UNITED KINGDOM: Premiere of football film 'Goal!'
- 00:00:30
- ITN Source
UNITED KINGDOM: Premiere of football film 'Goal!'
The world premiere of 'Goal!' scored a winner with the presence of stars from the entertainment and sports world on Thursday (September 15). Although many successful films have used sports as a backdrop, now the art of football becomes the centre piece of a trilogy, which is even recognised by the most demanding ladies. "Well, I think football is ok," said a smiling Jerry Hall. Other stars attending included a slowly recovering Kevin Pietersen from his Ashes afterparty. "It's the first time since the hangover started and...the head is actually starting to feel a little bit sore and the eyes are a little bit puffy and I might need a couple of toothpicks to halfway through the film, I reckon," he said. The flick kicks off with a ten year old boy crossing the Mexican/U.S. border carrying a football and a picture of the World Cup. Ten years later Santiago Munez (Kuno Becker) works for his father and in a Chinese restaurant in Los Angeles and spends all his spare time on playing soccer with his friends. One day Santiago is spotted by former footballer and talent scout Brit Glen Foy (Stephen Dillane) who organises a tryout for the aspiring player at Newcastle United. Training in the North of England on muddy fields and in cold winds has taken its toll on the young Mexican actor. "So, I broke both of my ankles while training, my nose, I had a lot of injuries. It was really really difficult, but you know what, we're here, we made it. I think we achieved a couple of things. I think the football scenes are believable. I think the story is great, it is working , so we'll see what happens. I think it's gonna be cool, they're gonna like it," Kuno Becker said. However, the rags-to-riches tale does not pass too smoothly as the talented football player encounters several setbacks. He's supported by Glen, but also increasingly by the million pound earning and hard partying striker Gavin Harris (Alessandro Nivola). This fast-living signee serves as the bad example for Santiago, while at the same time sticking his neck out for him. "Well, you know, my part is, probably the most morally ambiguous character in the film. And he's somebody who keeps on surprising the audience, because just when you think that you can't take anymore of him, you know he does something slightly redeeming and just when you think you like him a lot he does something to ruin it. And, you know, it provides, he provides a necessary comic element to the film and with these kind of movies, you don't want the film to be too earnest, you want it to kind of have a light feel about it, for it to be fun. And there's a lot kind of tongue in cheek humour, you know. Also with the sort of Geordie characters and Newcastle local colour and I think that really lifts the movie out of, you know, what is a fairly predictable Hollywood story, but you know, which is well told, " Alessandro Nivola told Reuters. As Santiago gets used to the wet and windy weather and the Geordie way of life, he tries his chances with local nurse Roz (Anna Friel). He does succeed, little by little, as a sparkling Anna Friel explained. "Well, I think they wanted to make it a little bit sensitive in the old kind of romantic old fashion way of meeting. It's not just 'hello, let's jump into bed'. It was more, a kind of, a little brush on the cheek or a breath by the ear, it was much more, it was quite sexy, it was quite a slow burning relationship," she said. So, the American dream comes true for Santiago, but for Mexico's most recognised star it is not just about Hollywood, but more about the opportunities as an actor. "For me it's unbelievable to be able to work here. Not because it's Hollywood, but because it's a good story. And I'm looking for good stories, that is what matters to me as an actor," Kuno Becker explained. The actor is already working on the second film (due for release in 2006) in which Santiago signs for Real Madrid, while the third (due in 2007) will follow him through the 2006 World Cup Finals in Germany. Cameos from the likes of Alan Shearer, David Beckham and Zinedine Zidane plus the splicing of Premiership games with footage of the actors filmed close-up conveys the excitement of the game.
ITN Source | September 22, 2005
