If you're looking for a stocking stuffer for the holidays, I've added another links section of great to decent Football movies with links to Amazon where you can purchase them. My top five list would be:
Kicking It: a documentary about the World Cup for homeless people, set in South Africa
The Other Final: a documentary about a match set up between two of the lowest ranked World Cup teams Bhutan and Montserrat
The Football Factory: a study of Middle England Football violence and male culture, based on a novel by John King
The Cup: World Cup soccer fever sweeps into a remote Himalayan monastery and centuries-old traditions are threatened the young monks will do just about anything to watch the final match, posing a unique challenge to the venerable lamas in charge.
There's Only One Jimmy Grimble: Jimmy Grimble (played by Lewis McKenzie) is a little guy who wants to play on the Greenock High School football team in Manchester, England. The team is being contingently sponsored by the father of the team's star, 'Gorgeous' Gordon Burley (played by Bobby Power). Gordon and his pals constantly bully Jimmy. On one occasion, Jimmy hides out with a homeless woman (played by Jane Laptaire), who gives him an old 'magic' pair of football cleats. Unimpressed, Jimmy tosses them away. The next day, Gordon throws Jimmy's regular shoes into a garbage truck. Desperate, Jimmy retrieves the 'magic' shoes and becomes the team's leading scorer. The team wins, making it to the high school finals. A scout for Manchester United will be watching. Then Gordon throws the 'magic' shoes into a canal. What is Jimmy to do?
Look for Angel City FC to be hosting some football movie nights in 2009.
I can vouch for "Kicking It." Even if not to buy, you guys definitely need to see this movie. Absolutely incredible.
ReplyDeleteAnd although a little cheesy, I love "Goal!" as well.
How did my fave miss the cut?
ReplyDelete"Victory!"
Sly Stallone in goal. Pele on the field. The battle of good vs. evil in Nazi Germany.
When we do movie night, I promise to show the highlights.
It's the reason I play soccer.
Oh, wait, now I see the links on the side. Ok, Victory is there. Last place, but there.
ReplyDeleteWell, done, Gothboy.
Movie night will be a reality.
Victory was only last because the list is in alpha order. The highlight of my football-loving life was sitting in the stands for two matches with my father in Vancouver. One was a Brazil vs Canada friendly ... the other was the New York Cosmos vs the Vancouver Whitecaps in NASL action. I was at the tunnel where the players came out for both games and was within arms reach when Pele came out. I have never felt such a buzz from a crowd, even in stadiums with 100 times the capacity in the UK as when Pele hit the field.
ReplyDelete