Goal! (2005)

User Rating:

6.9/10   

Director:

Danny Cannon

Writers:

Mike Jefferies (story) and
Adrian Butchart (story) ...

Release Date:

12 May 2006 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Sport

Tagline:

Every Dream Has A Beginning

Plot:

Like millions of kids around the world, Santiago harbors the dream of being a professional footballer...

Plot Keywords:

Chinese Restaurant | Airport | Flat Tire | Stadium | Athlete

Awards:

1 win & 6 nominations

Cast

Leonardo Guerra	...	10-Year-Old Santiago
Tony Plana	...	Hernan Munez
Miriam Colon	...	Mercedes
Kuno Becker	...	Santiago Munez
Jorge Cervera	...	Cesar
Herman Chavas	...	Referee
Alfredo Rodríguez	...	Julio
Donald Li	...	Chinese Restaurant Manager
Kate Tomlinson	...	Val
Jake Johnson	...	Tom
Zachary Johnson	...	Rory
Stephen Dillane	...	Glen Foy
Sean Pertwee	...	Barry Rankin
Jonathan Hernandez	...	Armando
Alessandro Nivola	...	Gavin Harris

Also Known As:

Goal! The Dream Begins (USA)
Goal!: The Impossible Dream (Europe: English title) (DVD box title)

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for some sexual content, language and a brief drug reference; Rated PG for language, sexual situations, and some thematic material including partying. (edited from PG-13 version)

Runtime:

118 min

Country:

UK | USA

Language:

English | Spanish

Colour:

Colour

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital | DTS | SDDS

Certification:

UK:12A | Norway:A | Ireland:PG | Finland:S | Singapore:PG | Switzerland:7 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:7 (canton of Vaud) | Sweden:Btl | Netherlands:AL | Hong Kong:IIA | Australia:PG | Germany:o.Al. | Argentina:Atp | Switzerland:10 (canton of Zurich) | Brazil:Livre | USA:PG-13 | Iceland:L | Malaysia:U | USA:PG (edited version) | South Korea:12

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Milkshake Films

Trivia:

The role of main character Santiago was originally going to be played by Diego Luna but he left to work on other projects. Kuno Becker actually called Diego before he took the role to hear Diego's reasons for not taking the role.

Goofs:

Plot holes: The story tells us Newcastle has to win their remaining three games. However, after match 1 Santiago plays several games with the reserves. This is impossible since there's only one reserve game a week and usually you play the same team as the A-team.

Quotes:

Santiago Munez: The only one who can tell me I'm not good enough is you. And even then I may not agree with you.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Goal II: Living the Dream (2007)

Soundtrack:

Who Put The Weight Of The World On My Shoulders?

I would say this film is 'Bend it Like Beckham' meets 'Gattaca'

In 'Goal' Kuno Becker plays Santiago Munez, an illegal alien living in Los Angels. Despite his hardships, Santiago loves to play soccer. So much so, that he is really quite good. Good enough to get the notice of a former scout of Newcastle United. Santiago gets the opportunity to go to England and try out for this premier football team. But if he does not make it, he will not be able to return to Los Angels.

This is a heartwarming tale of one man's struggle to become something more. Despite the obstacles and the disapproval of his father (Tony Plana), he goes for the goal. Only to find that it is not going to be that easy after all.

I would say this film is 'Bend it Like Beckham' meets 'Gattaca'. Not that Santiago needs to meet any DNA tests, but he is in a world that is virtually unknown to him. He has to keep secrets about himself in order to fit in because most expect him to fail. Some will even try to make him fail.