Director: Taika Waititi
Writers: Taika Waititi and Iain Morris
Release Date: 26th December 2023
Review: While this film isn't as frustratingly cynical as director Taika Waititi's recent work, Next Goal Wins, is a largely lacklustre retelling of a very interesting, true sporting tale. This is a film that hits pretty much every sports movie cliche you could imagine, from the utterly hopeless, 'lacking belief in themselves' squad and the hapless coach battling his own personal demons, right through to the numerous sports montages and sentimental half-time team talk. These familiarities alone don't make the film 'bad', but glazed with Waititi's own brand of silly humour they do feel particularly tiresome. Fassbender's performance is a confusing one; sometimes believable and genuinely comic, but more often than not feeling dependent on the overtly comedic set-pieces in the script (for a more well-aligned comic turn from the actor, see David Fincher's The Killer). While reasonably enjoyable, Next Goal Wins brings nothing new to the inspirational sports movie formula.
Writers: Taika Waititi and Iain Morris
Release Date: 26th December 2023
Hot Rating: 💥💥
Synopsis: The true story of American Samoa, and their attempts to improve their status as the lowest-ranked international football team in the world with the appointment of football coach, Thomas Rungen (Michael Fassbender).
Review: While this film isn't as frustratingly cynical as director Taika Waititi's recent work, Next Goal Wins, is a largely lacklustre retelling of a very interesting, true sporting tale. This is a film that hits pretty much every sports movie cliche you could imagine, from the utterly hopeless, 'lacking belief in themselves' squad and the hapless coach battling his own personal demons, right through to the numerous sports montages and sentimental half-time team talk. These familiarities alone don't make the film 'bad', but glazed with Waititi's own brand of silly humour they do feel particularly tiresome. Fassbender's performance is a confusing one; sometimes believable and genuinely comic, but more often than not feeling dependent on the overtly comedic set-pieces in the script (for a more well-aligned comic turn from the actor, see David Fincher's The Killer). While reasonably enjoyable, Next Goal Wins brings nothing new to the inspirational sports movie formula.
Image: YouTube
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