plomenzo

Victory (1981)

Great combination of history and sport

The film is at its core a soccer/football movie starring the legendary athletes such as Pelé and others. The escape plot connects the sport scenes together. A charismatic supporting cast entertains the planning scenes of the escape done in the camp. The group finds they will be more successful working as a team and trusting each other and ultimately captures the hearts of everyone. I found the film intriguing and engaging creating a suspension of disbelief that this could have really happened. The quality of the action shots including the cross field cross to create a bicycle kick goal were well done. The focus on details of slide tackling gave the film an authentic feel although it is a stretch that the Hatch character played by Sylvester Stallone could have developed such goalkeeper skills.