Football and the small screen have been a match made in heaven. The
same cannot be said about the silver screen. Never has a soccer story
with a US$100million budget been attempted; why bother when this subject
will be ignored by the American market?
Somehow Danny Cannon secured backing for Goal!, a vision that began to take
shape in 2003 where Newcastle became the club and city of choice, apparently
fending off both Chelsea and Manchester United. The premise of the film was
never a secret; young Mexican illegal immigrant wins the chance of a contract
with Newcastle United after being spotted playing for a Los Angeles amateur
club and makes the big time.
Suffice to say that is not the basis of a good film. But Santiago Munez
(Kuno Becker) plays the role of doting yet ambitious grandson/son/brother in a
poverty stricken environment to perfection in one of many storylines that puts
the football on the subs' bench. Unfortunately this stutters the beginning of
the film in the first test of the audience's patience.
The genius of the picture kicks off when Munez eventually swaps LA for
Tyneside. From the train journey from London to his arrival in Newcastle
Central the beauty of the East Coast line and the bridges over the Tyne are
captured and immortalised. Upon arrival in Newcastle the stereotyping
of the Geordie Nation picks up pace with jokes about "the toon" just the start
of the fun - there's even a comic Scouser thrown in for good measure.
Munez struggles to hold his own while harbouring an affection for Newcastle's
club nurse Roz Harmison (Anna Friel), latest signing and resident bad-boy Gav
Harris (Alessandro Nivola) demonstrates the Footballer's Cribs lifestyle, while
sampling the delights of the Quayside and infamous Bigg Market. Somehow the
film avoids falling into Footballers' Wives / Dream Team levels of tackiness -
although there are cringeworthy moments a-plenty.
Star footballers are neatly worked into the script, with many of the
Newcastle first team appearing and Alan Shearer getting a line. There are
further appearances from Raul, Zinedine Zidane and David Beckham nicely setting
up the second of the Goal! trilogy (which focuses on Spanish giants Real Madrid).
The football action is cleverly shot, with reserve games being acted out and
actors being superimposed onto Premiership action.
St James' Park was filled by fans volunteering in the hope of an appearance
in a Hollywood film, while Munez and Harris hid behind advertising hoardings to
join in celebrations of first team goals. Those moments were bemusing for the
oblivious crowds at the games
The Tyne and Wear Tourist Board would do well to use Goal! in future
promotions. The film may help eliminate the vision of it being
grim up North, capturing as it does the heart and soul of Newcastle, a city that revolves around its football club.
Goal! is no Oscar contender, but for a feel-good movie you'll be hard pressed
to find a better option this year. It's all the more impressive given
the subject matter. Goal! is not a film for football fanatics from Newcastle -
the subject matter is universal complete with cultural diversity.
It is also fantastically acted by a relatively unknown cast. Star
Alessandro Nivola told musicOMH.com that the sequel is even better (although he
would say that) - Real Madrid give the cameras even more access. This
trilogy looks destined to become a universal success.
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