Goal ! : Naissance d’un prodige

***SPOILER ALERT*** – The soccer scenes might be filmed perfectly, but the script ruined everything. From the moment the point loss in the Champions League was revealed, it was clear to me that my beloved Liverpool would ultimately falter. Additionally, scenes like "That's my son" or "He's definitely watching now" in such an exaggerated manner are not what I would have expected in a supposedly serious effort. (26/10/2006)

The first part of an intended trilogy about a kid from a poor neighborhood and his great talent for soccer, sponsored by FIFA. And despite the fact that at FIFA’s request this is a modern “fairytale" with a moral at the end, this picture is at last a respectable soccer movie for the silver screen, where it has been sorely missing in recent years. The great plus for this movie is that the real soccer environment is depicted here, along with appearances from contemporary soccer stars. The only serious problem I see here is the incomprehensible choice of clubs (I simply don’t like Newcastle United), which is counter-balanced by the Baroš/Šmicer double act... (10/09/2006)

One of the most feel-good movies I’ve seen recently. Never mind that at its core it’s essentially a fairy tale, which happens once in a thousand cases. But the pleasant feeling it radiates and the positive energy it ultimately provides are what matter most. After all these years, I was quite surprised, as I expected to rate it lower (after all, some time has passed, and I’ve grown up), but I still enjoyed it. Kuno Becker, as the young Santiago, performed decently in Hollywood—he didn’t dazzle remarkably, but his performance pleased me. The casting of Alessandro Nivola as the faded star who frequents every bar and lives life to the fullest was spot on; the creators nailed it with perfect work. Even the supporting roles were surprising, especially the Newcastle manager, who excelled in his role. The matches were enjoyable, and I highly appreciate the presence of real football stars who amazed viewers with their skills on the pitch 15 years ago. The ending was a bit over the top, but let’s be honest... This story needed a happy ending. For me, it’s 7.5/10. (12/11/2020)

I have a confession to make before I write this review: I don't like soccer. There was a time when I was interested in it, and I even used to root for Manchester United. But that was the old days. Back then, soccer used to be played by men and not by prima donnas whose greatest talent is, wait for it, acting. If I wanted to watch soccer today, I'd choose women's soccer. It may be slower, but I can't help feeling that women play now the way men used to before. They’re focused on winning and they don't give a shit about self-presentation (on the field). After a foul, I don't have to watch a 20-minute performance on the subject of dying with a happy ending for the person who was originally dying. But I digress. The film was a sports fairy tale about ex-gangster Santiago (suffering from a fear of needles and asthma) and his quest for happiness. As in any fairy tale, the journey is not a straightforward one. Our hero has to overcome many obstacles and resist many temptations. Not just soccer balls are passed to him but also many life lessons and words of wisdom, so I didn't have to worry too much about him. It makes no sense to complain about clichés and pathos, as they are an inevitable part of such a movie. Plus, things were mightily improved for me by the cute and charming Anna Friel. It wasn't a profound cinematic experience, but as a soccer ad complete with many a moral lesson, it was passable. / Lesson learned: Why don't I like soccer anymore? Because: Ruud van Nistelrooy (then), Arjen Robben (later). And that’s just one of many examples. (31/08/2022)