Coal Mining - Tumblr Posts
I have a big plan to make a post comparing historical coal mining (my background is in Scottish coal mines from the 1800s in the Central Lowlands--def the nerdiest hyperfixation I've had to date) and the mining conditions of the Shadow Thread mines the captured children endured during the Whispering Wars. I definitely noticed a lot of similarities and I cannot wait to write it all out mwahaha
THE CHRISTMAS COAL MINE MIRACLE (Dir: Jud Taylor, 1977).
A festive family drama made for US TV.
Set in the mining town of Caufield in 1951, The Christmas Coal Mine Miracle tells the story of coal miners trapped underground on Christmas Eve following an explosion. Centered largely around Matthew Sullivan (Mitchell Ryan), his wife Rachel (Barbara Babcock), their two daughters and prospective son-in-law Johnny (Kurt Russell).
Although claimed by some sources to be based upon a true story, the closing credits read: “The events depicted in this motion picture are fictitious although suggested by the history of mine disasters”. Which particular mine disasters are unclear. I think the movie would have more impact were it based on actual events. Instead what we have with The Christmas Coal Mine Miracle is an intriguing story, although not particularly dynamically told.
Surprisingly, considering it was made in the era when disaster movies were vogue, the focus of the film is not the explosion in the mine, but the relationships of those affected by it, particularly the women. As a result the movie suffers from being overly reliant on dialogue and a little short on action. Originally broadcast on the NBC network, it has the distinct feel of a Movie of the Week, albeit distinguished by a better than average cast. Top billing is afforded to Mitchell Ryan, but further down the cast are the more familiar names of Kurt Russell, John Carradine and Melissa Gilbert.
As earnest young man Johnny, Kurt Russell is, well, earnest. In fairness to Russell the role is not especially well fleshed out. Which is kind of an issue with every character; none are particularly well delineated and the audience never gets to know any of them well enough to be as affected by their plight as they should.
The Christmas Coal Mine Miracle is no Christmas classic. Were it a true story in the traditional sense, rather than vaguely inspired by historic mining accidents, I feel as if I would have warmed to the story a little more and have more investment in the characters. That said, if you stumble across this movie on daytime TV it is worth a look for the decent performances from its likeable cast.
Visit my blog JINGLE BONES MOVIE TIME to read a longer, more in-depth review of The Christmas Coal Mine Miracle! Link below.
Your eyes are dark coal mines and I think if you let me search in them long enough I just might find a diamond. I guess I’m trying to say that the hot heat of our bodies could force the charcoal of burnt embers into the structured unbreakable. In eighth grade I learned that miners used to dangle canary’s into the depths ahead of them, if the birds came back alive they knew there was oxygen enough for them to descend. Maybe that’s why I gave you my body first, wanted to see if you could sustain my breath and I found out you left me gasping. Dark tunnels echoing around me as the oxygen vanished into desolate space.
9. Ewan McGregor Movie Review: Brassed Off (1996)
We made it to our last movie of 1996 and boy, is it a good one!
Some fun facts before we begin!
Pete Gunn has a minor role in the movie as the character Simmo. You might remember that he worked alongside Ewan in the movie "Blue Juice"!
While the movie takes place in the village Grimley, the story is actually inspired by the mining village Grimethorpe whose pit was closed just three years before the movie released.
The Grimethorpe Colliery Band performed all the band numbers in the movie.
Ewan's character plays a tenor horn in the band. I think it's a fun fact because when Ewan was a teenager, he played the French horn!
Genre: Comedy/Romance
Rating: R
Director: Mark Herman
Starring: Pete Postlethwaite, Tara Fitzgerald, Ewan McGregor
Synopsis: "Brassed Off" is about the 1980s pit closures in the United Kingdom. It takes place in Grimley, a coal mining village, that is next on the chopping block to have it's colliery shut down. The village is also home to the Grimley Colliery Band which has existed for 100 years and the characters are all part of. But with the possibility of the pit closing comes the possibility of the end of the band for good. Band leader Danny (Pete Postlethwaite) challenges the men to fight one last time to win the National Brass Band Competition in London. When Gloria (Tara Fitzgerald), a former resident of Grimley, makes a surprise return to the village, she joins the band and sets out to bring hope to the weary miners.
Ewan Review: Ewan plays the character Andy Barrows, a coal miner and member of the local band. Andy is initially excited to be reunited with Gloria as the two had a former romance. However, when he learns why Gloria has been keeping her return a secret, he becomes unsure whether he can trust her or if they were ever meant to be. Ewan wears an earring in this role and speaks with a Yorkshire accent. His character is broody so expect a lot of scowls which is a change of pace from his many smiley characters. He has an implied sex scene and a makeout scene. His acting, along with the rest of the cast, gets an A+ from me!
Screentime Percentage: Ewan is on screen for a grand total of 26/107 minutes making his SP 24%.
To Ewan or not to Ewan: Is the movie worth watching for Ewan alone? No. He already doesn't have much to do in this movie and he's part of an ensemble cast so the story is spread out over several different characters. Honestly, I found myself more interested in other storylines than his. He's good when he's on screen and is nice to look at but this just isn't a Ewan content heavy role. Is the movie worth watching in general? Absolutely! This movie has an amazing story, the actors have great chemistry, the music is phenomenal, and you get to learn in an intimate way about an important time in history. I can tell you that before watching this movie I didn't know anything about the miner strikes or pit closures. Now, I'm reading up on the history!
Warning before watching: There is a suicide attempt scene.
Where to Watch: "Brassed Off" is available for rent on YouTube, Fandango at Home, and Amazon Prime Video. You can also watch it for free on soap2day.
Closing Thoughts: This movie so creatively weaves together a story of anger, depression, and hope. The characters are fleshed out and feel real. You hurt for their plight and root for their fight. The movie has a bittersweet ending. I applaud the director, Mark Herman, for sharing with the world the harm done to the miners of the U.K. and their perseverance through it all.
