IMDb > Goal! (2005)
Goal!
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Goal! (2005) -- US Theatrical Trailer from Walt Disney Pictures
Goal! (2005) -- US Home Video Extra (Clip) from Walt Disney Pictures
Goal! (2005) -- CineMagia.ro - Trailer (Flash)

Overview

User Rating:
6.9/10   14,985 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Up 14% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Writers:
Mike Jefferies (story) and
Adrian Butchart (story) ...
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Contact:
View company contact information for Goal! The Dream Begins on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
12 May 2006 (USA) more
Genre:
Tagline:
Every Dream Has A Beginning
Plot:
Like millions of kids around the world, Santiago harbors the dream of being a professional footballer... more | full synopsis
Awards:
1 win & 6 nominations more
User Comments:
Great movie - loads of fun more (102 total)

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)
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Additional Details

Also Known As:
Goal! The Dream Begins (USA)
Goal!: The Impossible Dream (Europe: English title) (DVD box title)
more
MPAA:
Rated PG-13 for some sexual content, language and a brief drug reference; Rated PG for language, sexual situations, and some thematic material including partying. (edited from PG-13 version)
Runtime:
118 min
Country:
Language:
Color:
Aspect Ratio:
2.35 : 1 more
Sound Mix:

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
The role of main character Santiago was originally going to be played by Diego Luna but he left to work on other projects. Kuno Becker actually called Diego before he took the role to hear Diego's reasons for not taking the role. more
Goofs:
Plot holes: To play in the English Premiership, if you are from outside the EU, you have to have a work permit. You automatically qualify for one if you have played in 75% of your national teams matches in the past year. Otherwise, you have to go to a tribunal where it has to be shown that you are an outstanding talent that is worthy of a permit. Since he had to basically beg for a trial, it would be highly unlikely that he would win a decision in a tribunal. more
Quotes:
Erik Dornhelm: Here we pass the ball, you understand that? We're a unit, not a one-man show. The name on the front of the shirt is more important than the one on the back. more
Movie Connections:
Featured in Goal II: Living the Dream (2007) more
Soundtrack:
Playground Superstar more

FAQ

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12 out of 14 people found the following comment useful.
Great movie - loads of fun, 29 September 2006
9/10
Author: sheppypants from Canada

I think we would all likely agree the "rags to riches" story has been done to death by Hollywood. But, when someone comes along and gets it right the results can be truly excellent. Perhaps the best know of this genre is original "Rocky" movie. "Goal - the dream begins" gets it right, even though it is loaded with all the clichés that generally accustom this kind of movie. "Goal" has the whole recipe here - the unknown with the heart of gold, a unique and virtuosic talent, from a downtrodden and hopeless setting, the brooding and unsupportive parent who refuses to accept his child's potential, the doting grandparent who can see the potential that lies within our hero, the outsider who promises a way to fame and fortune and so on... 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. He is earnest, honest, and gives off that glow of burning desire to be the best. My only knock is that he doesn't quite physically look the part at times. When they line him up with real professionals he looks a touch slight and skinny, not quite boasting the musleclature of a professional athlete. The supporting cast works out well, too. No real complaints to offer as everyone seems to be a very good fit. Alessandro Nivola's dialect could use a spot of work, but no one outside of the UK will really pick up on this. I very much liked Marcel Irues as Newcastle United's Manager. He seemed to be a totally natural fit for the role and is a shoe in for the lead if someone ever decides to make the "Aime Jacquet story".

Where this movie really takes off is on the pitch, whether its a park in LA, the training ground in Newcastle, or St. James Park, the home of Newcastle United. The soccer scenes are exceptionally well done and look realistic. Real players feature prominently all over film, both on and off the pitch, and not just in walk on cameos, ie "Bend it like Beckham". The action is convincing, the tackles are crunching, and the goals are authentic and not the usual over the top spectacle (anyone remember Pele's winner from "Victory"?) Becker fits in well with the action scenes, though it's odd how you never really see all of Becker on the ball and usually just the waist up, kind of like they found some else to do all the little flicks and stepovers...

And for all those who say "it can't happen", I beg to differ. This movie is not fantasy. In fact, they could have made a biopic about a young Calgarian from Western Canada who somehow manages to make Bayern Munich, works his way up through the reserves, and in his premier season with the senior side wins the league and European Cup, makes the England side for World Cup 2002, and returns again to be the best England player in World Cup 2006! Maybe someday someone out there will make the "Owen Hargreaves story".

All in all, great stuff and I'm already looking forward to Goal 2 & 3.

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Another racist movie.... Guygzzz
Never realized it before... p_wellington
A small hole... emtea54
5 top players (all Time) lucasformilica
confused about the bars!! skye17
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