It's entirely possible that sending the audience out feeling lousy was intentional

For having a relatively low budget, the film's style and overall art direction are immensely impressive.

This is one of the few movies I've ever seen where the whole audience broke into spontaneous, loud applause a third of the way in.

After playing with our expectations, this turns out to be a very different sort of film.

Oh dear the search for a film which accurately captures the passion and drama of the world's most popular sport goes on. Bean has clearly let his heart rule his head with this particular pet project. Given that for once he has a role which is tailor made for his stock in trade 'professional yorkshireman' this perfectly suits his limited capabilities 'Nah den Frodo gie us that bludy ring'. The subject matter is clearly one which is close to his heart and perhaps because of that its a very predictable tale of a triumph against adversity. Whilst you correctly play guess the next plot development, try to count the accents as the cast struggle to convince. Emily Lloyd - watchable and feisty but what is that accent? Jimmy's younger brother tops the lot though with his constant references to 'Joonited'. I've never cheered a pit accident before but here its a welcome relief. The effort is clear (especially in trying to cover football effectively) but the overall result is disappointing as the film reverts to stereotype and formula. The ending is frustratingly predictable and leaves us wondering if we have just sat through a personal fantasy project for the lead who is seeking to fulfil some lost childhood dream. Having said all this there is nevertheless a strange fatal attraction to be had from watching this film. It is not dissimilar to the kind of rubbernecking behaviour when driving past a car crash which makes it hard not to look.

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

When Saturday Comes is a low budget drama with some really good moments. The casting is very good, as is the acting, which is all very believable. You really get to feel for the main character, Jimmy, especially when he really screws up a big try-out, we can all relate to the "I'm only human" line of thinking. The film has a great story, builds plot up well with minor stories that inter-twine within the main story, and ties up at the end very well. The music in the movie is fantastic, with original songs by Joe Elliott, the lead singer of Def Leppard (The Best Rock Band in the World!). Joe sings the title track to the movie with all the conviction a true soccer fan! Definately worth a veiwing, gives you an excellent example of the going's on in working class England.

The film was pretty good, and it portrayed Sheffield life fairly well. Sean Bean's a great actor and looks good in the "Sharpe" series of films. Being a Sheffield United supporter and having seen many sports-based films before, it's almost always the same plot."An unknown nobody rises from the gutters of society to become an idolised hero(ine) of whichever sport they play."Also, when writers make films following a sports career, the team/player will win almost all their games/matches/fights, but struggle in the final match/game/bout. The team will fail, fail again and so on, until some psychological breakthrough/substitution allows them to trounce the opposition by maybe one or two points/goals. Afterwards they become league/series/championship winners until the sequel/rematch, right? Yeah, I enjoyed the ups and downs of Jimmy's new life, but I've seen it all before really. "The Full Monty" is a similar, better film I recommend. Cheers, Dom (14)