| |
Click A Poster to Purchase
 |  | Get Showtimes... |
Review #124 of 365
Film: Goal! The Dream Begins [PG-13] 118 minutes
WIP™ Scale: $12.25
Where Viewed: AMC Loews Meridian 16, Seattle, WA
When 1st Seen: 15 May 2006
Time: 7:20 p.m.
Review Dedicated to: Amani R. of Portland, OR
 |
DVD |
I have to start by stating I was a little skeptical about this film before I entered the theatre. It got little fanfare in a weekend that was headlined by a sinking ship a.k.a. Poseidon. and Lindsay Lohan’s Just My Luck (2006). Meanwhile, it is about soccer, and everyone who knows me, knows that I am a certified Hockey fanatic—not that I don’t like soccer, however, I just never developed the same level of appreciation for it that the rest of the world has. Sometimes, it is easier to tell if a film is good if you have a lower appreciation for the topics—the film really has to sell itself. Also, it must be said upfront, that sometimes I am a sucker for hard knocks stories about the American Dream (not to be confused with American Dreamz with a Z). The real American dream where people with nothing, many of them immigrants—the life blood of American culture, diversity, and history—who through incredibly hard work and against overwhelming odds, get to live a life of integrity, honor, fame, and sometimes monetary fortune. I want to be careful, because I believe that it is terribly important to honor those who live the dream through social service and go on to become Fire Chiefs, people in the Clergy, social service agents, etc. just as much as those who go on to become professional soccer players. That said, absolutely, Goal! The Dream Begins is a really good movie.
"...director Danny Cannon and his cast, especially Kuno Becker, have scored a Gooooooooooooooooaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaal! with this film."
Beginning with the tense, illegal immigration of the Munez family from Mexico to southern California for a better life where young Santiago is forced to leave behind his prized soccer ball, the film captures the essence of the incredibly divisive political debate raging in the Congress of the USA these days regarding illegal immigration and illegal immigrants. Basically, you have families living below poverty standards in a nation where, with no disrespect is intended, the standard of living is well below that of a neighboring country. These families will stop at nearly nothing to bring their children every opportunity for a better life. It is awfully hard to blame them for that desire. Well, Hernan Munez (Tony Plana) is just such a man, and after his wife leaves the family, he decides to take his mother and two sons to the U.S.A. in hopes of a better life and financial opportunities. Unfortunately, as his sons and mother will learn, he does not bring with him a true faith in the capacity of his sons to be far greater than himself, only an expectation that they will work hard and eventually own the small yard service business for which he works. What Hernan Munez should have recognized was that his bold move to leave his beautiful homeland of Mexico and move his family to a foreign nation would actually inspire them to seek similar challenges in their own lives. Hence, we see young Santiago (Kuno Becker) working two jobs and saving up as much money as possible to fulfill his dreams. Little would he ever imagine that his dream would come in the form of former Newcastle United player and scout, Glen Foy (Stephen Dilane), on holiday in Southern California to visit his daughter who happens to spot him on the field playing for his non-league affiliated American Jóvenes Team. Glen finds himself mesmerized by Santiago’s dazzling footwork and ball control. Also, there is a touch of fearlessness in him that makes him appear invincible in front of the net. He plays soccer as if his feet are able to communicate instructions directly to the ball itself.
Kuno Becker as Santiago Muñez – click photo to purchase
So, Glen decides to risk it all on Santiago and get him a tryout with his former team. It is at that moment that for young Santiago, the dream begins. Of course, this is all within the first 30 minutes of the film. There is still much more to come including (no spoilers just hints) Hernan Munez doing the unthinkable to prevent Santiago from wasting his time with his “head in the sky” ideas of being a professional soccer player, to his beloved Grandmother interceding in her own way to help him get to England for the tryout, to Santiago failing to mention to the club manager that he has asthma causing him great hardship, and Santiago being befriended by the Newcastle United superstar, bad boy Gavin Harris (Alessandro Nivola). And, yes, ultimately, the final test to see if he will be able to make the true Newcastle United team or be sent packing back to Los Angeles.
One of the things that Goal! The Dream Begins proves again to me is that the single most important thing that determines if a movie is good or not is the story it tells. If it tells a good story, it is a good movie. Great acting and special effects, marvelous locations and costumes, brilliant sound and set design, can move a good movie on to greatness, but without a good story they are a fancy package wrapped around a pile of refuse. Well, this is a very good story. It was very human. Santiago has faults and weaknesses (mostly that he is too worried he will fail). He is vulnerable, sensitive, innocent, honorable, and caring as well. The studio gave this film one thing that a lot of films these days don’t get, the gift of time. A bit longer than usual, this film does take the time it needs to really develop Santiago’s character both literally and figuratively--meaning the character of his character. This really makes him even more real, believable, and lovable in the end. Mexican born, 28-year old, veteran actor of film and television in Mexico, Kuno Becker breathes the very life into his character of Santiago. Definitely one of the freshest and most real performances I’ve seen in a very long time by a relative new comer to a major motion picture Hollywood release. I also wish to throw some praise to USA-born Alessandro Nivola who plays Gavin Harris. The Newcastle United acquire him very near the end of the season to try to tap his talents aside from his bad boy reputation of drinking, clubbing, and womanizing to win their league from arch rivals and earn the right to play in Europe next season. Well, I have to admit to not having recognized him at all from his previous roles in films like The Clearing where he played Robert Redford’s character’s son or Jurassic Park III where he played Billy Brennan. He is so absolutely believable in this role, I just assumed that he was a real European footballer they found who could also act. Seriously, he was amazing. When the credits rolled, I stayed to see who played Gavin and saw his name and thought, “Hmm, guess I was right. Guess he’s an Italian soccer player.” Well, my hat is off to him. I still cannot believe how good he was.
Previously, I mentioned that production values can move a good story into being a great movie but not the other way around. I did not mean to imply that this film has lesser production values. The production values are quite high. This is a major motion picture. Apparently Disney’s Touchstone feels the film will be so successful that IMDb reports two sequels Goal! 2: Living the Dream and Goal! 3 already in pre- or post-production. I’ll reserve judgment on sequels until I see them, but I have to feel they have made a safe bet. Of course, it stands to reason this film will do very well over seas, but I should like to encourage as many USAers to see this film as possible too. First, it deserves your viewership—certainly it is far more worthy your entertainment dollars than Poseidon, for example. Second, while this is a movie that focuses on a soccer player struggling to live his dream, it really isn’t a soccer movie. They do play a little soccer and do a little soccer training, but really this is a movie about, as I started, a young immigrant who believes in the American dream and gets a chance to live it. I cannot see how just about anyone wouldn't really enjoy this movie. It has all the heart, spirit, and soul you could ever want from a film. I'd say director Danny Cannon and his cast especially Kuno Becker have scored a Goooooooooooooaaaaaaaaaaaaaal! with this film.
One of the things that Goal! The Dream Begins proves again to me is that the single most important thing that determines if a movie is good or not is the story it tells. If it tells a good story, it is a good movie. Great acting and special effects, marvelous locations and costumes, brilliant sound and set design, can move a good movie on to greatness, but without a good story they are a fancy package wrapped around a pile of refuse. Well, this is a very good story. It was very human. Santiago has faults and weaknesses (mostly that he is too worried he will fail). He is vulnerable, sensitive, innocent, honorable, and caring as well. The studio gave this film one thing that a lot of films these days don’t get, the gift of time. A bit longer than usual, this film does take the time it needs to really develop Santiago’s character both literally and figuratively--meaning the character of his character. This really makes him even more real, believable, and lovable in the end. Mexican born, 28-year old, veteran actor of film and television in Mexico, Kuno Becker breathes the very life into his character of Santiago. Definitely one of the freshest and most real performances I’ve seen in a very long time by a relative new comer to a major motion picture Hollywood release. I also wish to throw some praise to USA-born Alessandro Nivola who plays Gavin Harris. The Newcastle United acquire him very near the end of the season to try to tap his talents aside from his bad boy reputation of drinking, clubbing, and womanizing to win their league from arch rivals and earn the right to play in Europe next season. Well, I have to admit to not having recognized him at all from his previous roles in films like The Clearing where he played Robert Redford’s character’s son or Jurassic Park III where he played Billy Brennan. He is so absolutely believable in this role, I just assumed that he was a real European footballer they found who could also act. Seriously, he was amazing. When the credits rolled, I stayed to see who played Gavin and saw his name and thought, “Hmm, guess I was right. Guess he’s an Italian soccer player.” Well, my hat is off to him. I still cannot believe how good he was.
Previously, I mentioned that production values can move a good story into being a great movie but not the other way around. I did not mean to imply that this film has lesser production values. The production values are quite high. This is a major motion picture. Apparently Disney’s Touchstone feels the film will be so successful that IMDb reports two sequels Goal! 2: Living the Dream and Goal! 3 already in pre- or post-production. I’ll reserve judgment on sequels until I see them, but I have to feel they have made a safe bet. Of course, it stands to reason this film will do very well over seas, but I should like to encourage as many USAers to see this film as possible too. First, it deserves your viewership—certainly it is far more worthy your entertainment dollars than Poseidon, for example. Second, while this is a movie that focuses on a soccer player struggling to live his dream, it really isn’t a soccer movie. They do play a little soccer and do a little soccer training, but really this is a movie about, as I started, a young immigrant who believes in the American dream and gets a chance to live it. I cannot see how just about anyone wouldn't really enjoy this movie. It has all the heart, spirit, and soul you could ever want from a film. I'd say director Danny Cannon and his cast especially Kuno Becker have scored a Goooooooooooooaaaaaaaaaaaaaal! with this film.
Back to Top | W.I.P. Scale™ | Most Recently Reviewed Films | Films of 2005 | Films of 2006 | movieEVERYday.com movieMARKETplace™
Available for Purchase or Pre-Order on DVD
Find your movies at MoviesUnlimited.com.
Goal! The Dream Begins [DVD](2005) DVD
| The Book | DVD | |
No comments:
Post a Comment