Reviews on movie The Game of Their Lives (4)

I'm slowly coming to the conclusion that Jerry Butler is a versatile guy. He can appear before us, singing songs in lace collars, can beat people in the muzzle in biker dens, or hang a lull to the good and good Egyptian gods for many thousands of years BC, or can, for example, brilliantly defend the gates of the American football team, as you can see in this film. Of course, all actors are able to do this, in reincarnations and is the essence of their work, but Butler always remains somehow, how would it be right to describe it, real or not. Always in his place, as if he was born for this cause.
The film, of course, about this - a team of amateur semi-professionals by the will of fate is at the world championship on football in 1950 in Brazil. Of course, they do not expect anything from them, and they do not really believe in themselves. But there is a certain magic happening, naturally lavishly laced with the ubiquitous American patriotism. Although this time this patriotism does not even bother much, perhaps due to the fact that the action takes place at a completely different time, when everything was honest and kind, and the victory could be won not as it is now - through the bed of sweepstakes, but by believing in yourself and in your comrades.

7 out of 10

While watching this film, I was once again convinced that watching football matches was contraindicated for me. What in life, what in the movies. I worry too much about everything that happens on the field, it causes too much anxiety (albeit pleasant). But I'm really glad I saw this movie. He's amazing. It is imbued with the spirit of patriotism - and what difference does it make that patriotism is American? Isn't it nice to see someone so proud of their country? Isn't it nice to be proud of them?
Plot

The film is based on real events. In 1950, at the World Cup, held in Brazil, an unknown American team won against the professional team of the British with a score of 1: 0. Nobody expected this, and this victory caused a great public outcry. It was a miracle that a few people did.
The picture perfectly conveys this spirit of general cohesion, spirit, self-belief. And the joy that comes when you realize you won. We did it.

I especially liked that in the end they showed the real players, those who did this miracle. Not actors. Real people. Older, but with the same fire in the eyes of those who see what they have begun. For young people who continue their work.

Actors

Costas Mandilore. Of course, how could I get past this movie? Costas here is so wonderful, curly, playing Charlie nicknamed "Glove," a forward (I don't seem strong here) who prefers rough play. And goes out on the field wearing boxing gloves. The colorful role, Mandilore here I really liked. He is in shape, and in the role of a football player he looks organic, not for nothing before seriously engaged in this sport.
Louis Mandilor And then there's Costas' brother, Louis. I always watch movies where they are filmed together. Louis is beautiful here. His role is somewhat larger than that of Costas, and Louis handled it wonderfully. He played the role of Gino, and he looked very organic in that role. A beautiful actor, a beautiful man. What else can I say?

Gerard Butler. In this film, the concentration of beautiful men and beloved actors is too high for me. I love Butler. He looks very convincing in each role, giving each image brightness and color. Here he plays the role of goalkeeper, Frank. And how he does that role! There is no doubt that he was the perfect choice to play this character. He played amazingly, as if he was actually a footballer.

Of course, I can talk about other actors. But I can only write admiring words about each one, because everyone was wonderful. I will probably highlight Wes Bentley, who played Walter, and Jimmy Jean-Louis, who played Joe. Their roles were very bright, and the characters were remembered somehow more.
The movie is amazing. I can safely recommend it to those who love a good movie with good actors. There is a team spirit, a belief in victory, hope, joy, beautiful men and football. The belief that this is more than just a game. The money they're making now. Just watch this movie. It's definitely worth it.

No sports movie has fascinated me like this one. Maybe it’s because there’s magic in football.
A film about the sport of a period when football was really a game of life, not a business. The world is just beginning to re-establish friendly relations among countries that were torn apart by World War II. Immigrants to the United States brought a favorite European game – football. Then, in the 1950s, this game was not at all in demand among Americans, but from a pair of three “yard” teams managed to create an American “dream team”.
Yes, there is only one high-profile victory of the US team in the qualifying round of the 1950 World Cup in Brazil. For us, for the whole world (except for England), this game meant nothing, but for these few people who came out on the field at the time, it was the game of their lives. No matter what defeats followed, the main thing is that this victory was not “thanks”, but “in spite of”. No one believed in them, hundreds cheered for them at home, and the game was conceived as a symbol, as a friendly gesture. So these people deserve to be dedicated to this wonderful film.
A good atmospheric film about a beautiful era, about a great sport, which, no matter how the Americans glorified in this tape, and everyone calls it “soccer” early.
Now preparations are underway for the shooting of the American project Dynamo. This is a film adaptation of the events of the summer of 1942, when in occupied Kiev Soviet football players beat the German team and were sent to a concentration camp for this, and later shot. This game is called the “match of death”. The main role in the film will be played by Gerard Butler, the role of Nikolai Trusevich, a former goalkeeper of Dynamo Kiev. My expectations were not high, all such Americans do not understand the “mysterious Russian soul”, but if Butler plays as he played in this film, he will save this project.
9 out of 10

Perhaps one of the main sensations of the World Cup in 1950 was the defeat of the England team from the United States. The American squad was composed of amateur players and was considered by rivals for the most part as a sparring partner before more important matches. Before the game, bookmakers took bets at the rate of 500: 1 on the victory of the Yankees. The New York Times initially did not agree to print the result of the match, considering the information about the victory of their national squad false. But it was really...

David Anspo (series Miami Police: Vice, Fresh Horses, Rudy, basketball drama Team from Indiana with the genius Gene Hackman, Moonlight and Valentino) in his film tells us not only about the match itself, but also about the history of the creation of that undoubtedly legendary team. Before the viewer opens the behind-the-scenes life of this team, assembled under the leadership of 57-year-old Scotsman Bill Jeffrey. That American victory showed once again that not only order can beat class, but character has a similar function. Life values are sometimes much more important than money and the strength of spirit overshadows the power of money. Yes, tear me to pieces for these high moral values. Destroy the last romance of this tired planet.

In principle, football here is one of the central “figures”, the main driving force of the picture. We see that at all times sport has inspired filmmakers to create beautiful films. To be sure, Anspo's "The Game of Their Lives" is among them. If you like, it has the soul of football. No tear, no artificial nerve, but at the same time without routine and gingerbread taste.
Gerard Butler is very charismatic in the image of one of the iconic players of that team - goalkeeper Frank Borghi. In addition to him, many cool actors took part in the shooting: Patrick Stewart, Gavin Rossdale, Wes Bentley, Costas Mandilor and John Rhys-Davies. At the height and camera work, which is important in the paintings, which show sports events.

And let after that there was a grand final Brazil-Uruguay (in a few decades, Igor Goldes will call it the greatest drama in the history of football) goals of Schiaffino and Gurdji, which brought the host country of the championship to universal mourning. The Americans had their 90 minutes. 90 minutes of true courage, when you and only you are free to control your destiny, when there is only a round ball in front of you, and the mad wind loses you in speed. When a football god somehow wants you to win and you yourself completely agree with him.
Years later, soccer in the United States became much more popular (in love to him admitted Brad Pitt, Michael Jackson, Katty Perry, John Strike, Tom Hanks, Sylvester Stallone, Matt Damon, Samuel L. Jackson and many other stars of all America), their success in the international arena is more weighty, but that victory to this day remains a matter of national pride (however pathetic it may sound).
I would highly recommend watching this movie for all N1 fans. Or lovers of quality movies. Or the first and second together...