The month of FIFA World Cup, when everybody is crazed about the game! So going along with the madness, here is a list of some great football films:
- Escape To Victory (1981):
Director: John Huston
Starring: Sylvester Stallone, Michael Caine, Max von Sydow, Pelé, Bobby Moore, Mike Summerbee, Daniel Massey
Based On: Two Half Times In Hell by by Zoltán Fábri
The film is about prisoners of war in a German prison camp during World War II. These former footballers are forced to play a match against the German team.
- The Game Of Their Lives (2005):
Director: David Anspaugh
Starring: Gerard Butler, Wes Bentley, Jay Rodan, Gavin Rossdale, Costas Mandylor, Loui, Mandylor, Zachery Ty Bryan, Jimmy Jean-Louis, Richard Jenik, Nelson Vargas, Craig Hawksey, Bill Smitrovich
It is based on the true story of the US national football team of 1950. These underdog players beat a heavyweight England team by one goal at the finals in Brazil
- Gracie (2007):
Director: Davis Guggenheim
Starring: Elisabeth Shue, Carly Schroeder, Dermot Mulroney, Jesse Lee Soffer, Andrew Shue, Trevor Heins
It deals with the story of Gracie Bowen, who fights against prejudiced turmoil to give women the hope and opportunity to play competitive football.
- Goal! The Dream Begins (2005):
Director: Danny Cannon
Starring: Kuno Becker, Alessandro Nivola, Marcel Iureş, Stephen Dillane
It explores the story of a skilled yet struggling player who fights against all odds to achieve his dream of an international career in football, a true story of triumph.
- Goal II: Living The Dream (2007):
Director: Jaume Collet-Serra
Starring: Kuno Becker, Alessandro Nivola, Anna Friel, Stephen Dillane
After being a Newcastle United star, he is offered a spot on the Real Madrid squad, and the money and fame test his relationships, ties and loyalties towards family, fiends and business acquaintances.
- Goal III: Taking On The World(2009):
Director: Andrew Morahan
Starring: JJ Field, Leo Gregory, Kuno Becker, Nick Moran, Tamer Hassan
The film did not have a theatrical release and was instead released on 15 June 2009 straight to DVD and Blu-ray in the United Kingdom. Santiago Muñez, who, along with his best friends and England national team players Charlie Braithwaite (Leo Gregory) and Liam Adams (JJ Feild), are selected for their respective national teams at the 2006 FIFA World Cup Finals in Germany.
- Looking For Eric(2009):
Director: Ken Loach
Starring: Eric Cantona, Steve Evets, Lucy-Jo Hudson, Matthew McNulty, Gerard Kearns, Stephanie Bishop, John Henshaw, Stefan Gumbs
This film tells the tale of a fan, Eric, a postman who is a football fanatic. He faces some serious problems in his life, and is helped by former French footballer Eric Cantona, who plays himself.
- Fifteen Minutes That Shook The World(2009):
Director: Illy
Starring: Andrew Schofield as a journalist, Neil Fitzmaurice as Rafa Benítez, Jamie Carragher as Himself – Liverpool F.C. Player, Steven Gerrard as Himself – Liverpool F.C. Player, Dietmar Hamann as Himself – Liverpool F.C. Player, Philly Carragher as Himself, Lindzi Germain as Gwladys, Sean McKee as Bitter Blue, Marc J. Morrison as Ratboy (as …Marc Morrison), Sonny Spofforth as Ronaldo, David Gisbourne as Vladimír Šmicer, Michael Robinson as Milan Baroš, Daniel Sanderson as Igor Bišćan, Phil Connolly as Harry Kewell, Tom Doolan as John Arne Riise, Shawn “Spykatcha” John as Djibril Cissé
“Half Time, The Atatürk Olympic Stadium. May 2005 – A scene of total devastation, shock and humiliation. 45 minutes from eternal shame. 45 minutes that brought this city to its knees.” This rare comedy football flick is centered on Liverpool’s historic Champions League Final triumph over AC Milan in Istanbul from a 3-0 deficit at half time in 2005.
- Bend It like Beckham(2002):
Director: Gurinder Chadha
Starring: Parminder Nagra, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Keira Knightley, Archie Panjabi, Shaznay Lewis, Anupam Kher, Preeya Kalidas
A comedy about bending the rules to reach your goal, this movie explores the world of women’s football, from kick-abouts in the park to free-kicks in the Final. Set in Hounslow, West London and Hamburg, the film follows two 18 year olds with their hearts set on a future in professional soccer. Heart-stopping talent doesn’t seem to be enough when your parents want you to hang up your football boots, find a nice boyfriend and learn to cook the perfect chapatti.
10. The Miracle Of Bern(2003):
Director: Sönke Wortmann
Starring: Louis Klamroth, Peter Lohmeyer
The movie deals with the championship-winning German soccer team of 1954. Its story is linked with two others: The family of a young boy is split due to the events in World War II, and the father returns from Russia after eleven years. His problems in getting back to normal life are shown, with references to his children and wife. The second story is about a reporter and his wife reporting from the tournament.
