Immer wieder samstags

Most of the other comments pretty much sum it up - a clichéd plot line, saddled with the problem of finding actors that look as if they are sportsmen. The action was a huge improvement on "Escape to Victory" for sure, but it was still stilted and pedestrian... This film does nothing new - its Billy Elliot with football boots - or should that be Billy Elliot is WSC with ballet shoes on... whatever... but BE was a far, far better film than this could ever hope to be - better sub plots, better acting, better dancing cf football. Sean Bean isn't a great actor - but he's better than this hackneyed excuse of a part.

That all said the cameos almost save this film. The character of Jimmy's dad works - it hurts to watch this sad, bitter, twisted man. Jimmy, brother, Russell, although the dialogue and screenplay is somewhat underwhelming steals the show however for the one really "real" moment in this film that is delivered to perfection - the disappointment, the incredulity, the hero-trashed-before-my-eyes-don't-want-to-believe-it-how-can-you-do-it moment when Jimmy succumbs to peer pressure and downs a large whiskey before ordering another round on the night before his second trial. THAT moment alone takes this film into a fairly abject 5/10.

didds

Sean Bean stars as equally Sheffield United-mad brewery worker Jimmy Muir, a talented footballer who was let down by authority figures as a young man. After ten years working a dead-end job the frustrated Muir meets Annie Doherty, a pretty Irish love interest played by English actress Emily Lloyd, and soon after gets the second chance at his dream that such people always seem to get in these modern fairy tales. Yes, the formulaic plot is predictable and clichéd, but it is still enjoyable to watch and there are quite a few touching moments.

Funnily enough, although this is a football film I felt one of the strongest aspects of the film was the way it dealt with the personal relationships between Jimmy and his family members and friends: Pete Postlethwaite, for example, playing Jimmy's mentor Ken Jackson, puts in a strong, convincing performance, as well as John McEnery as Jimmy's abusive father Joe. A subtle side-track detailing Joe's past and its relevance to Jimmy's present is cleverly done and is to me an important part of the film's overall message.

Unusually for a sports film, the actual football is very well done. Director Maria Giese manages to do what so few directors have before or since in getting both the match itself and the atmosphere right. Every game portrayed is totally believable, from the park football at the beginning to the climactic final match at the end. Giese should really be commended here; each match is very different and she gets the overall feel of each one at least very close to spot on.

One criticism I will give the film, however, is its ending, which seems incredibly rushed and not really believable -- I know I said before that this is a fairy tale but watch the film and I'm sure you will see what I mean. I think that if you cut out ten minutes from earlier in the film and add a few more minutes of action just before the film's climax, the movie would work a lot better. It just seems very sudden to me, that's all.

Nevertheless, "When Saturday Comes" is an enjoyable watch, especially if you're a football fan. By no means brilliant, but still well worth the night in. 7/10.

Eeeee by gum as they say in Yorkshire times are tough . On leaving school lads have a choice of either working down the pits or in factories while girls have a choice of marrying a lad who works either down the pit face or in a factory . Further education doesn`t seem to be an option in Yorkshire even though Sheffield does indeed have an university , I should know because I`ve been there . Oh didn`t all the coal mines close in Yorkshire sometime in the late 1980s ? In other words we`ve got a kitchen sink drama full of stereotypes and anachronisms

That said I did like WHEN SATURDAY COMES just because it`s a gritty drama well acted by its cast . Despite being too old for his role by about ten years Sean Bean plays his role very well especially if you only know him as a baddie from films like GOLDENEYE and PATRIOT GAMES . Emily Lloyd is also good and you really do feel for the characters in this film unlike the overrated comedy drama THE FULL MONTY which was also set in Sheffield

The opening scenes of this movie are shot at my old school. It used to be known as Annes Road Junior School but has since moved up market and is no referred to as Annes Grove. I'ts a primary school although it's depicted in the movie as a seconday (high) school. The pub they head off towards is the Shakespere but when they get inside it is transformed into another pub all together. These inaccuracies aside, the thing that miffs me the most is that were never allowed to leave school by that particular gate, we had to walk around the school. Sad to say that at 45 years old I'm still traumatised by that small restriction.

As for the movie, it's not really fiction, I grew up with these people, although they may have exaggerated the typical crowd size for a Blades match. By the way, respect to Tony Currie.

If my opening sentence isn't clear enough, I must reiterate that this is without doubt one of the worst films I have ever seen. SEAN BEAN a trainee? He is clearly older than Gar McAllister. SEAN BEAN having casual sex with a stripper? Sean always appears to have spent the day down a coal mine being sprayed with acid. The man was in Sharpe people, I'll accept no half measures.