invading the pitch. As the crowd kept pouring into the compound, those near the fence had nowhere to escape.

Renate:
BTW there was a similar tragedy in Belgium, in the Heisel stadium. A lot of people died. I couldn't help but cry when I watched those pictures on TV, though I never had any sympathy for football fanatics. That memory comes back every time I watch that scene in FP, when Paul is crying. Adds a lot to the impact of the film.

Heide:
I was able to access some reviews of Fever Pitch. Colin comes off very well in all I've read, which brings me to a point. The character Paul could have been very unlikeable. He could easily have come across as petulant, selfish, moronic, pessimistic. Instead Colin seemed to jump into this character with such an infectious enthusiasm that we're all carried along. He's able to show Paul's charming, witty, attractive, boyish, almost innocent side making the audience root for this guy even if we're peeved with him sometimes. And doesn't it seem as if our dear boy really was enjoying himself? What a pleasure it is to watch this film.

Janine:
Favorite Outfit: That would have to be the blue jeans and the black T-shirt Paul's wearing in the kitchen argument. Runners up are the gray v-neck sweater for the table football scene, the light T-shirt with faded denim overshirt in the classroom and the charcoal pullover he's wearing while waiting for Sarah on the park bench.

Favorite Stubble: There are several good stubble scenes as well, but my favorite is where Paul is on the telephone with his mom.

Favorite Line: I think we all have a lot of these. And they change daily. At the moment, my favorite is "Will you please, please, please, please. ****ing **** off. You have arrived at the worst 60 seconds of my life." Also, "mortgage, wife, kid...cool!" If that isn't a child speaking, I don't know what is.

Favorite Scene: The restaurant scene, followed closely by the parking lot scene. I just decided that I love this one because it's so sweet. She's making a big deal of the big game and he's playing down its importance (it's just a stupid game) I think each to reach out a little to the other. A runner up is Paul and Steve watching the big game, and Paul constantly threatening to leave. These two have a great chemistry as friends. I wonder how long they supposedly have known each other because Steve seems like the only person who knows how to deal with him when he behaves like a petulant child. There is also a link here to a couple more of my favorite lines. Paul asks Steve if he is on "Cloud Cuckooland" and says welcome to the real world. And Steve says "In the real world it's nil-nil at half time." I also love when he looks at Paul and says "Do you know where I'm coming from?"

Saddest Scene: Where he's talking to his mom on the phone, she asks about Sarah, and he lies. That just broke my heart. Runner up is after Hillsborough, when Sarah assumes he won't be going back to any more matches and he says he will. The moment when she takes a long look at him and says "I just don't get you" and he takes an equally long look at her and says "No, I know you don't." I think it's a moment of revelation for both of them. He's realizing that she has no clue as to what makes him tick. It's like in this moment they both see that there's no hope for them as a couple at all.

Favorite Kissing Scene: At the celebration. I love that whole scene—how they spot each other and come toward each other. I slo-mo'd this kiss, and it was so lovely—Paul with his eyes closed, making the approach. He looked so beautiful, and when he finally kisses her it's like "ah...home"

At this point I have a couple of questions:
(1) At Parents Night, why does the guy who sits with Paul after Robert Parker's mother say "I suppose you're feeling pretty pleased with life at the moment." What does he mean? Is he talking about Arsenal, is he being sarcastic, is it because he has the longest line of people waiting to see him? Any thoughts?
(2) At the restaurant, Paul suggests a name for the baby, the same name as a famous footballer. But I couldn't make out what he said. Does anyone know.
(3) What are the words to the song Paul starts singing in the car after house hunting?

And Heide, you were spot on about the kid having the Colin/Darcy walk down pat. It was identical. He did a great job studying.

Sylvia:
(Janine) And Steve says "In the real world it's nil-nil at half time!"
That's one of my favorite lines too. Steve has some of the best lines. His comments during the decisive last match (when Paul doesn't know if he wants to stay or leave) and the billiard game (when Paul tells him what a good feeling he has this season) make me think that he lives more in reality than Paul.

A question to those who read the book FP: do you think that it would have been possible to turn the book into a film without major changes because it covers a long period of time and deals with an introspective subject. Bringing Sarah to the story provides a bridge between Paul and the audience, but it is difficult to do both aspects (the football story and the love story) credit. Paul has a problem to balance the two and so has the movie.

Arami:
Janine's Questions:
At Parents Night: Paul must be well known among fathers as a footie fan/Arsenal supporter. I guess the remark is about Arsenal

Name for the baby: Liam 

What are the words to the song Paul starts singing? "There's only one Martin Hayes"

Karen:
(Bethan) I like the way they walk together at the end, slightly apart and then holding hands
Oh, how I wish you could airbrush out the credits at the end of the film. Toward the end of their walk down the street, it looked like they were slow dancing. The final shot looks like he has twirled her back. Does it look like that to anyone else?

(Bethan) He probably doesn't really want Sarah to share his obsession. He sees it as a male-bonding sort of thing. If Sarah really did become an Arsenal fanatic, he'd probably resent it.
It is a bonding sort of thing, but not exclusive to males. His mother and his sister are part of his world. I had been trying to avoid discussing the obsession/fan thing, but I guess it's not possible.

I view his obsession with Arsenal as a means to an end, which is why I don't think the sports aspect to the story is critical. Obsession can be about anything. Paul talks about what's important about Arsenal several times. One is in the voiceover about becoming part of a family and the other is when they are looking at the house next to the stadium. He says he is "rootless"; he lacks an identity. Paul derives his identity from the crowd. He shares a history with the crowd. He is on a first name basis with people standing on the North Bank and that started out early on. Remember the scene when his ticket was for the wrong end. He answers many questions Sarah poses to him as "we." He says things like "She's one of the those women who don't understand us." But the one that got me was when she said he couldn't go back after Hillsborough. He answered: "Of course, we will."

Given my take on him, he would want to share his interest with Sarah. (This brings back old memories of being dragged on a fishing trip, being cold, uncomfortable and bored out of my mind!)

(Heide) Actually, Paul may not even realize how awful an outsider might find the whole thing.
I think he has a good idea of it because he evidently tried to dissuade her from coming.

(Heide) The lump of concrete is where he wants to be.
Absolutely. This is where he wants to be. On one hand, I still think he should have responded more positively to her effort by bringing her along slowly. On the other hand, the rowdy mob in the stands is him and yes this is where she would see it to understand it. I'm quite torn with what he should have done. I don't think it's a simple thing.

(Heide) To Paul's credit, he does see Sarah is in distress and puts his arm around her as she clings to him to stay on her feet. But the look on his face is "Oh, bollocks, why'd she have to come?"
I did give Paul credit for caring for her when the crowd is really surging, but I didn't read the expression on his face that way. What I saw was regret that he subjected her to this; she had become too important to him to be mauled like that. Maybe he should have sprung for seats.

(Heide) The character Paul could have been very unlikeable. He could easily have come across as petulant, selfish, moronic, pessimistic.
No, I think we like him despite his petulance, selfishness, moronic behavior and pessimism, which is—I agree—quite a feat for our Colin. He made a character like that, a lout, a yob, an uncouth hooligan not only likable, but lovable not only in our eyes but, more importantly in Sarah's eyes because if he didn't, we wouldn't believe that she fell in love with him. (Paul and Steve work so well together because Paul is the pessimist and Steve is the optimist.)

(Heide) He's able to show Paul's charming, witty, attractive, boyish, almost innocent side making the audience root for this guy even if we're peeved with him sometimes.
Absolutely, and I think "peeved" is rather generous. When he threw in "loss of child" to the pregnant Sarah during the "you haven't wanted anything for 18 years speech," I wanted to kick him! His psyche may have been hurting from the loss of the game, but that was the meanest thing he ever said.

(Janine) the parking lot scene...She's making a big deal of the big game and he's playing it's importance down (it's just a stupid game)
He can't possibly mean it. Just look at him watching the game.

Arami:
(Karen) a lout, a yob, an uncouth hooligan
Well, I do not see him quite that way. Real British louts, yobs and hooligans are much, much worse. He is laddish (high-spirited rogue), not loutish (crude, ill-mannered).

Nan:
(Marcia) when the female joins the male in eager fandom, and ceases to be the beer-getter and snack-fixer, she is usually not as welcome.
In my experience, many men prefer to share their sports obsessions with other men. That's not to say that all men are this way, but I've come across more of the first kind—who not only discourage and belittle my interest in hockey, but actually become irritated by it. I can't tell you how many times I've had men ask me, in the most condescending of tones, "So, if you're such a big hockey fan, what's a plus/minus rating? What's icing? What's offside?" They get most annoyed when I answer correctly and heaven forbid I should leave anything out! I think it is the general perception that women just watch sports to look at the men. BTW, I don't deny doing that too ;-p

(Karen) ["it's just a game"] He can't possibly mean it. Just look at him watching the game.
Common sports fanatic affliction. If things are going well, you're praying to God and swearing to be good if He'll only let your team win. If things are not going well, you start to downplay the importance of it in your mind so you won't be devastated when they lose. I think he blew up when she said it because, to him, she's an outsider who can't possibly understand his torment. It's similar to talking about one's mother. You can say whatever you want ('cause it's your mother, after all), but no one else is allowed to say it. ;-)

Heide:
(Janine) Favorite Scene: The restaurant scene, followed closely by the parking lot scene.
This is fast becoming one of my favorites too. She is letting him know she still cares. And, like Nan, I think he's downplaying the importance of this game to him. If it's too important, he'll jinx them. I also think this is one of the sadder scenes in the film.

(Karen) But the one that got me was when she said he couldn't go back after Hillsborough. He answered: "Of course, we will."
And "we" doesn't mean Sarah. 

(Heide) Actually, Paul may not even realize how awful an outsider might find the whole thing.
(Karen) I think he has a good idea of it because he evidently tried to dissuade her from coming.
I don't see it that way. I agree that the hooliganism was quite well known except to the fanatic. It's either "that's not me and my people" or "the press blows everything out of proportion." I think Sarah may have made him see that it was all pretty awful standing, not seeing anything which increases his anger at her.

Karen:
(Nan) the flowers that the Arsenal players carry on the field
(Arami) Wasn't it some kind of a tribute to the Hillsborough tragedy?
Arami was quite right; the flowers were a tribute. The Arsenal players took their bouquets and handed them to the fans who stood in the Kop, the equivalent of the North Bank but at Liverpool's Anfield stadium.

Allison:
I have been wanting to comment seriously for a little while now but kept finding my thoughts too serious and undrooly. It was not the success that I think Nick Hornby hoped for and I think it interesting to understand why. I think it also would explain why it was not shown in the US.

I think the actors were all extremely good. My Arsenal-supporting teenage son advised me to see it. "Colin Firth is a really good actor." I hope CF's ears were burning. Having seen it in the cinema, I agree with those critics (most of them) who found it too televisual (is that a word?). Channel 4 "sludge'ovision, one critic, called it. Also, and I think most importantly, Hornby shouldn't have been allowed to write the film play (also not an original comment). I found the film funny. I laughed out loud, which I rarely do. I just think he does not handle the romantic part of comedy well. For me the most convincing dialogue is between Paul and Steve. I think Hornby is most at ease in a man's world and it shows. It is interesting that he has not been asked to write the screenplays for his other books.

Karen:
(Allison) It was not the success that I think Nick Hornby hoped for...I think it also would explain why it was not shown in the US.
I think soccer is the reason it was not shown in the U.S. It's really hard for me to come up with other movies that have featured soccer. I recall a Stallone movie that took place during WWII that featured prisoners playing a big soccer match (I think). The name escapes me.

Would I have seen this movie had it not been for CF? I don't know. But if it had been promoted as a romantic comedy, involving a sports addict and his straight-laced love interest? Absolutely. I still maintain that knowledge of soccer is not required—useful, but not required.

(Allison) Hornby shouldn't have been allowed to write the film play
I think he did a "brilliant" job. I'm about 80% through with the nonfiction book and amazed at how he took portions of his own character and turned it into little things that Paul did that if you didn't read the book you wouldn't know it had special meaning. I thought the dialogue was good.

(Allison) For me the most convincing dialogue is between Paul and Steve.
I liked Jo too. Her lines and their delivery were great. After the breakup, she asks Sarah about the football results. Jo comments about Liverpool, admitting that she's heard of them and that they're good. At the end, she says something like "but do we really care?"

Heide:
I have decided to take Paul at his word—when he tells us his relationship with Arsenal changed that night and that his failures and successes don't depend on the team anymore. If he can say that 8 or 9 years later, then I suppose it can be true and there's no reason to think he can't be a happy family man now. My ever-Pollyanna outlook wins out in the end. Fade out as they walk off into the sunset (or the stadium lights, whichever the case may be).

Beth:
Drooling aside, I can honestly understand Sarah's love for Paul. Why? I married a guy a lot like him. He wasn't a sports fanatic but he was a 36-year-old child in many ways. I don't know what it was about him really, except for maybe the unruly dark curly hair, big dark eyes and dimples. Well, I know there has been a lot of speculation about their relationship lasting. I married the guy and it's been 11 years now. My husband has grown up a lot and is very devoted to his family. He still talks a lot of nonsense sometimes but I've learned to laugh more and not get annoyed as much. Their relationship is very believable to me. Most people wanted to strangle him at times but he is well-liked and endearing. I loved Colin in this part and was totally charmed by the experience that was so close to my own.

Arami:
Thanks for that, Beth. I just knew it was very believable all the time. I'm so glad to see your evidence.

Beth:
I'm glad I've given some of you hope for Paul and Sarah's future, although it will take a great deal of patience on her part for sure. I loved the scene in the restaurant. Oh could I relate to her look when she was observing the father of her unborn set the napkin on fire. Been there (similar circumstances). The house hunting, job interview—GREAT! He really wanted to grow up but was following her lead. Their relationship was physical for the most part. It's not deep but it's real. I also liked the fact that Sarah was compared to the Arsenal manager by someone other than Paul which really helped her recognize that though he was naive he could be very insightful. I think it gave her a little hope that maybe he was right after all and that they would make a good team. She did need a little lightening up and he needed a bit more balance and structure.

I also believed his changed relationship with Arsenal. After waiting 18 years for the victory, he knew the intensity of that experience could never be repeated. As for his ability to change and become responsible, he quit smoking. Anyone who has smoked knows how hard that is.

Favorite scene: "F..... It." And then gives her a ride home. Neither one of them wants the baggage of the other but the attraction is too tempting. "Can I smoke?" "No, but you can stay the night" What a rollercoaster of emotions for him in those couple of minutes. And I was so glad that she finally got laid. She looked so happy jogging in the next scene.

Bethan:
(Beth) I loved Colin in this part and was totally charmed by the experience that was so close to my own.
Lovely to read this, Beth. I think you've just provided proof that Paul and Sarah will have a happy and lasting relationship!

Karen:
Have now finished the nonfiction book and High Fidelity and am drooling over all the pictures in the screenplay. Both books need to be read to understand first the Paul character and then the relationship. A fun and quick read. In fact both books can be read in less than a week (especially if you skip over the nonessential description of football games ;-0).

Winter:
I've seen it twice now, and I think I'm going to love it each time I see it. I mean, I was really entertained by the story, not just Colin. the absolute best scene was at the last minute of the match, (done in slo-mo) when Colin's bounding up the stairs as Mark Strong yells "Paaauuuullll!!!" the look on their faces as the goal is made is priceless!

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