The Game of Their Lives (2005)
Average Rating: 4.6/10
Reviews Counted: 35
Fresh: 9 | Rotten: 26
An enthusiastic but ultimately uninspired soccer film.
Average Rating: 4.2/10
Critic Reviews: 14
Fresh: 3 | Rotten: 11
An enthusiastic but ultimately uninspired soccer film.
liked it
Average Rating: 3.5/5
User Ratings: 3,962
My Rating
Movie Info
In 1950, most Americans had only a passing familiarity with the game of soccer, even though it was the world's most popular sport, and few athletes in the United States played the game with any particular degree of expertise. However, when an invitation was extended to the United States to participate in the World Cup tournament in Brazil -- the international soccer championship held every four years -- Bill Jeffrey was determined that America participate. In less than two weeks, Jeffrey
Cast
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Gerard Butler
Frank Borghi -
Wes Bentley
Walter Bahr -
Jay Rodan
Pee Wee Wallace -
Gavin Rossdale
Stanley Mortensen -
Costas Mandylor
Charley "Gloves" Columb... -
Louis Mandylor
Gino Pariani -
Zachery Ty Bryan
Harry Keough -
Jimmy Jean-Louis
Joe Gaetjens -
Patrick Stewart
Older Dent McSkimming -
Terry Kinney
Dent McSkimming -
John Rhys-Davies
Bill Jeffrey -
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John Harkes
Ed McIvenny -
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Nelson Vargas
Clarkie Sousa -
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All Critics (36) | Top Critics (14) | Fresh (9) | Rotten (28) | DVD (4)
Director David Anspaugh has a skilled touch, but there's just not that much drama to film. This is a very competent, very predictable sports film.
Top Critic...disappointingly mediocre...
...lacks even a penalty kick's worth of tension and is paradoxically inert for a movie about guys running up and down the pitch for the glory of the U.S.
These guys give a sport that is virtually nameless in the movies a good name in this one.
It's difficult to muster dislike for The Game of Their Lives, which is reasonably interesting, but it needed more grit and inspiration than this straightforward account can provide.
...this soccer tale is about as exciting to watch as a scoreless match between opponents so defense-minded the ball never gets beyond midfield.
Great game, bad storytelling. Soccer buffs only.
the narrative and dialogue club us over the head in an effort to make 21st-century viewers understand why the victory of America's team over England was of such monumental importance.
Even those who aren't [soccer fans] might fancy the traditional sporting story of huge odds and overcoming them. At the very least, some sort featurette would have made the DVD more desirable.
A treat for soccer fans who have yet to see their favorite game given its due on the big screen. This won't be a classic soccer movie, but it's a start.
A sentimental, creaky, underwritten, overloaded picture that fails as character study, period film, sports movie and heart-stirrer.
Enough enthusiasm, authenticity, and spirited soccer play to offset the missing ingredients.
The Game of Their Lives takes a standard inspirational sports movie structure.
Snooze.
Angelo Pizzo's screenplay is rife with the expected sports and gamesmanship cliches, and he and Anspaugh take forever just to get to the game action, which is the only really worthwhile material.
Pure, unadulterated sentiment served up with a straight face, The Game of Their Lives is a middling depiction of one of the all-time great underdog stories in sports history.
Audience Reviews for The Game of Their Lives
Super Reviewer
Stewart's imitation of an American accent was flawed in some moments, but still I admire his acting experience overall.
Gavin Rossdale doesn't seem believable; perhaps he's better suited to writing simple grunge songs (a decade ago).
Super Reviewer
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