goal!' kicks one into the net
Goal! The Dream Begins" is another sports movie that shares the love of the sport with heart.
Newcomer Kuno Becker plays Santiago Muñez, an illegal immigrant who came from Mexico to Los Angeles to do yard work with his father's company. The only thing that he does for himself is play soccer.
When former scout Glen Foy, played by Stephen Dillane, happens to see Muñez playing club soccer, he tells Muñez that if he wanted to, he could have a chance at going pro. After much consideration and many fights with his father, Muñez catches a plane to Newcastle, England, to try out for their professional soccer team.
The trial is long and Muñez suffers many speed bumps in his path to success, even a romantic plot twist, but, of course, his story ends happily.
Many Redlands movie goers enjoyed this version of a hero's rise from the gutter, giving the movie an overall rating of 4.7 out of 5. Fourteen people filled out a survey at the 1:55 p.m. showing on May 14 at the Krikorian Theaters in Redlands. Five of them said they would absolutley reccommend it.
The acting was also extremely well received by the Sunday crowd. Many thought highly of Becker's performance in particular.
"Everyone held their own; the actor who played Santiago Muñez was very believable, as well as all of the others," said Sylvia Banta of Redlands.
Wendy Thomas of Irvine commented on Becker's acting ability as an up-and-coming actor.
"I had never heard of Kuno Becker before this movie. He was impressive!" she said.
Many were impressed with the plot line and called it "exciting."
Banta said that the plot was both "exciting and believable, although possibly not probable."
The music was a definite winner, as many audience members said that they would soon be purchasing the soundtrack.
"We're going to buy it now," Banta said.
"I am going to get the soundtrack right now," said Thomas.
The soundtrack included such songs by former Oasis bandmate Noel Gallagher as "Who Put the Weight of the World on My Shoulders?" and a remix of the Oasis song "Morning Glory."
Because of a great deal of sports action, the cinematography was mainly done on the field, which few members of the audience commented on. Banta did think that it was "very good."
The story of "Goal! The Dream Begins" speaks to its audience of triumph and strife, pain and excitement. The movie shows its viewers the life of a young man who has nothing but a talent that is waiting to be discovered. And, of course, success ensues.
