Marvellous (2014 TV Movie) User Reviews

"Marvellous" couldn't fit this movie better!

[santiagocosme · 9/10 · 14 December 2014]

I came across this movie and after reading a few reviews, I thought it was worth giving it a go. Well, I am glad I did because it has to be one of the best I have seen this year.

The story of a man with learning disabilities who goes through life without a care in the world and gets pretty much all he wishes for by simply asking for it. People who come across him just fall in love with his personality, to the point that they feel blessed to have met him and have him in their lives.

In a world as critical as ours, it's magical to see that a man like Nello can become such an icon. Not only is he a sports personality and a circus celebrity. He is now also a movie star!!

This may well be his first and last movie, but it could not be a better way to start. Or finish.

Marvellous does not do this justice.

[markgorman · 9/10 · 29 September 2014]

Marvellous is such a small movie in scope and ambition that it shouldn't really register.

It was made for UK TV and not overly hyped, yet it turns out to be a career defining work for an actor that has already had all manner of praise heaped on him for his role in Infamous and his many franchise movie roles (Potter, Hunger Games and The Muppets.).

Like his contemporary Michael Sheen (Cloughie in The Damned United and David Frost in Frost/Nixon) he is adept at playing performances that impersonate the stars (Truman Capote in Infamous). Only this time the star is not really anyone outside of Stoke has ever heard of.

He plays, Neil (Nello) Baldwin, a small guy with learning difficulties who has no fear of the conventions of life because the fear button in his brain is switched off. The result is an outrageous journey of hope over fear, joy over sadness and opportunity over failure.

A clown. Stoke City's kit manager. University of Keele doer. Crazy jobs each and all. And all brought to life by this amazing man's unique personality.

Three times I wept. It's a joyous movie but has deeply sad moments and is an absolute must see.

Outstanding TV movie

[tr91 · 9/10 · 28 September 2014]

Don't you just love it when you watch a film without knowing much about it and it absolutely goes above your expectations? That's what Marvellous did for me. It is an outstanding TV movie. Everything about this film is simply Marvellous!

The film is an incredible true story which gives a great message to the viewers; it's a real heart warmer. Neil Baldwin is an incredible man who is portrayed so well by Toby Jones. The supporting cast were also very good and I liked how in parts of the film we also saw cameos from the real life people that the actors were portraying. A really unique way to shoot a film but it worked.

As I watched this film I had a huge smile on my face the whole way through, it played with my emotions. Some of the one liners are incredibly funny and then some scenes are so happy that you want to laugh and cry.

Some people may look at this and be put off by thinking that it's a film about football, please don't let this put you off. It is about so much more than that and overall is an incredible true story.

"There's only one Neil Baldwin"

9/10. – A film so good that it will probably end up in my top 10 for 2014 – Watch it!

Simply Marvellous

[nawyug · 10/10 · 16 December 2014]

Simply 'Marvellous'. This word itself describes the movie. As 2014 is reaching its end, we can see many lists for best movies/TV series floating on the internet. And that's how I find this movie with IMDb rating 8.2. So naturally, I put it on my watch list. And yes that was a decision I certainly didn't regret. This is a biopic and is one of the best dramas I watched in 2014. It is a TV movie aired on BBC TWO.

You will get fully involved with the life of Neil. A man who has learning disabilities but in fact he is differently enabled. He is sure of everything. For him life is happiness. He does everything what he wants to do. Every new person he meet is very good friend of him. He can simply ask any thing and surly gets it. A very good job done by director Julian Farino. Also a very nice story and script by Peter Bowker. Outstanding acting by Toby Jones and Gemma Jones as Neil and his mother Mary. They both gave a memorable performance that will certainly add some accolades in their chest. I enjoyed the movie, every bit of it. It plays with your emotions. You will laugh and will want to cry at some points. Full of fun yet teaches you the philosophy of a great life. And be careful, if you miss one line, you may miss a very beautiful message/ outlook on life.

In every department it's a perfect movie. Great story and script. Good direction. Camera captures every emotion very cleverly. Back ground music goes with the movies pace. And of course very good use of choir sings popular songs accompanied by ukuleles. And in some department I have no hesitation to compare it with one of the greatest movie of all time "Forrest Gump".

I will give it a 10 on the scale of 10.

Nello Baldwin - a man who sees things differently...

[ianlouisiana · 10/10 · 26 September 2014]

"Marvellous"is a docudrama about Neil Baldwin,a man who is wired just a little differently to most of us.Neil can see a solution before a problem is even apparent to others."It's good to be nice to people" is his credo and he lives it 100% long after most of us would have thought it's good to give some people a smack.A footballer at Stoke City refers to him as a "mong" and Neil says calmly and politely "I am not a mong" and carries on having forgotten the incident. The programme could have been mawkish,or sentimental,or patronising,or deadly serious,but in fact it is very funny and uplifting - much like its subject. Neil's obsession with Stoke City F.C. leads to him being given the job of kitman by the then manager Lou Macari who is eventually poached by Celtic but he uses Neil as a sub in his last home game - a wonderful gesture. As Macari is leaving he turns to Nello and says "You once asked me who was my best signing?Well,you were ....by far and away".Brilliantly played by both actors. The programme is made in what might be described as the Richard Lester school of early post - modern irony with Neil Baldwin appearing as himself from time to time,correcting the screenplay when it is in danger of verging into the hyperbolic. Neil is a registered circus clown and a stalwart student helper at Keele University whose work was recognised by an honorary degree. But you feel his heart is at the football club where he has become a cult figure. But most of all,"Marvellous" is a celebration of the indomitability of the human spirit,the triumph of the unorthodox and the affect of a truly child - like grown - up person on those around him. I found it funny and moving in equal measures and turned off the TV feeling slightly more optimistic about my fellow men than is my wont at 10.30 at night.

Touching Biopic Combining Drama, Music and Real Life

[l_rawjalaurence · 9/10 · 18 October 2014]

Peter Bowker's script tells the real-life story of Neil Baldwin (Toby Jones), who overcame his learning difficulties to become a stalwart member of Stoke City F.C.'s backroom staff under manager Lou Macari (Tony Curran), as well as undertaking a variety of other jobs such as greeting new freshmen and women at Keele University and running his own soccer team.

The production ingeniously combines dramatic action with brief interludes in which the fictional Neil encounters the real Neil and asks him questions about his life. This dramatic strategy draws attention to Baldwin's optimistic outlook on life, his enduring faith in God, and his belief that people are basically good-natured. Such qualities have given him the strength to cope with life, especially the trauma of losing his mother (played by Gemma Jones in the film).

MARVELLOUS also includes musical interludes, in which a choir sings popular songs, both secular and religious ("The Lord's My Shepherd I'll Not Want") accompanied by ukuleles. During one such sequence we see the fictional Neil participating, even though he does not really feel like it in the wake of his mother's death. Such scenes emphasize the importance of community spirit to Neil's life as a means of providing him with emotional and physical support. They serve as a musical counterpoint to the sequences set in the changing-rooms of Stoke City F.C., where Neil listens to (and sometimes participates) in the banter between Macari and his players.

Julian Farino's production eschews historical accuracy for dramatic effect; we learn at the end that Neil has worked at Keele for nearly half a century, yet the bulk of the action appears to be set in the late Eighties and early Nineties (judging from the age of the cars seen in the background). Such strategies emphasize the timelessness of the tale; we are not witnessing a period drama per se, but a triumphant chronicle of an individual overcoming adversity and carving out a niche for himself that is both professionally and personally satisfying.

Toby Jones gives a memorable performance as Neil. This versatile actor, who moves from film, to television and radio with equal facility, portrays the central character as someone whose naivété is particularly endearing. His capacity for ending conversations with logical non sequiturs is amazing, rendering his friends and acquaintances absolutely speechless. Jones' most memorable moment comes in a sequence just after his mother's death, when he sits alone in his cluttered apartment, staring at the wall, and bursts into floods of tears as he finally understands that he is now totally alone. But, true to form, he surmounts this loss and ends up achieving one of his cherished ambitions; to play for Stoke City (even if it is only a testimonial match).

MARVELLOUS is one of those understated dramas that British television does really well. Full of unexpected pleasures as well as some extremely funny lines, it deserves to be considered a modern classic.

Very pleasing and heart-warming tale, with a clever and effective delivery that sees the film mirror Baldwin

[bob the moo · 20 February 2015]

This film is the true story of Neil Baldwin, a man diagnosed with learning difficulties as a child but one who counts royalty and bishops among his close friends, has connections across the world of English football, was given an honorary degree by Keele University, and worked as kit man for Stoke City. I guess to deliver this film there were many ways that the film could have gone, but it was a very wise decision to make the film very much in the style of Neil himself – gentle, unassuming, self-assured, and totally unthreatening. The story opens with Neil abandoned by his circus employer, although hardly put out by it, he simply walks to a church where he is able to get help – not by charm or force, but just by an apparent lack of awareness of "normal" society.

This continues through the film and we see someone who just put his mind to things, decided he would do something, and did it. It is a story that is very well told by the film because it manages to be uplifting, funny, sad, hopeful, and genuinely warming to watch. It is not that he deserves great awards or knighthoods as some have suggested, but there is certainly something cheering about a life well lived without seemingly any trace of malice, spite or harm in the man's body. This gentle, honest approach extends to my favorite device of the film, which is to integrate the real Baldwin and the real Lou Macari into the film, to have them sit with the actors while the actors are in character; this device works surprisingly well, not only because it lets us see that us Baldwin really does seem to be the person that we are told, but also so that Baldwin can contribute directly his views on the thing we just saw. It sounds like it shouldn't work, but it works tremendously well.

A big part of it working is that Toby Jones is excellent. He is wonderfully human, determined, and very much in keeping with a simple man with determination and no ill-will. To consider what some actors would do with a "learning difficulties" character, Jones makes it a base for his character but never what or who he is playing; I particularly liked him staying in character while sharing the scene with the real Baldwin – it not only showed how well the character was being delivered, but it also doubled up on the warming effect and gave an unusual device of getting inside the character's head at that moment. The supporting cast are all very good, but the film belongs to Jones and Baldwin.

You will have heard many good things about this film, and maybe it is a bit over-hyped, but that is not to say that it isn't really good. It is a gentle, unassuming little film that will surprise you by how much it does and how well it does it – again, just like Baldwin himself.

Pure Joy

[valleyjohn · 10/10 · 25 March 2015]

Marvellous

I have been meaning to seeing Marvellous for a while since it was shown on TV last year and i have to ask myself why did it take so long ? because this film is a joy to behold. It's the story of Neil Baldwin , who's outlook in life is infectious and lives life too the full . Along the way , picks up friends that mere mortals like you and me wouldn't think of mixing with. Toby Jones is fantastic as Nello and this confirms that he is currently one of the best character actors around today. What is really good about this is the interspersion of the real Neil Baldwin who confirms long the way that this did ( or didn't ) really happen . Director , Julian Farino has made a film here that can only be described as joyous and it is worth the licence fee alone. Nello is a legend . Bloody Marvellous. 10 out of 10

Bloomin marvellous

[Prismark10 · 7/10 · 26 September 2014]

Marvellous is actually based on a true person. Neil Baldwin lives with his mum, deeply religious and wants to run away to the circus to be a clown and make people happy.

Neil is also a person with mild learning difficulties, his mother is worried how he could cope on his own but Neil never lets setbacks hold him back. He makes friends whether its bishops, Archbishops, politicians or football managers.

After being abandoned by the circus, he becomes a greeter at Keele University, he becomes a kit-man to his beloved Stoke City and befriended by their manager Lou Macari. He even turned up regularly at the Oxbridge boat race standing behind the race referee.

Neil was eventually awarded a honorary degree in 2013 at Keele University. Its a life affirming film with the real Neil Baldwin popping up with Toby Jones who portrays him alongside other real life individuals such as Lou Macari. Its almost a fantasy but you keep getting reminded that this is based on true facts as these real people pop up. When you see Neil having tea with Tony Benn in the House of Commons is because he really did know his son Stephen.

Jones does a good job in getting under the skin of Neil, channelling his optimistic spirit and also the doldrums that he enters when his mother dies. Its moving as well as funny with tinges of sadness.

The film is supposedly a period piece but you are never sure when in the past its based, I guess much of the events took place in the 1970s but Macari became manager for Stoke in the early 1990s and Neil has been an unofficial greeter for Keele University for around 50 years when he got there as a schoolboy.

It surely is an individualistic, rather left field film, well it had to be made that way if they wanted to display Neil's indomitable spirit.

Toby Jones, Neil Baldwin, Tony Curran and Lou Macari are all Marvellous

[irishtouristoffice · 9/10 · 25 September 2014]

I've seen all the blockbusters this year. Guardians was great with an awesome soundtrack. X-Men was epic and Captain America was excellent but Toby Jones' best film this year doesn't have to rely on special effects to tell a very special story. This film has real heart and tells an extraordinary story with warmth and humour about Stoke City's famous kit man, ex circus clown Neil Baldwin, who along with ex Man United legend Lou Macari, appear in sporadic scenes with the actors who play their parts beautifully. These interjections work brilliantly and give you a sense of Neil Baldwin's wonderful personality. I was very impressed with David Tennant's performance in United but I think Tony Curran has trumped him here. In fact all the cast were excellent including Gemma Jones, who we know as Brigid Jones' mother, and Nicholas Gleaves. Gary Linikear also makes an impressive cameo. It's a better film than United which was in itself excellent and though It may not have the drama of The Damned United, it's definitely on a par artistically. If you don't feel good after watching this film you have serious problems!

Clowning around

[xmasdaybaby1966 · 7/10 · 13 September 2021]

A good little film this with even the real life person being featured.

It's interesting with quirky humour but maybe not as heartwarming as it might liked to have been.

Good that such it was thought that such a person was worthy of being subject matter but Marvellous perhaps is a bit strong for the title.

A nice watch.

Outstanding Film

[Gubby-Allen · 8/10 · 31 December 2014]

Marvellous is a film you could safely recommend to anybody.

It is difficult to envisage what you could not like or gain from watching it. It will take you through every emotion imaginable in the 90 minutes and can justifiably apply a range of genres.

It's is slightly slow in the earlier portion, the chronology goes slightly awry at times but nothing which hinders it and you can near guarantee being enriched through the life of Baldwin and performance of Jones being presented to you.

The only downside is that neither film or actor probably meet any of the award season elligibility criteria.

Neil Baldwin is a good friend of mine...

[stanrogersmith · 10/10 · 12 September 2016]

That is something I truly wish I could say. I stumbled across this after watching a few episodes of The Detectorists and I wanted to see what else Toby Jones was in. Saw the picture of the Marvellous title and something just told me this was gonna be gold!!! Now, I know I'm late to the party on this one with the majority of the reviews being British since they've seen this 2 years ago, but for someone here in the U.S., where there is absolute garbage on television and in the movie theaters, Marvellous is a welcomed and sorely needed story. As such, my faith in humanity has been restored after watching it. I really believe that anyone who watches this will be a better person for having seen it. I'm not kidding. No sarcasm here. This was excellent. Times a hundred. Toby Jones nails it. As well as everyone else in this film. I don't know what else to say besides "Can you drop me off?" "Its not really on my way." "It is if you go that way to drop me off." Hahaha. Perfect.

Marvellous

[jboothmillard · 8/10 · 12 October 2014]

I saw small segments of the advert on television, and the article in the television schedules for this TV made film, at first I didn't know what it was, but because of the leading actor, and reading the description, it definitely sounded worthwhile. Based on the true story, Neil Baldwin (Toby Jones) was born just after World War II in Westlands in Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire, he is a man considered to have learning difficulties, but he has an appetite for life, and lives by the philosophy "I've always wanted to be happy, so I decided to be." With encouragement from his mother Mary (Gemma Jones) Neil joined the circus to become Nello the Clown, having left his job at the butchery, but he seems undaunted when the circus moves on without him, so he finds a cleaning job in Keele University, he also appoints himself unofficial greeter to new students, a role rewarded by an honorary degree in 2013. Neil has a passion for football, he manages the University's unofficial football team, named after him, and in 1992 he goes to meet and support the new manager of Stoke City, Lou Macari (Tony Curran), his beloved football team, and talks his way into becoming the team's kit man and unofficial mascot. With his friendly personality, his religious faith, and unflinching attitude there are no boundaries for Neil, he is able to turn up at the House of Commons and have tea with MP Tony Benn, he becomes a friend of Prince Andrew at Cambridge University which results in his name being on the Queen's Christmas card list, and claims to be friends to many religious and celebrity names, including the Archbishop of Canterbury, with their autographs and photographs in books, including Bibles. Neil overcomes setbacks through his life, including the death of his beloved Mother, who had been showing signs of being sick, but he never lets his limitations and unknown people's negative visions of him stop him from seizing opportunities, making many friends (close and distant) and living a marvellous life. Also starring Nicholas Gleaves as Rev Mark and Fresh Meat's Greg McHugh as Malcolm, and cameo appearances from Gary Lineker, Uriah Rennie, Norman Barrett, and the real Lou Macari and Neil Baldwin himself. Jones gives a fantastic and highly believable performance as the man with learning difficulties who always seems to remain positive, this biographical film has many elements to it, it has the realistic serious scenes, but in moments it becomes comedy, a musical, and clashes the scenes with both acted and the real footage which is really clever to watch, a great comedy drama. Very good!

He always wanted to be happy, so he decided to be.

[one9eighty · 8/10 · 25 November 2020]

Directed by Julian Farino and written by Peter Bowker, this film tells the story of Neil Baldwin as he goes through his life following his ambitions. Early in his life Neil is considered to have learning difficulties, but this never stops him. He joins the circus because he wants to and becomes Nello the Clown. When the circus leaves him behind his mothers tells him he needs a job, but it's ok, he finds his way to Keele University where welcome new students and runs the football team. When his mother mentions that he needs financial stability, it is ok because he gets a job at his beloved Stoke city as a mascot and kitman. Along the way he meets Tony Benn in the House of Commons, he meets and befriends Prince Andrew, he plays in a testimonial match for Stoke City and (almost) scores the winning goal (ok, nowhere near!), he gets to sit with the race officials at the Oxbridge boat race - all because he just asks to do it. Neil goes to prove that with the right attitude and outlook on life, anything is possible and that we are only restricted by ourselves.

Toby Jones brings Neil "Nello" Baldwin to life in this biopic and he does a fantastic job. There are scenes scattered through this film where the real Neil Baldwin sits alongside Toby Jones and it's plain to see that they aren't identical, but what Jones does is bring the character to life in all his glory, and importantly he brings Baldwin's story to life. As Hollywood often discovers, you can throw millions and billions of dollars and special effects at a movie and sometimes it lacks a heart to make it noteworthy. This film does quite the opposite, like it's source material it has a massive heart, and that is enough to really engage the audience and let them fall in love with Baldwin, like so many people who have met him have done too.

This is a fun and uplifting film that has the ability to warm the heart and give its audience a range of emotions. You would be forgiven for thinking that some parts of the film are made up due to how bizarre they are, but in truth the only things that are really made up are some of the scenery and environments that Jones is filmed in (for example, Stoke City had moved to the Britannia Stadium long before the film was made and their old Victoria ground had been knocked down. The film used Crewe Alexandra's ground as well as Wrexham's to get around this.). I could happily recommend this to anyone as a down to earth, feel-good film that would suit a wide audience and have something there for everyone. It is comparable to other kitchen-sink British media experienced and it uses some old-school approaches to present itself, as well as some more modern techniques too. A joy to watch and deserving of the name on the box, this truly is "Marvellous".

My heart is warm

[melaniedudley · 9/10 · 13 April 2015]

As others have said the title of this film sums it up perfectly. Neil or Nello is a little different, but manages through his own innocence, love of life and the fear switch turn firmly to off to have a more interesting life than most of us. The film does not gloss over his difficulties or the fact that he is not always treated kindly. It does however show that he expects things to work out and for others to be as nice as he is. Mostly his faith in human nature is justified. The relationship with his mother is so touching. She wants to protect and look after him but her advancing age makes her realise that the only way she can do this is to make him more independent. He struggles with everyday tasks much more than he does with the less than ordinary places which make up his daily life, Keele University, Stoke City FC and even the House of Commons. This film made me laugh and cry. I was a student at Keele in the 1980s, I knew Nello quite well. Seeing him appear as his older self in the film was great. This story is true, if anything it slightly underplays just how marvellous Nello is.

Great watch! Exceptional film!

[charlyvandedrinckfilms · 10/10 · 11 March 2015]

"The life of Neil Baldwin, a man who has shrugged off his perceived limitations to live an incredible life."

I was utterly surprised at how 'marvellous' this film really is! After watching several blockbusters and academy award winning films this year, it's been a great and satisfying change to watch a film like 'Marvellous'. I enjoy the British style the movie has adopted, and the story is rather exceptional, I hadn't heard of this man beforehand, however after wards I have gained an extremely large sense of interest.

The performances were grounded and very well executed. It could've easily been over-done, however I was pleasantly surprised.

The cinematography is very simple and old-school yet very effective. The natural high key lighting is nicely motivated and it looks very pleasing.

Overall, I really did enjoy this film. Go out and watch this! You will not regret it.

P.S I enjoyed this more than Birdman. (Don't tell Lubezki!)

Human Quality Shines

[mlb-28 · 9/10 · 1 July 2020]

Human quality is the greatest thing and this true story has that in abundance - Toby and Gemma put in superb character performances and bring to the screen the wonderful life story of Nell Baldwin. It's films and stories like these that make life worth living. The pace and scene making is superb it doesn't rush through or over dramatise but takes you gently through this marvellous man's life. The real life cameos are just perfect and add so much depth to the whole movie, A must see and beautifully made movie.

Bleedin' Marvellous

[joelsabout · 9/10 · 24 July 2020]

Just stumbled upon this little gem 7 years after it's release & had no idea what I was about to watch!

Brilliant heartwarming true story of a very unique & lovable character....

Took me by surprise

[muamba_eats_toast · 9/10 · 21 July 2020]

Stumbled across this on iplayer and it was such a pleasant surprise. A joy to watch with almost the full range of emotions throughout the film! A marvellous person and their marvellous life truly makes for a marvellous film!

Excellent, heartfelt film

[JonsKlaessens · 8/10 · 8 June 2017]

Delightfully small and warm, Marvellous tells the story of one of the greatest human beings living today, Neil Baldwin. Neil is kind man, a registered clown, a devout follower of the Church of England, a Stoke City enthusiast and a frequent visitor at the local university he does not study at. Neil goes through life like we all ought to go through life, always trying to relativize events positively. This incredible made for TV movie (a fact that can only be seen in the budgetary constraints, not in the quality, there it rises above most big budget blockbusters), feels a lot like the French film Amélie. That film too was overtly positive, believed in the inherent goodness of people and had me crying tears of joy at some points. Marvellous is not easy to find, but please try, it is well worth the extra effort. Don't do it because I said so, do it to experience the joy that is Neil Baldwin.

Truly Marvellous

[csm-78119 · 9/10 · 31 March 2019]

Magical film that will definitely leave you feeling better about the world. Toby Jones magnificent as the inspiring Neil Baldwin, who also appears in a real life cameo role himself, along with a few famous faces. A joyful experience all round.

Brilliant.

[daviddp-63772 · 10/10 · 8 May 2020]

Funny, uplifting, sad, thought provoking and utterly brilliant

Heartwarming

[kevinkeable · 10/10 · 17 October 2021]

What a lovely film. Moved me to tears several times, some sad but mostly laughter. Don't underestimate anyone. Great acting too. I can't believe I've not seen it before.

Just lovely

[Julian-benstead · 10/10 · 11 July 2020]

I can't believe I missed this when it was released . It is such a funny heartwarming tale.