Goal!

Plot synopsis:
The film starts with a clip showing Santiago Munez playing football as a child in Mexico. The same night, his family illegally enter into the United States to find a better living. Santi grows up in the USA and works with his father as a gardener. At night he works as a busboy in a Chinese restaurant. He also plays football for a small local team called AJFC. He goes to play a match one day after his work with his father, where he is forced to use a pair of cardboard pieces as shin guards as he cannot afford any. He saves his money and hides it in his shoes every night to purchase a football kit.The next day, while playing football, he is noticed by Glen Foy, an ex-Newcastle player, scout and car mechanic. Glen tells Santi that on the next match day, he will call an agent who was in US to set up a meeting with the Newcastle manager. The agent, Barry Rankin, does not turn up and lies that he is in a meeting. Later, Glen himself calls the Newcastle boss and convinces him to give Santiago a trial. Glen then tells Santiago that, if he can get to England, he will be allowed a tryout with Newcastle United. Santiago would like nothing more in the world than to join the club. However, he does not have sufficient funds, so he decides to save up some more money and use it along with his hidden stash. He returns home one afternoon, however, to find that his father has stolen his money hidden in the shoes, and used it to purchase a new Chevy truck, so they can have their own gardening business and not work for another business. When Santiago confronts his father, he explains that "this is how things get better! This is how you measure a man's life," to him. Santiago suddenly shouts at him "It's Your life!" and sulks in his room. His grandmother (who is an even bigger football fan than him) sells off part of her jewellery and buys a ticket for Santi to travel from Los Angeles to Mexico City by train and catch the plane to London from there (since he is an illegal immigrant he couldn't travel from Los Angeles to London)On arrival in England, Glen warmly welcomes Santi to his house and arranges for a trial. Santi completely messes up his first trial and is rejected by the manager. Glen then manages to convince the manager that Santi was nervous and jetlagged. Glen requested for a month's trial, which is accepted. At the same time, Newcastle signs Gavin Harris. Santi successfully passes the medical test by lying about his asthma condition, and meets the club's nurse Roz Harmison. One night, Santi and teammate Jamie, go clubbing and bump into Roz. After a month, in a reserve game, another jealous teammate crushes Santi's inhaler (Santi has asthma which he deliberately hides from the club officials because he thought he would not get the try out if they knew). His performance is very poor in the match as he is not able to run. He is then removed from the club.On his way to the airport, Santi accidentally meets Harris on the same taxicab because he's late for training as his car tires have been stolen. Harris remembers seeing Santi in the club and finds out what happened in the reserve game. Harris convinces the manager to extend Santi's stay at the club. After treatment at the club, Santi is able to play more confidently and aggressively in the reserves. He finally makes it into the first team, even though he thought that he was dropped entirely from the reserves. He starts as a substitute against a match against Fulham as many of the first team players were injured. He gets his chance when a player is injured and manages to win a penalty for Newcastle which ultimately won them the match. Meanwhile his father watches the match on TV in the USA and is very proud of his son. The manager keeps telling Santi that his weakness was that he does not pass the ball (the manager also said he doesn't pass the ball in a training session). Santi is then transferred back to the reserves. Santi thinking he won't be able to stay long at the club goes to St. James' Park to feel how it is to play on the pitch. The manager tells him to get off the pitch and that he could get the feeling when he played in Newcastle's final game against Liverpool. In the training session before the match, Santi's father dies of heart attack. Santi is completely demoralized and heartbroken though his father always criticized him. He decides to stay and play for the team in the final match rather than go back.Also his friend Jamie tore a ligament in his leg and was told by Roz, who is now Santi's girlfriend, that Jamie would never play football again.In the match against Liverpool, Newcastle takes the lead first thanks to a goal from Harris. Before half-time, Liverpool makes a comeback with two goals, one from Igor Biscan and one from Milan Baros. In the dying minutes before injury time, Santi assists Harris in scoring the equalizer by finally passing the ball to him and correcting his major drawback in football. In the dying minutes of the injury time, Harris is tripped. Harris decides to make Santi take the final free kick. Santi scores with a beautiful free kick swinging away from the Liverpool goalkeeper. After the game ends 3-2 to Newcastle, Glen runs down the stands and gives his mobile saying that Santi's grandmother had called. She is very happy and proud and congratulates her grandson. She also adds that his father did watch his first match. Roz then blows kisses to him. The film ends with Santiago shedding tears of joy while embracing his realized dream.

Tags: prank, flashback

Review:
"Goal!: The Journey Begins" is the first of a trilogy as a young Mexican illegal immigrant (Kuno Becker) in Los Angeles has a chance at the brass ring in England of all places playing soccer for one of their professional teams after being discovered by scout/former player Stephen Dillane.
Really clever, nice ethnic mix and an unusual one--less predictable than the usual casting that goes on out there--kinda opens the pool of actors that we're currently exposed to all the time.A lot of people are complaining about the football (soccer) aspects of the movie saying that it's not real, etc.
I thought these were shown tactfully and were just enough as they were coupled with the human factor --the lives of the players, their loves, their hates, competitive spirit, etc.What was good about having a Latino as a protagonist in the film is that it shows the wider scope of fans football has.
Having FIFA sanction this film means getting some realism injected, and lending to the authenticity of is the English Premier League club Newcastle United, together with a host of real life soccer superstars like Beckham, Zidane and Raul.While the settings and the game results are real, we follow the fictional story of an illegal Mexican immigrant to Los Angeles, Santiago Munez, street footballer extrodinaire.
He gets his lucky break when an ex-Newcastle United player turned scout, Glen Foy, chances upon his games, and invites him over to England for trials.For a guy who's struggling to make ends meet, this presents the perfect opportunity to take a stab at his dream.
So he leaves his real dad and family behind, to follow in the footsteps of Foy, his surrogate father in England.The highlight of the movie is not the real football games that the actors get seamlessly transplanted onto, but rather the many trials and tribulations that Munez goes through to earn his rightful place in the squad.
You'll enjoy the movie simply because of the strong human drama weaved into the story, as well as the familiarity of easily identifiable themes of hard work, right ethics, living your dreams and fulfilling your aspirations.Newcastle fans however, will rejoice, as the hallowed grounds of St James Park gets put on the silver screen.
Fans of Fulham, Chelsea and Liverpool can also see their heroes on screen as well.Santiago Munez is played by a relative newcomer, Mexican actor Kuno Becker, who was put on real soccer training to improve his skills and make him look credible and natural with the ball at his feet.
A pity it's only out in the stores on October 16 (based on Amazon), but I'll be there to pick it up when it hit the shelves.The ending, even though it wrapped up all the pieces nicely, is a bit abrupt, but I guess it would lead directly into the planned sequels of a trilogy, which involve Real Madrid and the World Cup. This is one movie which can spark someone's interest in soccer, and I'd recommend it to both fans and non-fans alike.
But, like the first few "Rocky" movies, this one delivers without falling into the usual schmaltzy pitfalls.Kuno Becker is very well cast as promising young player Santiago Munez.
THE DREAM BEGINS the viewer can put aside the doubts as to whether the film can make it on its own: this little low profile movie is well written (Mike Jefferies's story adapted for the screen by Adrian Butchart), well directed by Danny Cannon who knows well how to integrate live sports scenes into the drama, and consistently well acted by a troop of excellent actors, beginning with the very vibrant, handsome, and charismatic Kuno Becker ('Lucia, Lucia', 'Imagining Argentina', 'Once Upon a Wedding', 'English as a Second Language'), a 28 year old Mexican actor with an assured future in the lead role of Santiago.
The supporting roles are classy contributions by the gifted Alessandro Nivola ('The Sisters', 'Junebug', 'The Clearing', 'Laurel Canyon', 'Love's Labour's Lost', 'Mansfield Park' etc), the very beautiful Anna Friel, Stephen Dillane, Marcel Iures, Tony Plana, Miriam Colon to mention only a few.The story is secondary: as a child devotee of soccer Santiago immigrates illegally into the US with his family, grows up in Los Angeles working as a gardener, a dishwasher and other menial tasks while he consumes his spare time with developing his unique talents for soccer.
Whatever reservations you may have about sitting through another predictable sports movie just relax them: Kuno Becker alone is worth the time invested in this very fine little film.
The use of cameos from the likes of Shearer, Zidane, Beckham and Raul added to both the credibility and believability of the overall piece.The film is sad and at times funny, and can be enjoyed by the whole family, including people with no interest in football.
When FIFA commissioned and granted the rights for the film to Danny Cannon, the air of realism was set in motion already, because albeit being fictional, it carries the authority of the universal game as fans know it because of its simulated parallels- real clubs, real superstars like Zidane, Raul, Shearer, etc, and realities of the game's actual hierarchies and bureaucracies have been surmised- reserves, leagues, scouts, agents and pressures.AG Salomon/Adidas may have pumped advertising dollar into this film for placement of their teams (Newcastle United, Real Madrid) and sponsored players for marketing, but in a sense, when the result is this authentic, can you blame the corporations for input?
Throw in all the other elements ranging from romance with Anna Friel's pragmatic nurse character to the gamut of football archetypes (Nivola as the playboy with conscience, Iures as the stoic gaffer, Dillane as the gentlemanly scout, the mercenary agents, an even a Souness-like hardman), on top of the fact that footage of actual matches in England has been seamlessly edited in, and you can see why the film accounts for a thorough representation of the sport.
'Goal' tells the story of a young Mexican, Santiago Munez who is offered a trial with English side, Newcastle United when he is spotted playing local football in Los Angeles.
Goal may just be the first descent soccer movie and perhaps the best film about the insights of this phenomenal sport.This happens to be my favourite sport and watching so many movies ,I've never came across a film based on soccer that actually entertains or glorifies the sport.There have been exceptions,(BEND IT LIKE BECKAM).This is one film that understands the sport,the reason why it's so loved by the world and why it is the best sport ever.And for that reason this film excels and gives you a satisfying soccer movie.The story begins as 10-year-old Santiago has passion for the sport early in his life.He then moves to the states from Mexico where he spends the rest of his life playing soccer for a local club and hoping one day he can play as a professional.It just so happens that a guy, who has been a scout and a once famous player,notices Santiago's skills and is deeply impressed.Out of desperation he gives Santiago a chance to play for Newcastle Utd. a top English club.Although Santiago cannot ask for anything more than a trial in a massive club,his father is against his dreams and wishes that his son can help him in his business.Nevertheless ,Santiago flees the States and lands into the Brits colony,where everything seems strange.So there he begins his journey and comes across various obstacles and many times he loses his chances to play for the club ,anyways in the end he......you know the rest.This is quite familiar to everyone.Yes,this film is predictable in every way and you've probably seen movies like this ,but there are some good performances and impressive directing by Cannon which makes this worthwhile, and don't forget that this is a soccer movie and it has one of the best football sequences,with stark realism.Anyone who has ever watched a soccer game will find the football scenes realistic.They are very well executed.But if you watch the film REAL:The Movie,you'll see the scenes in that movie,which are extracted from real game and presented in a cinematic fashion,are more exhilarating and authentic.But still,since this a movie,it's still great.The story is too old fashioned and brings nothing new to the sports genre.However there are a few good lines that work well.The performances are all fine and Becker really impresses.He really excels as a kid with a dream of becoming the best.He has the charm and the looks of a fit player and handles the dramatic scenes really well.This kid is about to become a star himself.Alessandro Nivola is also impressive,playing a lazy ,careless international star who spends more time at clubs than on the pitch.Stephen Dillane also gives a noticeable performance as a father figure.The rest of the cast is just fine.The film often stumbles into the predictable and old fashion spot ,but there are some moments that are touching and there are some stylishly effective football scenes and the whole film entertains you.There is a good amount of energy in this film,at times it is fast paced and exciting and other times is too familiar.But it really is entertaining and understands the values of Football(SOCCER).You won't find a better Soccer movie than this one and it's great to hear that two planned sequels are on the way.So enjoy this sport while you're at it..
One would not expect a good movie at all watching it, but they would be surprised as hell at how well done it is.Ever since his childhood days in Mexico, Santiago Munez has had one dream- playing soccer.
Now we all know that Newcastle United is not one of the best football teams around (coming from a Chelsea fan), but the movie did suck you in to actually rooting for the team and the protagonist.
Two paragraphs above, I mentioned "The Mighty Ducks", because it is predictable and obvious, but also because it is enjoyable and because it is a good film.That we can appreciate these movies depends very much in the way the story is told, and the situations of the characters.
Our hero here is Santi Munez (Mexican talent Kuno Becker), a good hearted Latin "lad" who lives the American Dream and divides his time in helping his dad (Tony Plana) with the family business and playing in a soccer team.
His camera moves passionately throughout Santi's trainings with coach Dornhelm (Marcel Iures), his love developments with Roz (the incredibly beautiful and extremely talented Anna Friel) and the life of his family back home; all solidly told by a team of four screenwriters.So the movie is an advertising for the Spanish team Real Madrid and its player, it's an opportunity for Kuno Becker, who's really promising, to make a name in the industry.
This is one of the five best movies I have listed in my list for best football movies which could be seen here -http://givemegoal.com/np/2014/04/07/best-football- movies/The movie is good one to be honest and hands all the pleasure for the live of Football when you watch the movie.The movie certainly shows how a promising youngster fulfills his dream to play Football professionally despite of different kinds of obstacles.When compared to the real life, this movies displays lot more than football and inspires how one should stick to his interest and dream and work hard to achieve success..
There were a few famous faces in it which gave it a bigger movie feel, but to me this is not a film that I would go out of my way to watch.The story is good and runs along smoothly, there was just not a lot happening in it.
Mexican family immigrates to the US, young man is a decent footballer, Father wants him to help with business, scout sees young man play, gets trial in England, conflict.By-the-numbers football rags-to-riches film which you could have written within 10 minutes before watching.The cast aren't bad (Marcel Iures the standout) although some of the Geordie accents are a bit over the top but the cultural comparisons make for amusing viewing.The cinematography is slick, building the tension up of a match day, some amicable cameos and backed up by a great Oasis heavy soundtrack..
Kuno Becker who played the rising football star Santiago Munez do a great job of acting.A lot of soccer movies in the past have been annoying, but this one is gonna take you to the next level.
Goal Movie ReviewWhen Santiago Munez (Kuno Becker) is given the chance of a lifetime, he must leave his family, his life in Los Angeles and everything that he knows to travel halfway around the globe to England to the exciting world of international soccer.Santiago is an illegal immigrant living in Los Angeles who has a passion for soccer.
There was no need to use such marketing tactics which rely more on brand value of real life players like Beckham, Zidane etc.Also, I thought I would get to watch beautiful football in the movie.
Munez's father is against him leaving and sees a future for him in his own gardening business.This movie could be described as "Flashdance with football." A story-line with some suspense, but not a whole lot of it.If you come to this film with low expectations on plot and script, you may be in for a good time.All else is very well executed.
I think this movie is great because it can be such an inspiration for the people who come from different country and wan live the American Dream or even for the people who Born's in U.S. This movie shows us United state is a county of opportunity if anybody works hard and want it bad enough any dream is possible to accomplish like we see in the movie from working in a restaurant playing for one of the great soccer club in world even though his dad didn't believe on him as well as collage coaches because he didn't give up he keep pushing through hard times he finally got a great result.
This film was one of the worst films I've ever seen.Not only was the concept, script, dialogue and characters extremely unoriginal but everything was so unrealistic and dripping with that cliché theme of 'if you just follow your dreams they will come true!' We both cringed through the entire movie and kept daring to ask the question 'Can this possibly get any cheesier?' Sadly, it could.Unfortunately they are currently in the process of filming 'Goal 2' (again how original), in which Santiago plays for Real Madrid (because that's just so likely!).Anyway, I strongly urge you to skip this one if you are any sort of a film fan..
After Santiago Munez' family flee Mexico to live in north America with Santiago bringing his most valuable possessions: a football and a ragged poster of the Fifa world cup the family move to Los Angeles in search of a better way of life.Ten years later Santiago is holding up two jobs to feed his family one working with his father doing odd jobs and the other working in a kitchen in a Chinese restaurant through all this Santiago still finds time to pursue the sport he loves football.When playing for his Mexican youth side in a park in L.A he is spotted by Glen an ex-player of Newcastle United football club who thinks he has excellent potential and a great chance to play professionally so Glen gets Santiago a trial at his old club Newcastle United.Against his fathers wishes Santiago decides to follow his heart and fly to england in search of fame and stardom.But when Santiago makes it to Newcastle things aren't all as easy as he would've hoped as he has to come to grips with different weather and people than his home in L.A.This is an excellently filmed piece showing magnificent sweeping views of Newcastle United's stadium St.James' Park and the whole city.The acting on the whole is very good and not as i had at first expected.This is an action packed and funny feel good movie about hope and salvation.It is your typical rags to riches story but done in a completely different way to others you may have seen.The football,well what can i say the sheer authenticity of it by adding in famous players and proper crowds has done this movie wonders also the games actually look and feel real not like some other Football movies when the games just look so acted out.This is a football movie with feeling,compassion and a type of which we haven't seen before i will watch the trilogy and i recommend if you haven't already to watch this movie.7/10- very solid enjoyable flick and worth a watch..
Glen convinces Santiago to travel to England in order to try to win a place in Newcastle's team, so Santiago starts a quest looking for his dream.Nothing new here as "Goal!" is the typical sports movie about an exceptionally talented young amateur who is given a chance to shine among the professionals and win the heart of the girl he loves.
Director Danny Cannon had complete support by FIFA and Newcastle United and it shows, he has created some of the most realist and awesome football scenes in film.Kuno Becker is very good as Santiago, although at times he is overshadowed by other members of the cast.
The film is after all a marketing tool to help break football in America and while moments of it may feel painfully clichéd, like a cross between Roy of the Rovers and Rocky with a few nods at other sports movie, it is very entertaining.The actors were actually very good.
You know you knew that already.The hero of this movie is Santiago Munez (Becker), an illegal immigrant from Mexico who dreams of playing soccer (or football for our friends outside of the United States).