I watched The Opposition last year but didn’t write about it because the film was so disturbing. This ESPN 30 for 30 TV episode documents how General Pinochet’s junta tortured and killed dissidents. They used the Chilean national stadium as a prison while the team prepared to qualify for WC 1974. Continue reading “The Opposition (2014)”
Review: Will (2011)
Within the short list of soccer films directed by women, there is a surprising number of Americans who have directed ostensibly British films. Will is just such a case. Americans Ellen Perry (Director) and Zack Anderson (Writer) have created a family film drama around Liverpool FC. Continue reading “Review: Will (2011)”
[Review] 30 for 30: The Two Escobars (2010)
For its 30th anniversary, ESPN commissioned 30 respected filmmakers to produce 30 documentaries on the impact of sports on society. 30 for 30: The Two Escobars is the fascinating story of player Andrés Escobar and druglord Pablo Escobar.
Continue reading “[Review] 30 for 30: The Two Escobars (2010)”Review: The Damned United (2009)
When watching The Damned United, besides Sheen’s performance, I wondered why is this soccer movie so good? Well, it turns out that this BBC film has quite a pedigree behind it: Director Peter Hooper made The King’s Speech. And screenwriter Peter Morgan wrote The Queen, The Last King of Scotland, and Frost/Nixon. Hooper, Morgan, and Sheen all excell at brilliant strong character dramas.
Continue reading “Review: The Damned United (2009)”Review: She’s the Man (2006)
She’s the Man is a clever adaptation of Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night, a story of mistaken identity and cross-dressing, played on a high school soccer field. Amanda Bynes sparkles as Viola, a girl masquerading as her brother Sebastian in order to play on the boys team (under coach Vinnie Jones).
Continue reading “Review: She’s the Man (2006)”Review: Dare to Dream (2005)
The HBO documentary Dare to Dream: The Story of the US Womens Soccer Team faithfully captures the build up and heartbreak that is US Womens National Team Soccer (USWNT). If you are a fan, you need to watch this film. If you watched it when it first came out in 2005 (like I did), you need to watch it again.
Continue reading “Review: Dare to Dream (2005)”Review: Goal! The Dream Begins (2005)
First conceived in 2000, the trilogy Goal! was dropped and then restarted after WC 2002. This first Goal movie was made by 3 Brits in Hollywood who love soccer, and therefore, they try to portray the game realistically and honestly.
Continue reading “Review: Goal! The Dream Begins (2005)”Review: Romeo and Juliet get Married (2005)
A few years after making Bossa Nova, Bruno Barreto directed this Brazilian comedy, O Casamento de Romeu e Julieta, which is another, even better, soccer date movie.
Continue reading “Review: Romeo and Juliet get Married (2005)”Review: Shaolin Soccer (2001)
After watching a slew of soccer movies, I reopened my Shaolin Soccer DVD. I liked it 10 years ago, but now I recognize how inventive the movie is. A group of penniless former Shaolin monks rekindle their love of kung fu by applying it to soccer.
Continue reading “Review: Shaolin Soccer (2001)”History of Soccer (2001)
The History of Soccer is a terrific compilation of facts and videos. I originally got the first disk from Netflix, and then I lucked out and found the whole 7-disk set at my library. Continue reading “History of Soccer (2001)”