Given that football is something very different in the states and 'soccer' is a minority sport how will this be received? Is it being released in the States and if so what's the reception? Would most people know who Brian Clough was and the significance of him managing Leeds United?
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England has 51 Million people.The United Kingdom has 61 Million.
Gordon P. Clarkson
I don't think the subject matter will turn off film fans. Granted, it's not going to be a huge movie, but no one is expecting it to. Michael Sheen has a great reputation over here, so that will help bring in the independent and foreign film crowd.
Plus, it's actually doing well critically on this side of the pond. Although it has only opened in New York and L.A., it's still scoring high (i.e. 79% at MovieReviewIntelligence.com).
I'm sure it'll get some Oscar attention, too. Sheen will get a best actor nom, while the film as a whole may even get a nod for best foreign film. Oscar buzz is great for the box office.
"while the film as a whole may even get a nod for best foreign film. Oscar buzz is great for the box office."
this should have been in the thread about subtitles,
I know some 'mericans have trouble with dialects and accents, but I would think people can tell that its in English, its not in Pushtun or Gaelic.
English, hence is not eligible for foreign movie.
I just saw it and I enjoyed it immensely... and football (soccer) bores me to tears.
But it wasn't about football; there are only a few game shots, and even we dumb Americans know that if the other team puts the ball in the goal more than you do, you lose.
I had even heard of Leeds United before.
This movie was about the arrogance of a coach who thought he'd become bigger than the game he loved, and who let revenge motivate him rather than purely the desire to be the best.
Whether the game is football, American football, baseball, cricket or whatever, the people are the story; the game of football is merely the setting.
Just as anyone can enjoy and understand Field of Dreams, even if you don't know a slider from a spitball (or could never hit a curve like me), you could relate to the human emotions.
Michael Sheen is becoming one of my favorite actors, and I've always like Jim Broadbent and Colm Meany (especially in his Irish Trilogy; The Commitments, The Snapper and was the third one The Van?)
"...even we dumb Americans know that if the other team puts the ball in the goal more than you do, you lose."
ROFLMAO!!
"I had even heard of Leeds United before."
I'd heard of the UK football teams since I lived in London in the late 80s and early 90s, but I was always more into rugby, cricket, and tennis. I knew vaguely who Clough was--I remember he was considered quite a character. I thought he was just one more in the long and honored tradition of Brit eccentrics.
"Whether the game is football, American football, baseball, cricket or whatever, the people are the story; the game of football is merely the setting."
Absolutely--that's the conclusion we came to on another thread: 'The themes in this film--competition, resentment, rivalry, revenge, teamwork, friendship--are timeless. They don't have to be set in a sports context, although in this case it seemed perfect.'
"Michael Sheen is becoming one of my favorite actors..."
Mine, too. Sheen seems to be following in the footsteps of his fellow Welshmen Richard Burton and Anthony Hopkins as a great actor.
I loved him in 'The Queen' and 'Frost/Nixon.' I hope he gets a Best Actor nod for this, and I'd like to see Timothy Spall get one for Supporting Actor.
As you know, the fortunes of war vary. But if you desire a good outcome, you must keep your courage intact.
I lived in England in the mid 80s,and was familiar with the League structure,but the film was very good at fleshing out the particulars,so I dont think an American filmgoer would have much trouble following the film.I enjoyed it very much.It wont do much business stateside,but who cares?Its still a well writen,well acted film.
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I'm not being funny - but I'm not too convinced that the average American would understand the significance, or bear in mind, the mention of Derby County being in the 2nd Division, getting promoted and then winning the 1st division title a few seasons after that - since they don't seem to have promotions and relegations in their sports
shareSpeaking as an American who had no idea how British professional soccer... er, "football"... worked, I found it quite easy to understand how the first/second/third division stuff worked (the film made it clear by showing animations of the standings). The "international" play (Juventus, etc.) was much less clear, but that didn't make much difference to the plot.
shareThat's good, Phelpsg1 - but how many others? Maybe I'm just being naive or paranoid- but it did cross my mind.
Tell you something,though - the game against Juventus was NOT an international. An international is when, for example England play Italy - you get the best English players to play against the best Italian players. Derby County v Juventus (who are from Turin, Italy) was a game in the European Cup - i.e a competition to determine the Champions of Europe (now called the Champions League), running simultaneously to the 1st Division which was to determine the Champions of England. The winners of the 1st Division (now called the Premier League) would then qualify for the European Cup the following season as England's representatives.
Once again - I'm not being funny - but referring to that game as an international still shows me that the US public will not fully appreciate the relevance of many items in the film.
Thanks for the info on international, etc. This is a lot more complicated than I thought! One thing I was puzzled by in the movie was the "Charity Shield" game, which seemed to be a very big deal. Fortunately, wikipedia explains what this is all about: apparently this is something like the US Super Bowl, except that it's held at the start of the NEXT season!
shareIt’s not the equivalent of the Super Bowl. To be perfectly honest - the result of this game doesn;t matter - it is not really used as part of a teams honours list. The equivalent in status terms would be the team won the Premiership (ie Champions of England) – or in terms of a spectacle – maybe the FA Final (the climax of a cup competition running simultaneously to the Premiership – open to ALL senior teams in England – not just premiership teams. The final is between the two sides who have not been eliminated from the competition).
The Charity Shield (now called Community Shield) is between the Premiership winners and FA Cup winners. If the same team wins both the Premiership and the FA cup then the team who were runners-up in the Premiership would play them.
In the film (movie) Leeds United were the Premiership (then known as the 1st Division) winners for the 1973/74 season and Liverpool won the FA cup that season – so they played each other in the Charity Shield, the traditional curtain raiser, at the start of the 1974/75 season.
Getting back to the Derby County v Juventus European Cup match – think of it like the LA Lakers winning the NBA title – thus becoming US Champions. They then go into a competition the following season with the champions of Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, Colombia, Uruguay, Venezuela etc to see which team becomes the champions of the Americas continent. But the Lakers would STILL play in the NBA, too. The tournaments would run simultaneously
An international would be getting the best US born players (or non- US born but with at least one US born parent or grandparent) to represent the US in a competition against the equivalents from Mexico, Brazil, Paraguay, Spain, Poland etc. The US national team may have players from the Lakers, some from the Celtics, some from the76’ers etc. Just like in the Olympics
From my understanding, the Charity Shield (now called Community Shield) is essentially a glorified friendly. It's held before the season, when teams are trying to get fit for the long haul. It's generally the last game the clubs play before the beginning of the English leagues, and frankly it means very little. Qualifying for the Champions Cup, making it far into the FA Cup, winning the League Cup, etc, are all much higher goals than winning the Shield. And the clubs in the Shield have already done 2 of these the previous year...
I am from the States, and my football knowledge is limited, just became a fan last year actually. I looked up a lot of stuff that I saw in this movie and was disappointed to inaccuracy, that being said I still can enjoy the film. Although I fear that this movie will be giving a lot of Americans false information that we'll be susceptible to, as the movies presents itself as being incredibly accurate while it is not, and most of us won't realize this.
I live in America and I really liked the film a lot and it was a very interesting piece of historical football (soccer) to learn about.
Are you gonna bark all day, little doggy, or are you gonna bite? - Mr. Blonde (Reservior Dogs)
I'm watching it right now on Encore. It's a good movie so far, and since I like sports movies, it's moving along nicely. Michael Sheen and Timothy Spall are my favorite actors so it makes the viewing nice!
PS We have a lot of soccer players in the States. It's a favorite sport amongst our young people, right up there with baseball/softball, football, and swimming.
The New York Rangers suck. And Sidney Crosby is a cry baby!
I live in the southeastern USA. When the movie came out in my city it only played for a week or so. The reviews in our local paper were positive and I promised myself I would eventually see it. Like a lot of American guys, I played football, baseball and basketball when I was younger. My only experience with soccer/football was Saturday morning sandlot games we played during the winter.
I am familiar with some of the more successful British teams/sides, but had never heard of Clough. He must have been a real piece of work. I enjoyed the movie and doubt if one would need to be a sports fan to like it. We have seen plenty of Sheen, Spall and Meany on this side of the pond. They were all excellent.
I live in Pittsburgh USA.I tuned in because of the actors Spall,Meany,Graham
and Maurice Roeves.I give it a 10!
The fact that the movie is about soccer is completely irrelevant. (I may have just caused some heart attacks in the U.K.) It could be any sport, or even any endeavor where there is competition, and it would be the same. It's really about the people, their rivalry/hatred for each other, and their desire for fame and success.
Americans like underdog stories, and the team the coach starts with is certainly an underdog.
And yes, I'm an American. I liked the film.
"My name is Paikea Apirana, and I come from a long line of chiefs stretching all the way back to the Whale Rider."