Among Giants

SYNOPSIS

It may not have quite the same feel-good comedy spin as his hit The Full Monty, but writer Simon Beaufoy's follow-up look at unemployed Sheffield friends making do buzzes along thanks to his excellent ear for dialogue and his unerring eye for gritty truthfulness. This time, amateur mountain climber Pete Postlethwaite gets the lads to help him paint pylons in the wilds of northern England against an impossible deadline for cash in hand. When sexy Australian backpacker Rachel Griffiths joins the team, however, romantic competition starts a rift between Postlethwaite and his best mate (James Thornton). With Postlethwaite etching another stalwart characterisation and Griffiths lending fine tough love support - their "full Monty" nude scene in a power plant cooling tower will raise a few eyebrows! - this is an always engaging ensemble piece, tightly held together by the mature insight of This Life director Sam Miller.