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Abhorrent
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Disturbing
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Acceptable
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Wholesome
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Exemplary
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VA
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For viewers of all ages
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V13
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For viewers age 13 and below with parental guidance
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V14
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For viewers 14 and above
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V18
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For mature viewers 18 and above
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NP
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Not for public viewing
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Title:
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GOAL |
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Running Time:
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120 mins
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Lead Cast:
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Kuno Becker, Stephen Dillane, Anna Fruel, Tony Plana, Allisandrp Nivola, Marcel Iures, Sean Pertwee
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Director:
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Danny Cannon
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Producers:
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Mark Huffman, Mike Jeffries, Matthew Barell
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Screenwriters:
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Dick Clement, Tanla Frenais
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Music:
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Graeme Revell, Liosay Pugh
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Editor:
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Genre:
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Drama
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Cinematography:
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Michael Barret, Danny Stepper Joburn
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Distributor:
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Columbia Pictures
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Location:
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Newcastle, London; England, Los Angeles, USA
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Technical Assessment:
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Moral Assessment:
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CINEMA Rating:
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For viewers age 13 and below with parental guidance
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As a boy in Mexico and now as a young man in Los Angeles, Santiago Munez (Kuno Becker) has kept and nurtured his dream of
being a football star. Aside from working with his father to earn a living, holding on to his own job in an eatery kitchen, attending his classes and coping with his asthma,
he manages to be a member of his school's soccer team and keep up with its requirements.
All that and he still finds his own time to hone his skill with the ball. During a school competition, Santi catches the attention of a spectator: Englishman Glen Foy (Stephen Dillane) a retired football player and occasional scout. Impressed with what he sees of Santi in action, Foy invites the young man to turn pro: travel to England for a tryout to join the prestigious Newcastle United team. Despite his father's (Tony Plana) objection but with his grandma's support, Santi travels half the world to realize his dream. He has never played before in rain and mud as the English do, so how will he fare?
Goal is more a spectacle than a narrative. Focus is placed on a number of football games where Santi is shown as clumsy and inept and where he stars as the newest and youngest member of the team. The sequences are fast-paced and interesting especially where Munez displays his exceptional skills. The narrative branches out into the young man's relationship with his authoritarian father, the beginning difficulties of getting accepted by his team, his friendship with a nurse, his interaction with Foy and the team manager among others. For a newcomer Kuno Becker is credible and has good screen presence. The ensemble actors, among them popular real English footballers were up to what they had to do. Besides impressive shots of English scenery, Goal takes credit for seamlessly edited footages of football showing real games spliced with reel ones.
Santiago's determination to become a football player is shown in how he kept his dream alive by the sacrifices he had to make
to realize it. But while this is primarily Santiago's success, the victory belongs to a circle of supporters: the talent scout who discovers him and encourages him
through disappointment, indecision and others' doubts; his sympathetic grandmother; his adoring brother; the team manager who gives the boy from Mexico more chances to prove his
worth; a senior player and teammate who befriends and supports him; a woman with whom he eventually shares deepening friendship; and in an indirect way, the opposition from his
father whose vehement rejection of his aspirations spurs him more to venture into the world alone. What's notable, too, is the hero's steadfastness in remaining uncorrupted
by the new lifestyle success brings him. The film should inspire young people to follow their heart.
(Date Reviewed: 17 February 2006)
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