Go see Goal!
It's the sort of film that makes you go home, dust off the cobwebs from your football boots, then call some kakis out for a kickabout.
Goal! the movie scores with its simple yet intricate and intriguing Disney formula - Mexican boy who grows up in the LA ghettoes overcoming the odds to realise his dream of playing professional football in England.
As one colleague said "it made me cry, feel angry, feel happy and laugh.''
Thank God I had the chance to catch it free at a special ESPN screening on Wednesday, but this is one movie I'll gladly pay $9.50 to watch again.
For the movie captures rather accurately the essence as well as intimate details of a professional Premiership player's life - from the temptations of wine, women and song, to the pressures of impressing the manager, and dealing with agents and the media.
And with many quote-worthy gems like "We footballers are just a tackle away from flipping burgers" in its smart though predictable script, Goal! also paints the stark reality and brevity that soccer stars face in their career quite accurately.
The only part I 'hated' was the ending, in which Newcastle beat my beloved Liverpool at St James' Park.
Blasphemy.
That result will only happen at the movies (sorry I could not resist the cheap shot...).
This glitch aside, I thoroughly enjoyed the film - from the Toon accent which could drive us Singaporeans looney trying to figure out what shite they are actually saying, to the beautiful cinematography.
For those who have not yet discovered the wonder of the beautiful game, there's still plenty of entertainment, from the pulsating soundtrack to the smart way director Danny Cannon (Bruce Almighty, CSI) portrays the matches.
There's also plenty of cameos by several stars which would make football-savvy members of the audience go 'ooo... and ahhh....'
Indeed, Goal! hints at this message - it's about time you got educated on this drug called the Premiership!
But soccer fan or not, Goal! is still able to hit a hat-trick both ways...
posted by Al @ 11:42 pm
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