Tag: Series

A series for TV or internet video about soccer, football or futbol

Comedy

Bravo for ‘Las Bravas FC’ (2022)

Post author By MJ-A
Post date September 25, 2022

Las Bravas FC (2022)

It’s a shame that shows like Las Bravas F.C. get so little traction and attention in the world of futbol. It’s a cute, entertaining series that abounds with examples and themes of diversity, inclusion, and female footballer role models. Lead actor Mauricio Ochmann is a popular telenovela star with a charisma that echoes Ryan Reynolds and with an unnerving resemblance to Mikel Arteta. But I only came across this enjoyable series while scrolling through HBO Max. So I suggest you watch it while you can.

Tags HBOMax, Mexican, R8, Series, Spain

Documentary

‘All or Nothing: Arsenal’ (2022) is All Arteta

Post author By MJ-A
Post date August 21, 2022

All or Nothing: Arsenal (2022)

Like its predecessor All or Nothing: Tottenham Hotspurs, which focused on José Mourinho, the Arsenal series focuses on the equally good-looking manager Mikel Arteta during the 2021-2022 season. I’m not sure why anyone other than an Arsenal fan would want to watch this series.

Tags Amazon, Arsenal, British, Coaching, R5, Series

Documentary

Review: ‘Bilardo, the Soccer Doctor’ (2022)

Post author By MJ-A
Post date June 24, 2022

Bilardo the Soccer Doctor (2022), Bilardo el doctor del fútbol

Having reviewed so many Maradona films and series, I was sorely confused when I began to watch the Argentine docuseries Bilardo, el doctor del fútbol. In all the Maradona shows I’ve seen, coach Carlos Bilardo is portrayed as a very minor but unpleasant character, someone who calls the shots for the Argentina NT but otherwise is buried in the background. So for me, this 4-episode HBOMax docuseries is a soccer revelation that thoroughly describes the man behind Maradona’s success.

Tags Argentina, Coaching, HBOMax, Maradona, R8, Series

Documentary

‘The Pogmentary’ (2022) deserves its 1.8 rating on IMDB

Post author By MJ-A
Post date June 20, 2022

The Pogmentary (2022) - Le Pogmentaire

I’m grumpy. This is my first review in months, and I’m writing about Le Pogmentaire — The Pogmentary — a 5-episode Amazon series on Paul Pogba that has no purpose other than branding. Save yourself a few hours and just watch the trailer — that’s pretty much the whole show.

Tags French, R4, Series

Documentary

Review – ‘Neymar: The Perfect Chaos’ (2022)

Post author By MJ-A
Post date February 25, 2022

Neymar: The Perfect Chaos (2022)

Before watching this Netflix docuseries on Neymar, I knew little about the Brazilian who was supposed to be the next Pelé. I’ve probably seen more memes of Neymar than I’ve seen him play.

Tags Brazil, FC Barcelona, Netflix, PSG, R6, Series

Drama

‘Maradona Sueño Bendito’ (2021) sex, more sex, drugs and fútbol

Post author By MJ-A
Post date December 1, 2021

Maradona Sueño Bendito (2021) - Maradona Blessed Dream

Maradona Blessed Dream, the 10-episode series from Amazon, may hook you in its steady outpouring of sex, drugs and fútbol. It will probably be the grandest film/series about Diego Armando Maradona that will ever be made. But if I hadn’t felt compelled to review it, I would have preferred to turn it off. It just feels so distasteful and disrespectful. Do we really want to remember Maradona by the depictions of his nightlife, copulations and orgies?

Tags Amazon, Argentina, Maradona, R7, Series

Documentary

‘Maradona in Mexico’ (2019) is his saving grace

Post author By MJ-A
Post date November 27, 2021

Maradona in Mexico (2019) - Maradona en Sinaloa

Amongst many other themes, the Netflix series Maradona in Mexico is about coaching and the power of belief. British Director Angus Macqueen follows Diego Maradona, the players and the staff of Dorados de Sinoloa, a second division club that hopes to be promoted to LigaMX in its 2018-2019 season.

Tags British, Coaching, Maradona, Mexican, Netflix, R8, Series

Comedy

Where have you gone, ‘Ted Lasso’ Season 2 (2021)?

Post author By MJ-A
Post date October 22, 2021

Ted Lasso (2020)

The Apple TV+ series Ted Lasso has had such a cultural impact, it calls for a separate review for its second season. Season One arrived as an antidote to a toxic presidency and a worldwide pandemic. Coach Ted Lasso was quoted from the pulpit of my local Presbyterian church, in whose congregation almost no one follows soccer.

Tags British, R8, Series, USA

Comedy

‘Rovers’ (2016) warm as toast before Ted Lasso

Post author By MJ-A
Post date October 3, 2021

Rovers (2016)

Rovers is a thoroughly enjoyable comic series that only ran one season for 6 episodes. Director and star Craig Cash has a history of comedic series and successes, and it’s a shame that this show didn’t run longer.

Tags British, fans, R8, Series

Comedy

‘Ted Lasso’ (2020) – loved the series, hated the ending

Post author By MJ-A
Post date October 6, 2020

Ted Lasso (2020)

There are so many reviews of this Apple TV+ original series, there isn’t much for me to add. Well, except for that bit about hating the ending. But let me start by saying Ted Lasso is one of few things that I can be thankful for this year, outside of my family and friends. This ensemble piece gives us characters that we care about and watch develop over 10 episodes. It’s almost heartbreaking that we have to wait until next year for season 2.

Tags British, R9, Series, USA

Documentary

‘All or Nothing: Tottenham HotSpur’ (2020) showcases Mourinho

Post author By MJ-A
Post date September 27, 2020

All or Nothing: Tottenham Hotspur (2020)

The Amazon docuseries, All or Nothing: Tottenham Hotspur, directed by Anthony Philipson and produced by 72 Films, has a purpose that can’t be ignored. You can hear a small Gollum whispering in your ear: “Like us,” it says. “England’s biggest newest stadium,” it says. “José Mourinho is really a good guy,” it says.

Wait, stop. Run that by me again? And that’s a thread that ran through my mind the whole series: why would Tottenham create over 7 hours of promo for José Mourinho, the once-adored, now-maligned former (FIFA 2010) best manager in football? Simply put, it’s all about global branding.

Tags British, R7, Series, THFC

Documentary

‘Take Us Home: Leeds United’ (2019) leaves you longing for Season 2

Post author By MJ-A
Post date August 18, 2020

Take Us Home: Leeds United (2019)

As we all struggle on with the pandemic, one of the things we miss most is sporting events — the hot dogs, the beer, the chance to be with like-minded souls and scream in unison at a goal or a bad foul. For some, streaming sports documentary series at home is a modest substitute. Writer-Director Lee Hicken’s series Take Us Home: Leeds United does more than substitute for sports; it creates a sporting legend.

Tags British, Leeds, R9, Series

Documentary

Sunderland ’Til I Die (2018) takes your eye off the truth

Post author By MJ-A
Post date June 7, 2020

Sunderland 'Til I Die (2018-2019)

Football clubs used to publish just a single documentary film about themselves every so often, but now they’ve migrated to massive streaming series. Usually I avoid football club and player movies because I know they are going to amount to a very long marketing video. I made an exception for the Netflix series Sunderland ’Til I Die. And here’s why.

Tags British, fans, Fulwell 73, R7, Series

Drama

Why I loved ‘The English Game’ (2020)

Post author By MJ-A
Post date March 28, 2020

The English Game (2020)

A period drama about football is unique. A well-crafted tale in this time of pestilence is a joy and a comfort. The English Game, how football became the people’s game, is elegant soap opera and luscious escapism to a simpler time. Three nights in a row, to close out my shelter-in-place day, I self-administered dollops of this Netflix TV series and then slept deeply, sans souci.

Tags British, R9, Scottish, Series, women director

Cultural Documentary

‘Looking for…’ fanatic football fans (2010-2015)

Post author By MJ-A
Post date December 4, 2018

Looking for... Series (2010-2015)

Post-football, Eric Cantona found a new passion and challenge: cinema. At 30 years old, he unexpectedly retired from football in 1997. Among reasons Eric has cited in retrospect: he was tired of playing the game. However, he transitioned to acting as well as beach soccer, popularizing the sport and managing the French beach soccer team for almost 15 years.

Tags fans, French, R7, Series