The Beautiful Game, 2024.
Directed by Thea Sharrock.
Starring Bill Nighy, Micheal Ward, Valeria Golino, Susan Wokoma, Tom Vaughan-Lawlor, Cristina Rodlo, Kit Young, Sian Reese-Williams, Callum Scott Howells, Sheyi Cole, Jessye Romeo, Aoi Okuyama, Layo-Christina Akinlude, and Robin Nazari.
SYNOPSIS:
Advocates to end homelessness, organize an annual tournament for Homeless men to compete in a series of football matches known as The Homeless World Cup.
In 2001, a social organization created The Homeless World Cup, an annual soccer tournament to bring hope and positivity to its down-on-their-luck participants. Directed by Thea Sharrock, The Beautiful Game, while formulaic, successfully shines a warm light on these struggling people who are worth cheering on.
It is inspired by several true stories (screenwriter Frank Cottrell Boyce) and centers itself on a group of English misfits with sloppy play coached by former talent scout Mal (Bill Nighy, his usual dignified self, this time with a dose of rowdy managerial arguing, netting himself a couple of red flags.) Like most underdog sports stories, although what separates this film from the rest of the genre is that everyone here is an underdog looking for some form of redemption, Mal would also like to win the tournament once.
In this next competition set to take place in Rome, he also has a pretty good shot upon recruiting striker Vinnie (a tremendously moving performance from Michael Ward leaning into feelings of personal failure, loss of pride, and understanding self-worth), a homeless family man who has lost his way and finds himself shooting goals on children whenever he doesn’t actually have a work shift (cashier) or making promises to his partner and daughter that he might not be able to keep. He isn’t necessarily sold on the idea, certainly has no interest in applying teamwork, and doesn’t view this as a second chance for anything but rather an opportunity to escape the harsh reality of his existence and play the game he loves.
As such, it’s a given that Vinny will learn that it’s not all about winning and how to be a team player. The pleasant surprise is that the script deftly weaves in multiple subplots for not only the players on his team but also the other countries playing in the Homeless World Cup. Naturally, there are the expected characters, such as someone recovering from heroin addiction or people who grew up under such unfortunate circumstances they don’t have a chance to make something of themselves, with the screenplay also studying how that would affect who they are rather than turning them into punchlines for comedy. There are still laughs to be had because, ultimately, the film takes a lighthearted and softened approach to the material, but it’s also not afraid to get serious at times.
Then there are the other countries, such as South Africa, led by Sister Protasia (Susan Wokoma), with her team late to Rome trying to get a refugee out of the area, USA, anchored by the best player in the tournament, Rosita, (Cristina Rodlo), the hometown favorite Italy, all of whom have Playing for England, Aldar (Robin Nazari) is a Kurdish Syrian refugee from his family and home being bombed, torn on whether or not to play against a team with a player who has ties to the opposite side of that civil war. For something lighter, a sweet bond develops between a man and woman on opposing teams.
It all results in a film that does find a commendable amount of character depth within something largely clichéd. That is enough to make up for some lackluster soccer sequences, but The Beautiful Game mostly relies on exciting song selections (using Seven Nation Army for anything sports-related is a great choice) rather than suspenseful play, save for a thrilling penalty shootout moment.
By the time the narrative reveals Vinny’s past in melodramatic fashion, even that works due to the talent of Michael Ward and Bill Nighy lending it a more sincere emotional kick. Perhaps most importantly, it’s a beautiful reminder to some who may have forgotten that homeless people are still human and deserving of second chances, something a World Cup like this provides while uplifting them and us.
Flickering Myth Rating – Film: ★ ★ ★ / Movie: ★ ★ ★
Robert Kojder is a member of the Chicago Film Critics Association and the Critics Choice Association. He is also the Flickering Myth Reviews Editor. Check here for new reviews, follow my Twitter or Letterboxd, or email me at MetalGearSolid719@gmail.com
