Tag: R5
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The sexism of ‘Gregory’s Girl’ (1981) can’t be tolerated today
Gregory’s Girl is an iconic coming-of-age movie from 1981. Using a cast of teenagers from the Glasgow Youth Theatre, Writer-Director Bill Forsyth follows Gregory as he schemes to win the heart of the ground-breaking girl who has joined his high school football team.
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‘Playing for Keeps’ (2012) a muddled $35M mess
In Playing for Keeps, a retired and penniless Scottish soccer star (Gerard Butler as George) moves to a small town to reunite with his 9 year old son and soon-to-be-remarried ex-wife (Jessica Biel). George ends up coaching his son’s team on the way to becoming a responsible adult male and finding a new career as…
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‘The Soccer Nanny’ (2011) a little too coy for today
In The Soccer Nanny, a recently widowed mother (ex-pornstar Traci Lords) hires a male au pair from Norway to provide a role model for her 9 and 16 year old sons while she runs the family’s bison farm in the “Little Sweden” town of Lindsborg, Kansas.
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Review: ‘Rise & Shine: The Jay DeMerit Story’ (2011)
Unfortunately for viewers who don’t know who Jay DeMerit is, the first-time filmmakers of The Jay DeMerit Story present his history chronologically. So it takes awhile for the non-soccer fan to understand why his story is even worth telling.
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‘Hermano’ (2010) a dark tale in a Venezuelan barrio
Hermano (aka Brother) is the story of teenage brothers who are unbeatable together on the soccer field and have a chance to tryout for the local pro team.
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‘Soccer City’ (2010) lacks passion for the game
Nick Fitzhugh went to South Africa during World Cup 2010 and filmed Soccer City, ostensibly about the impact of soccer on South African culture. He interviewed and followed the lives of various youth players and former National Team members.
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‘Rudo y Cursi’ (2008) a story you can’t forget
Rudo y Cursi is an artful story of hick half-brothers from banana plantations in the Cihuatlán Valley between Jalisco and Colima. An agent discovers them and signs them to opposing First Division teams in Mexico City, where they succumb to the trappings of success.
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‘Below the Earth’s Surface’ (2008) can this stadium be saved?
Below the Earth’s Surface (or Gaping Abyss) is a German TV action movie in a stadium, it is not really a soccer movie. But it has good production values and rolls along at a tense pace.
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‘Her Best Move’ (2007) tale from a soccer dad
Family friendly, Her Best Move rises above the other teen/kid soccer movies in the authenticity of the players and the story. The film accurately portrays the trade-offs and stresses on soccer prodigies as well as their families and coaches.
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‘Goal II: Living the Dream’ (2007) and continuing the franchise
Goal 2: Living the Dream continues the rags-to-riches fantasy of Santiago Munez, who migrates from the streets of Los Angeles to become a super-sub at Newcastle. In this sequel, Santi and his buddy Gavin end up at Real Madrid, with Santi on his way up and Gavin on his way down.
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Challenges of the Palestine NT in ‘Goal Dreams’ (2006)
Goal Dreams follows the Palestinian National Team in the month leading up to their all-important World Cup 2006 qualifying game against Uzbekistan. The team has many problems to overcome. They must practice in Egypt and play their game in Qatar, in an empty stadium. Six players cannot exit Gaza until 2 weeks before the game,…
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‘Chronicle of an Escape’ (2006) from an Argentine prison
Gritty and gripping, Chronicle of an Escape is a true story about innocents and leftists who “disappeared” at the hands of the Argentine juntas during 1976-1983. The filmmakers show how interrogators use torture, starvation, and humiliation to crush the human spirit.
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‘The Game of Their Lives’ (2005) in a historic USMNT win
Maybe like me, you fell asleep during The Game of Their Lives (retitled The Miracle Match on DVD) when it played on the big screen in Apr-2005. Although directed and written by the same guys who did Hoosiers, the pace is very slow in this telling of the USA victory over England at World Cup…
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‘Joyeux Noel’ (2005) the WWI Christmas Truce
Some of the movies I’ve reviewed were difficult to get hold of. Joyeux Noël was one such movie. I stayed in a hotel in Avila Beach where they had this DVD in their library! It’s a fairly well done movie, but like The Boys in Company C, it is really an anti-war movie, not a…
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‘Soccer Dog: European Cup’ (2004) so silly it’s fun
It’s kind of strange that, of the little information on the web about Soccer Dog: European Cup, most of it is incorrect. Back in 2012, the imdb description used to say that this movie was about a pornstar running a Scottish team. Other sites say this sequel to Soccer Dog: The Movie is about an…
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‘Air Bud World Pup’ (2001) dogs and funny referees
In the Disney Air Bud franchise, a dog named Buddy plays on all the sports teams at a high school. In Air Bud 3: World Pup, Buddy’s owner joins the soccer team because of the new girl from England (who is the best player).
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‘Atlético San Pancho’ (2001) cows and Coca Cola
When a red Coca Cola soccer ball falls from the sky, the school janitor takes this as a sign that he must revive the soccer tradition of his village. With the help of a former pro who has come home to run his father’s tiny store, janitor Don Pepe assembles team Atlético San Pancho. The school…
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‘Soccer Dog: The Movie’ (1999) well done in good fun
In Soccer Dog: The Movie, a 34 year old man, who grew up in a orphanage, moves to a true soccer town. Realizing he can’t participate in the fun without a son, he and his wife return to the orphanage to adopt a young teenage boy, who subsequently brings home a stray dog.
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‘The Big Green’ (1995) a timeless Disney soccer movie
The Big Green is a formulaic Disney movie about an underdog soccer team. Disney knows how to create a film that doesn’t age and that can be shown to successive generations of little kids for decades. The Big Green is the Disney equivalent of a Twinkie.
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‘Pilkarski Poker’ (1989) how to bribe Polish referees
In Pilkarski Poker (aka Soccer Poker), Laguna is a former star player who has risen to the top of the referee ranks despite his drinking. A co-op of owners bribe him to make calls that will ensure which team will win the premier league and which will be relegated. But Laguna hasn’t taken bribes before,…
