A popular rule of thumb states, with some justification, that 90% of everything is crap. Football movies seem somehow to have sidestepped this phenomenon. It’s certainly true that there are some absolutely disgraceful football films, but it would be difficult to argue that the proportion of good to bad is the same as in, say, the horror movie genre. Perhaps it’s to do with writers and directors being fans of the game.
So with the World Cup less than a month away, here’s a look at some of the best football movies ever made., You should have just enough time to watch all of them before the action in Brazil begins on June 12th, by which point you’ll be salivating for real-life drama; you can keep up with World Cup news and the latest odds at Coral online.
The Damned United (2009)
There can be no argument – this is the best football movie of all time. Unless it’s one of the other ones in this list. Michael Sheen (Frost/Nixon) gives an extraordinary performance as troubled genius Brian Clough, who went on to do something that sounds impossible today; he won two consecutive European Cups – with Nottingham Forest.
Bend It Like Beckham (2002)
Heartwarming stuff, challenging racism, sexism, religious conservatism and homophobia, while keeping its eye on the ball football-wise. BILB is a film that wouldn’t (or couldn’t) have been made 25 years earlier. It’s also funny. And the soundtrack is mostly excellent, including Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Blondie and Curtis Mayfield.
Escape To Victory (1981)
On paper, a film starring Michael Caine, Pele, Sly Stallone and Bobby Moore was always going to be the best movie ever. Or the worst. It’s difficult to tell until you’ve seen it, and even then things aren’t crystal clear in that department. It’s really a movie for fans of both the game and weird films; a gang of POW’s in a German camp in WW2 attempt to abscond during a football match.
The Football Factory (2004)
In many ways the opposite of BILB, this investigation into the dark side of the game (or rather its followers) was not well received, perhaps because it was released just before the 2004 European Championships; nobody wanted to stir up hooliganism just before thousands of fans descended on Portugal. However, some great performances (including Danny Dyer) make for a surprisingly thought-provoking film about why young men sometimes behave like morons.
Mike Bassett: England Manager (2001)
Flawed, but often funny and certainly topical, this Ricky Tomlinson vehicle was successful enough to be spun out into a TV series. Ex-Norwich manager Bassett is appointed to the England job in time for the 2002 World Cup; you can probably guess how that turns out, but there are plenty of amusing swipes at the FA and the press along the way. Not quite as hilarious as the real-life Graham Taylor documentary, “An Impossible Job”.
The post With the World Cup less than a month away; heres a look at some of the best football movies! appeared first on SASi - Stage and Screen Insider.
