Goal! (film) (film)
Goal! (also known as Goal! The Dream Begins in the US) is a 2005 film directed by Danny Cannon.
This
is the first installment of a trilogy named Goal!. This film was made with full
cooperation from FIFA, which is one of the reasons actual teams are used throughout
the movie. The second installment, Goal! 2: Living the Dream-, was released in
February 2007. The third and final installment, Goal! 3, is currently being filmed
and follows Santiago as he participates in the 2006 FIFA World Cup.
Cast
Kuno Becker - Santiago Munez
Alessandro Nivola - Gavin Harris
Anna Friel - Roz Harmison
Stephen
Dillane - Glen Foy
Gary Lewis - Mal Braithwaite
Kieran O'Brien - Hughie
McGowan
Sean Pertwee - Barry Rankin
Marcel Iures - Erik Dornhelm
Tony Plana - Hernan Munez
Miriam Colon - Mercedes
Kate Tomlinson - Val
Emma Field-Rayner - Lorraine
Zachary Johnson - Rory
Frances Barber - Carol Harmison
Kevin Knapman
- Jamie Drew
Alfredo Rodríguez - Julio
David
Beckham - Himself
Jorge Cervera - Cesar
Brian Johnson - Himself
Cassandra Bell - Christina
Lee Ross - Bluto
Alan Shearer - Himself
Greg Ellis - Charlie the Newcastle Fan
Christopher Connel - Reporter 1
Raúl González - Himself (as Raúl Gonzalez Bravo)
Peter
Michael McGowan - Reporter 2
Andy Hawthorne - Immigration Official 1
Zinédine Zidane - Himself
Michael Gunn - Immigration Official 2
Ashlea Sanderson - Girl
Alex Parkin-Goodchild - Kid 1
Callum Aynsley
- Kid 2
Herman Chavas - Referee
Leonardo Guerra - 10-Year-Old Santiago
Jake Johnson - Tom
Donald Li - Chinese
Restaurant Manager
Christopher Fairbank - Foghorn
Jonathan Hernandez - Armando
Craig Heaney - Phil
Jack McBride - Walter
Robert Dixon - Bobby Redfern
Ashley Walters - Carl Francis
Stephen
Graham - Des
Rhydian Jones - Sales Person
Andy Kidd - Bouncer
Martin
Tyler - Himself
Brian Lonsdale - Fan
Glynis Brooks - Cleaner 1
Maxine Evans - Cleaner 2
Blondell Taylor - Sister
Daniel Maier - Patient
Madeleine Moffat - Woman in Tower Block
Louis Lennie - Teenager
Baden Burns - Teenager
Nicholas Lumley - Taxi Dispatcher
Mike Elliot
- Gordon
Louise Franklin - Drunk Girl
Leslie Randall - Mr. Ives
Bryan Johnson - Geordie Fan
Sven-Göran Eriksson - Himself
Shivani Ghai - Ground Attendant
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Toneey Acevedo - Older mexican man
Kelsey Barney - Cheerleader
#6
Milan Baros - Himself
Rafael Benítez - Himself
Titus
Bramble - Himself
Ernesto Cantu - Various (voice) (as Ernesto Leszek)
Alex Castillo - Landscaper
Robyn Cooper - Waitress
Tracy Dali - Cheerleader
Kieron
Dyer - Himself
Steven Gerrard - Himself
Jack Gustav
- Goalkeeper / Himself
Stefán Harðarson - Newcastle fan
Christopher Johnson - Fan Extra
Lacey Jones - Cheerleader
Patrick Kluivert
- Himself
Dean Knowsley - Police Officer
Galina Liss - Cheerleader
Neil McDermott - Morrison
Sammy Montero - Stand -In Santiago Munez
Stephen Nicholas - Newcastle Player
Montse Pla - Nurse
John Arne Riise - Himself
Peter Rnic - Football Club Chairman
Dirk Smith - Newcastle Managers Assistant
Michael Thompson - Newcastle thug
Ren Urano - Chinese-chef
Alexander von Roon - Val's husband
Robert Dearle - Football Fan -
Russell Honeywell - Extra - Football
Supporter -
Patrick T. Johns - Newcastle Supporter -
Nito Larioza - Soccer player -
Yumi Mizui - Chinese Waitress -
Daniel
Sogamoso - Football Fan -
Michael Winterbottom was originally
signed to direct the film.
AC/DC singer Brian Johnson, made a cameo appearance.
Santiago Muñez has a profile on the footballing community Joga.com.
The final scene where Santiago scores to win the game against Liverpool F.C.
is the actual goal scored by Laurent Robert in real life. It is noticeable that
Santiago, a right footed player throughout the movie, shoots with his left foot
in this scene.
The first reserves teamlist that Santiago features on (versus
Manchester United) also includes Darren Ambrose, Shola Ameobi and David Edgar,
all players that have played in Newcastle United's first team.
The one thing
the movie ignores is how Santiago Munez manages to maintain a work permit, considering
he is relatively unknown non-EU player. Notable players with special talent such
as Ronaldinho (for FC Barcelona), and Nery Castillo (for Manchester City) have
failed to gain work permits to play in the EU.
Alejandro Tapia who portrayed
the part of Julio was age 19 at the time of filming.
Production
Plot
A
young Mexican man named Santiago Munez (Kuno Becker) dreams of making it big in
the world of football. When he crosses the United States–Mexico border illegally
as a child with his family, he drops his soccer ball and leaves it behind, but
brings his spirit and continues to play for a local team as a young man. He ends
up living in a barrio in Los Angeles working a day job with his father doing landscaping
work, and a night job as a bus boy in a Chinese restaurant. He wanted a promotion
to waiter but was not allowed because he was not Chinese.
His only relief comes in the form of his local football league, of which he is the star. When Glen Foy, a former scout for Newcastle United, sees Santiago's natural talent, he offers a try out for the team if only Santiago can make it to England. While that would fulfill his dreams, his father only wants a new truck to start his very own business. Both of their dreams come true, but at a cost. Santiago's father gets his truck, but steals Santiago's saving to help pay for it. Feeling sorry for him, Santiago's grandmother buys him a ticket to London, by way of Mexico City. Upon arriving, Santiago calls Glen, who puts him up for the time being.
The very next day, Santiago meets Erik Dornhelm, the manager of Newcastle. He agrees to let Santiago train at Newcastle's training camp. Santiago plays, all the while hiding his asthma and the frequent need for his inhaler that comes with it. Having never before seen the mud caused by England's infamous rainstorms, Santiago spends more time on his back than on his feet. Glen pleads with Mr. Dornhelm to let Santiago stay, and he agrees to give him a one month trial. At his physical, Santiago lies and tells nothing of his asthma, to the very beautiful Nurse Harmison. Santiago makes friends with reserve teammate Jamie Drew, and enemies with others. Although he is a skilled player, Santiago struggles learning how to pass the ball more.
With his inhaler crushed by a teammate before his reserve game debut, Santiago suffers greatly against Manchester United. He's fired and goes to say goodbye to Roz Harmison. While in the cab to the train station, Santiago is sidetracked when his cab has to pick up Gavin Harris, the Newcastle United star who's very late to training. Santiago tells Gavin of his asthma, and the resulting consequences. Gavin goes out on a limb for Santiago and talks to Mr. Dornhelm about letting the kid stay. Santiago is back on the field with some medical help, another chance, and a new friend. In the reserve game against Queens Park Rangers, Santiago scores his first goal, and gains even more standing among his teammates.
Santiago continues training and scores another goal against Middlesbrough F.C.. He even moves in with Gavin, who introduces him to the party lifestyle. Santiago calls home, but his father refuses to speak to him.
For the next game in London, Santiago is moved up to the first team. He plays as a substitute in place of an injured teammate, but is again chastised by his manager for not passing (though he does win a penalty for his team). His father even proudly exclaims, "That's my son" from the bar where he is watching the game. Gavin takes him out for a night on the town, but pictures end up in the papers of his partying. Confronted by Mr. Dornhelm about the identity of his partying teammate, Santiago doesn't give up Gavin, repaying Gavin's previous help. Trying to explain to Roz, Santiago sees Jamie, who tore up his knee (which was found out during an MRI scan), and found out Jamie will never play football again.
Santiago tells Gavin to clean up his act, and gets thrown out for it. Back at home, Santiago's younger brother finds their father slumped over in the yard. Facing the news of his father's death by heart attack, Santiago sits in the airport on his way home to LA and decides to stay in England, and stick it out. He becomes more confident in himself, able to escape the negativity his father bestowed on him. Gavin confesses to Dornhelm about dragging Santiago to the party, and takes on the responsibility of being a good role model. In the final game deciding Newcastle's chances of being in the UEFA Champions League, Santiago is moved up to starter. Gavin scores a goal, but Liverpool F.C. equalise and then take the lead. With Santiago's assistance, Gavin scores another goal to tie things up. Santiago scores from a free kick, with his grandmother and brother watching on TV in a Los Angeles bar. They learn that his father saw Santiago's professional debut in the previous game, letting Santiago finally let his father go in peace.
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