Tuesday, February 27, 2024
Next Goal Wins
Instead of being fired, tempermental Dutch-American football (soccer) coach Thomas Rongen (Michael Fassbender) is forced to turn around the American Samoa national team. In 2001, the American Samoan team suffered the worst defeat in World Cup history. In the following 10 years, the team had gotten no better. Set up for the 2014 World Cup qualifying rounds, Rongen has his work cut out for him in this quirky sports comedy/drama based on true events. Fassbender & Kaimana are terrific as coach Rongen & transgendered Jaiyah. Will Arnet & Elisabeth Moss have small roles. Taika Waititi is the film’s writer/directer with a cameo role. If you like Waititi’s odd sense of humor, you may enjoy this underdog story. Summary captions, photos & film footage of the real people portrayed as well as a surprise clip appear at the end.
Alien gives it 3 “Slide Tackle” stars out of 4.
