Cleats of Imminent Doom (2005) (TV)

User Rating:

8.2/10   

Director:

Craig Hammill

Writer:

Craig Hammill (writer)

Release Date:

28 March 2005 (USA)

Genre:

Short | Comedy | Sport

Plot:

Jenny, a small girl with glasses, raised by her grandparents, narrates the championship soccer game between her team...

Plot Keywords:

Soccer | Coach | Championship | Little League | Girls' Soccer

Awards:

1 win

Cast

Stacey Annette	...	Zoe's Mother
Tay Blessey	...	Giulietta Pinelli
Stephen Colletti	...	Drummer
Gina DeVivo	...	Cleats Soccer Player
Sebastian Feldman	...	Referee
Juliet Grainger	...	Jasmine's mom
Marisa Guterman	...	Abby
Jennie Hoy	...	Jenny
Mark Lainer	...	Coach Bob
Kiosha Lee	...	Soccer Parent
Christopher Prizzi	...	Dino
Chrisianna Puryear	...	Gretchen
Eleni Roulakis	...	Black Widow / Cleats Player
Dieter Schmitz	...	Dirk
Shane Smith	...	Cabana Boy (scenes deleted)
Sara Solomon	...	Summer
Mary Ann Springer	...	Zoe
Ansley Taylor	...	Jasmine (as Ansley Rix)
Richard John Walters	...	Abby's Dad
Cristina Wilcox	...	Sofia
Chevalia Woodward	...	Soccer Fan (scenes deleted)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Brilliant!

What a wonderfully conceptualized work of writing, casting and directing. I'd like to see more of Craig Hammill's work. Unfortunately, this 2005 short is the last thing he's done. What a shame.

The movie is about 2 young girls' soccer teams playing in the championship game, and how their materialistic parents meddle in their lives in their attempts to show their brand of caring. As another reviewer posted, the Cleats are lovable losers. They're led by coach Bob, who has five daughters, and has been coaching girls soccer for 15 years. He has yet to win the big one. Their nemesis is the Black Widow Princesses, led by coach Dino, a former Italian soccer superstar whose career was cut short by an injury. Dino is accompanied by his chain-smoking wife, Sofia, a famous Italian model, and their daughter Giulietta, who is one of the stars of the team.

After the introduction of all the major characters, the game is on. By early in the second half, the Black Widows have a 3-goal lead. Can the Cleats overcome the deficit? Watch it and see.

Although it's a light-hearted movie, I sensed a sadness in the main character, Jenny, as she watched the other kids leave with their parents after the game while she was left alone. Her sense of loneliness was further highlighted by crickets chirping while she walked home alone down a quiet, deserted street near sunset. I also sensed a sadness and strain in Giuletta, probably due to the pressure she was under from her parents to live up to their expectations.

The story itself is nothing special, but it's so well done and the characters are so likable, it's worth watching over and over again. It's still playing on IFC from time to time. It's the most enjoyable 20 minutes you'll spend watching a short. Don't miss it!

I found the casting call for this movie on the internet. Auditions were held the final 2 weekends in September, 2002, rehearsals were held October 5th & 6th, and shooting took place over 5 weekends, beginning October 11, 2002. Several of the actual parents were used as extras in the crowd, although none played the parents of their own children. None of the actors or actresses were paid.