Surrender to the Void

Films That I Saw: July 2026

2026-07-31T20:47:11.188-04:00

Rising gas prices, rising temperatures, rising chaos around the world. This is another typical summer where so much shit is happening as well as the fact that it is fucking hot out there. Not just here in America but around the world as Europe is going through a heatwave while there are also other things happening as there was an earthquake in Japan recently and more shootings here in the U.S. I have become numb to it as I have this feeling of “not again” as it has become normal and not in a good way. I am glad to have the World Cup being a distraction as I watched it mainly because of my dad as I wanted to keep his love of the game alive. I have a lot to say about this year’s World Cup, but I am half-finished with my thoughts on the whole event as that will be a completely different thing I will talk about when it is finished.

Even though I use this blog to discuss cinema, right now I have been disenchanted and disconnected with what is happening right now as I have been struggling to return to watching films. I only saw a couple of short films this month on YouTube. I have not been to the movie theaters since November of last year and I have no clue what will get me back to the movie theaters. I wanted to see The Odyssey, but I have issues with the different presentations of the film. The fact that it is in 3 different formats in 4 different aspect ratios is jarring as Christopher Nolan shot the film entirely only IMAX 70mm as there are two versions of the film in the full 1:43:1 aspect ratio for IMAX theaters and 1:90:1 aspect ratio in IMAX while there is also a 70mm version non-IMAX version in 2:39:1 aspect ratio. There are only 45 theatres around the world that show films in true IMAX form as it is expensive and there are not a lot of locations where people can get access to see it. Audiences who will go to their nearest multiplex will watch the film in a 1:85:1 aspect ratio but will be missing certain things in a shot from other versions of the film as they will not be getting the whole story.

I have a problem with that, and I know Christopher Nolan wants to bring an immersive experience to audiences, but this is not the way to go. If you cannot get audiences to see the film in the way you intended, it to be where they will not see everything you are presenting. Then you are being an asshole. Sorry Nolan but you lost me. I know I will be called a hypocrite since I did see The Hateful Eight in 70mm with an aspect ratio of 2:76:1 back in December of 2015 but that was a rare event as I was able to afford it at the time. Plus, the version that everyone else saw in theaters in version that was 20 minutes shorter did not have many alterations on the visual front despite being in a slightly different aspect ratio.

Then there is what is happening with Marvel with the release of the teaser trailer for Avengers: Doomsday, their recent appearance at Comic Con, and the announcement of new films at Comic Con. I had expressed my own frustrations on the MCU, and I have not caught up with some of their recent films and TV projects. The trailer for Avengers: Doomsday is underwhelming and it feels desperate in trying to get people to watch the film as was the big announcement at Comic Con with the cast. The appearance of Ryan Reynolds disguised as Deadpool made me cringe as I do not like Reynolds at all. There are rumors he is in the film and if it is true. The rumors about some production issues as he did not have a good relationship with some cast members suggests that his standing in the film industry is starting to wane after that whole debacle involving his wife over that awful movie, he produced that I never want to see.

I am intrigued by the announcement for the third Black Panther film as I knew Ryan Coogler would come back to direct the film while he was joined by Letitia Wright and Winston Duke in the announcement that included David Jonsson to play the role of the adult Toussaint/T’Challa II as this is good news. It is sad that Chadwick Boseman passed away a few years ago as it is impossible to recast the role, but this is an excellent idea. The news about Ghost Rider started off fine when it was announced that Ryan Gosling would play the lead role as I was excited until I heard that Shawn Levy would direct the film. I do not like Levy as a filmmaker as he is the definition of mediocrity and he is someone with no sense of style as a filmmaker. We have now entered the dark ages of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Monthly Film Reviews/What Else I Am Watching

Return to Mortville

Released as part of a special features extra for the Criterion Blu-Ray release of Desperate Living, this 13 ½ minute documentary short film about the making of the film has its director John Waters revisiting the locations where he made the film. It is a short film that fans of Waters would want to see where he reminisces about the film and the places near his home in Baltimore where he shot the film. Even when he talks to people who live in these locations where some of them are fans of Waters as it is a wonderful short documentary to watch.

The Mastodon in the Room

It has been more than a year since the passing of Mastadon’s founding guitarist Brent Hinds as the remaining members of the band in vocalist/bassist Troy Sanders, guitarist Bill Kelliher, and drummer/vocalist Brann Dailor speaking at the Lefont Plaza Theatre in Atlanta about Hinds through archival film footage as they continue to struggle with his passing and how their relationship with Hinds had deteriorated years before his death where they reluctantly cut ties with him months before he died. It is a sobering documentary short film that is about grief as the band is about to release a new album in Marrow Deep with new guitarist Nick Johnston and keyboardist Joao Nogueira coming in late August.

King of the Hill (season 15)

I am happy that the show made its return last year as it was great to see these characters all over again. This season can be summed up in one word. Perfect. This is a rare thing on television these days as this season saw some amazing character arcs that happen. While I admit I was not fond of Ronny Chieng as the new voice of Kahn Souphanousiphone as the character was previously voiced by Toby Huss in the original series. Chieng’s voice has grown on me as he has provided a lot of nuances to Kahn who has now been divorced and living with Bill of all people in this season. Yet, their odd couple dynamic is among the funniest moments in the season while the season also explore AI frauds, cosplay conventions, menopause, and other bits. The episode also touches upon a few things that fans wanted to know in the previous season as it also relates to the passing of the Hill family dog Ladybird as Hank and Peggy got a new dog in Caesar Salad as the former was not initially fond of but would grow to care for that dog. The scene where Hank and Caesar Salad visit Ladybird’s tombstone is among one of the most emotional moments of the revival as it plays into grief and why losing a pet is so hard.

The season also has what I think is one of the best season finales ever where it is about why and how Hank and Peggy Hill went to Saudi Arabia in relation to why Hank left Strickland Propane. The episode also reveals how their son Bobby found his passion through cooking as it is an episode that also has one of the best endings ever where Hank has finally become King.

Dark Side of the Ring (season 7, episodes 1-5)

While I had not watched all the episodes of the last season as many of them were unavailable on YouTube as I do not have access to VICE nor cable TV (the latter of which is now unnecessary). I am glad VICE is posting the episodes of the new season on YouTube as the first 3 episodes is about Jeff Jarrett and the company he created in TNA. Jarrett has been a polarizing figure in professional wrestling, but this season has allowed to be seen in a positive light in relation to his wrestling career as well as creating Total Nonstop Action (TNA) following the death of WCW. The three episodes on TNA revealed its early struggles where it would financial stability in collaborating with Panda Energy CEO Bob Carter and his daughter Dixie as the latter would become TNA’s president. Dixie Carter declined to be interviewed though the episodes do not paint her in a good light as the various people interviewed in the series do not have kind stories about her.

The other 2 episodes that has been shown on YouTube so far includes the infamous IWA match between Samoa Joe and Necro Butcher in the mid-2000s that was created through the Internet wrestling culture as the match finally happened between these two different wrestlers who are both interviewed in the film along with wrestler Eddie Kingston and AEW referee Bryce Remburg who was the referee for this match. It is a dark episode but with some light-hearted moments that kept it from being dark. The fifth episode is on Ray Traylor aka the Big Boss Man who was a popular WWE superstar in the late 80s and early 90s where he started off as a heel but then became a much popular babyface in the early 1990s. Upon his return to WWE in 1998 following a stint in WCW that did not go anywhere, he would be in some infamous moments and feuds that were quite comical but was starting to cope with an addiction to painkillers that nearly killed him until the death of fellow wrestler Curt Henning got him to clean up and leave the wrestling business. Sadly, he would pass away at the age of 41 in 2004 as his family still struggle with his passing though they are happy that he remains beloved by wrestling fans.

Spartacus: House of Ashur (episode 1)

I am a fan of the Spartacus TV series from the 2010s as it is a great show that had a lot of action, graphic violence, hardcore nudity, and all sorts of shit. This spin-off is an alternate universe take of the story on what if the traitorous gladiator was the one who killed Spartacus. It plays into a former slave and gladiator who now runs his own house where he has slaves as gladiators while trying to gain his stature in Roman society. The first episode so far is amazing though it is a shame the show got cancelled by Starz as it is a reason the streaming service has lost a lot of subscribers. I was fortunate to buy the season at a nice discount price from Fandango at Home as I can now finish the series.

Well, that is all for July 2026. I have no clue what I will watch for next month despite having pre-written reviews for Carlos Reygadas’ Our Time and Sofia Coppola’s Marc by Sofia. I am doubtful I will return to the theaters unless there is something that will motivate me to see it. The only thing I know I will be releasing is my World Cup post-mortem while I am trying to figure out how to re-start my Blind Spot Series now that I have purchased another film that I wanted to see for the series.

Before I bid adieu, I must acknowledge on those who have passed away this month that include the people in Japan who have died tragically at the recent earthquake along with recent incidents around the world. Also who have passed away this month and will be missed include Sir Sam Neill, Glen Hansard, Kavinsky, Jennifer Finch of L7, Bonnie Tyler, Lou Keller of Sick of It All, Italian football legend Franco Baresi, Spanish actor Manolo Solo, Arlene Smith of the Chantels, actor Johannes Krisch, actor Tom Chadbon, actress Hope Clarke, film producer Luiz Carlos Barreto, filmmaker Chuck Russell, actress Kaylee Hottle, English football legend Kevin Keegan, baseball legend Duane Ward, singer Freddy Cannon, wrestler Siva Afi, the legendary cricket player Sir Garfield Sobers, Brenda Fricker, Capricorn Records founder Alan Walden, actor Hal Williams, screenwriter William Wisher Jr., actor Scott Bryce, MTV veejay Dave Kendall, production designer Barbara Ling, actor Peter Van Norden, American football legend Greg Hawthorne, Canadian actor/writer Mark Messier, actress Louise Lasser, and Beaky of Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick, & Tich. We will miss you all. This is thevoid99 signing off…

© thevoid99 2026

Films That I Saw: June 2026

2026-06-30T16:44:48.852-04:00

Here in America, we are days away from our 250th birthday as it should be a time of celebration of how far we have come. Unfortunately, there is not much to celebrate as the best example to describe how far we have fallen is in one simple picture of the reflecting pool near Washington Monument in our nation’s capital of Washington, D.C. Some landmarks should have been left alone but Il Dumbfuck, as usual, had to fuck it up to play his own ego while he continues to shit himself around world leaders and his cabinet who have continued to make this country a fucking laughing stock. Of course, he blames on his predecessors who are now living in his head rent-free while they were at a more important event in the opening of the Barack Obama museum where everyone is being cool. Plus, I love this friendship between Michelle Obama and W. as everyone knows the former could kill that pussy-ass UFC who called her a man at that horrible UFC show at the White House.

Things are heating up with a heatwave already emerging in Europe as it has been bad while there is a revolution happening in Albania over government corruption and the presence of Ivanka Trump and her dumbass husband Jared Kushner. Most recently, there were two earthquakes in Venezuela that is devastating with thousands of people having already died and tens of thousands missing. Yet, we can no longer rely on TV news programs to give the people any real news as CBS News has died with CNN likely to be next and purchased by the douchebags at Skydance. These are some dark times as I have been disconnected from the world of film as I have been unable to keep up and lost a lot of interest in new releases as there has been too many to keep track of. I have not watched a lot of films recently as my review of The Last Emperor remains half-finished as it has not been fun writing reviews right now.

Thankfully, I have a new distraction and that is the FIFA World Cup as so far, this has been a phenomenal event. Instead of writing about films, I have chosen to write summaries on the daily events of the World Cup in my Letterboxd account along with some thoughts as it has been fun. Especially as I have people reading and commenting on my thoughts as it is fun to keep up as well as reading about visitors to the country coming here like the Scottish finding a place to party in Boston as the city has been welcoming towards them. I also learned that St. Louis is a home base for fans of Bosnia & Herzegovina as that is just fascinating. I do understand that these foreign visitors do have gripes on tipping culture and these horrific ticket prices for the World Cup as I cannot even afford to buy a ticket to a World Cup game. Yet, I have heard that the visitors here in Atlanta have been enjoying themselves with many stating that they prefer our stadium for their more affordable prices on food and drinks instead of the prices at other stadiums including Miami.

The knockout stage has already gotten started with Canada beating South Africa to enter the round of 16 as there are teams that I am rooting for. Croatia is still my pick to win the World Cup along with France, Spain, and Argentina. Yet, I also have Morocco as a dark horse pick to win the World Cup while I have been impressed with the U.S. national team as they have a shot in making it to the quarterfinals. While there are a few gripes about this year’s World Cup that I have as it relates to the dynamic ticket prices, the hydration water breaks in the games, and the treatment of the Iranian national team from FIFA and the U.S. government as we are still in an unfortunate war with them. There is a lot about this year’s World Cup that I have been fond of.

Notably as there are countries making their World Cup debut like Curacao, Jordan, Uzbekistan, and Cape Verde. Curacao, Jordan, and Uzbekistan I think did all right in their debut matches, but Cape Verde is the real surprise as they tied against Spain, Uruguay, and Saudi Arabia with a goalie in Vozinha being the breakout star of the tournament at the age of 40. This little island country in the west of Africa has become this Cinderella story that has won over the people as they are set to play Argentina in the knockout stages. The fact that they made it this far is an achievement as these are the little things that I like about the World Cup. 9 out of the 10 teams that have made it to the knockout stages are from Africa as I have been rooting for them as I do want a team that is not from Europe or South America to win the World Cup as I feel like it would be a big change.

Other countries such as Haiti, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Ecuador have been impressive though Haiti did get eliminated in the group stage, but I was extremely impressed with a goal that Wilson Isidor did against Morocco in Atlanta as it is among one of the best goals I have seen so far. A lot of the games were good though there were a few that were not good. One team that should be considered the biggest disappointment is Uruguay as they tied against Cape Verde and Saudi Arabia and then lost to Spain where they self-destructed in the last game. That was horrible as they have embarrassed themselves as I hope Luis Suarez chews them out for playing like chumps. The round of 32 has started and two of my picks in Japan and Germany have both been eliminated as that has made me sad.

In the month of June 2026, I only saw 3 films as they were all first-timers as I spent much of my time watching the World Cup. I need a break from films for now as I am having too much fun with the World Cup.

Monthly Mini-Reviews

Blue Morpho: The Three Act Play

Kit Monteith’s 15 ½ minute short film is really a promotional piece for Radiohead guitarist Ed O’Brien’s new album of the same name as he talks about his love for nature and his own battle with depression that would inspire the album. It is a low-key yet somber piece where it shows O’Brien talking about the record as well as playing pieces of music from the album. It is a unique album that is more about mood and ambiance that does fit into the similar style of Radiohead as I am still waiting for them to tour the U.S. and hopefully do something with Nine Inch Nails.

Kylie

Madonna, Cher, Mariah Carey, Whitney Houston, Janet Jackson, and Beyonce. Those are names everyone knows when it comes to who are the queens of pop music. Yet, there is one name that belongs in that conversation even though she has only had a few hits here in the U.S. Around the world, Kylie Minogue is an icon who sold more than 80 million albums worldwide with an impressive record of having #1 albums in the U.K. in the 1980s, 1990s, 2000s, 2010s, and 2020s as well as being considered a national treasure in her native Australia. The 3-part, 3-hour documentary film explores her life and career where Minogue herself talks about her life as well as remaining this figure of positivity to her audiences as the film also has interviews with her sister Danni, music producer Pete Waterman, her former Neighbours co-star Jason Donovan, and Nick Cave who had been instrumental in allowing Minogue to explore new ideas in the mid-90s. It is an exhilarating and touching documentary film that explores the many highs of Minogue’s careers as well as some of the tough moments such as the death of her former boyfriend in Michael Hutchence of INXS, horrible criticism early in her music career, and two battles with cancer that she has beaten. In this world, there is only one Kylie, and she is the Only Kylie That Matters (with all due respect to porn actress Kylie Rocket).

United Passions

For those who have not read my list about the best films to watch on futbol would be surprised at one of the films I did watch this month and man, it is one of the worst films ever made. It is about the creation of FIFA and the World Cup and the people who helped turn this small sports organization into something gigantic but also filled with a lot of corruption. It is a film funded by FIFA where they wanted to make some of their figureheads, including Sepp Blatter as saintly figures. Yet, it feels off knowing that there was a lot dirty dealing and all of that as the only thing missing from the faces of Sam Neill as Joao Havelange and Tim Roth as Blatter were evil mustaches for them to twirl and with a cackle. It is fucking shit.

Well, that is all for June as I have no idea what I will do in July other than continuing my coverage for the World Cup on Letterboxd. After that, I am unsure if I will go back to the movie theaters with the upcoming releases of The Odyssey, Spider-Man: Brand New Day, and Her Private Hell looming. I am also unsure on what reviews I plan on writing or restarting my Blind Spot series as I just want to take an extended hiatus from that for a while. I would love to go on a vacation, but I cannot afford it and it is just a bad time to go anywhere right now because of inflation and other dumb shit.

Before I bid adieu, I must acknowledge those who passed away this month such as the famed music executive Clive Davis who discovered many great artists as well as creating Arista Records that did a lot for many artists such as Whitney Houston, Barry Manilow, and Santana. Without him, I do not think we would have music that have defined our lives and he will be missed. Also who will be missed include the economist Alan Greenspan, pro wrestler Joe Doering, actress Dame Penelope Keith, Chicago co-founder Walter Parazaider, actor Tom Ligon, Ann Blyth, David Clayton of Blood, Sweat, & Tears, French singer Guesch Patti, visual effects artist Jeff Olson, actor Michael Byrne, voice actress Akihiro Miwa, TV showrunner James Burrow who gave audiences the show Cheers, Justin Carey of Sixpence None the Richer, music producer Tay Keith, comedy actor Tom Dreesen, pro wrestler the Duke of Dorchester, video game music composer Bobby Prince, TV actress Anne Schedeen, Dee Palmer of Jethro Tull, film editor David Gamble, film critic Gene Shalit, actor Ronnie Schell, artist David Hockney, Princess Bajrakitiyabha of Thailand, Stacey King of the Chicago Bulls from the 1990s, astronomer Alan Hale, actor Anthony Guidera, author James Bradley, actor Patrick Godfrey, actor James Handy, Peabo Bryson, Anthony Head, and Daveigh Chase. We will miss you. This is thevoid99 signing off…

© thevoid99 2026

20 Films on Futbol

2026-06-27T21:32:02.399-04:00

In the world of cinema, sports is a subject that allows filmmakers to tell stories of adversity, growth, teamwork, and why sports are fun. In the U.S., there are iconic sports movies in games such as baseball, football, basketball, and hockey whether it is professional sports, semi-professional, or little league sports. They have stories that are appealing to audiences because they are simple yet effective stories. There are so many films relating to baseball, football, basketball, and hockey that can be made into a list but there is one sport that does not get enough attention even though it is a much bigger sports around the world than in the U.S. Futbol or as you Americans call it, soccer. Futbol is a different as it a sport that says a lot about people, community, clubs, and what it means to win as well as what is means to be part of a team.

While there have been a lot of films about the beautiful game, this list will not include films I have not seen such as Tom Hooper’s The Damned United, Bill Forsyth’s Gregory’s Girl, and Stephen Chow’s Shaolin Soccer. I am making a list of 20 films in both fiction and documentary that I think represent the beautiful game at its absolute best. Even as it is not an easy list of films, considering that the beautiful game has not been well-represented through Hollywood though there are some gems in and out of Hollywood that has appeal to fans and non-fans of the beautiful game. Here is a list of 20 films that are worth watching about the beautiful game:

1. Escape to Victory

A remake of the 1961 Hungarian film Two Halves in Hell that is based on an infamous game between Nazi Germany and Soviet-Ukrainian POWS in 1942 known as the Death Match. John Huston’s 1981 film is a different animal as it is about a bunch of POWs from the Allies who have agreed to play an exhibition game against Nazi Germany as part of a propaganda stunt for the Nazis. Narratively, it is a basic story yet with a cast that includes Michael Caine as the team’s leader/manager, Sylvester Stallone as an American who serves as the goalie, and Max von Sydow as a Nazi leader. It seems like an appealing film for mainstream audiences, but what makes the film work are the supporting cast who get play POWs such as England’s Bobby Moore, Argentina’s Osvaldo, and Pele! Now that is a fucking team, and it must have been a joy for Caine to play with some of these legends including a certified GOAT in Pele.

2. Ladybugs

OK, as a child of the 80s. Rodney Dangerfield is an idol of mine as I always love his persona as a comedian as well as an actor. He is a better actor than people give him credit for. Yes, his schtick was becoming dated in the 1990s but this film by Sidney J. Furie is not as bad as people claim it is to be. Dangerfield is hilarious as a guy who is trying to get a promotion at his job so he can get the money to marry his longtime girlfriend. What he does is claim he is a soccer coach where he would coach his company’s girls’ team that includes the boss’ daughter as he has Jackee` helping him. Thus, hilarity ensues while he would get his girlfriend’s son Matthew dressing up as a girl in Martha so that he can be a ringer for the team. It is a comical film that include some racy language that is quite extreme for a family film. “They broke my nail! MOM, THOSE BITCHES BROKE MY NAIL!!!!!” This is one of those rare films that I saw in the theaters more than once and I am not ashamed to admit it.

3. Fever Pitch

Not to be confused with the 2005 film by the Farrelly Brothers starring Jimmy Fallon and Drew Barrymore about the Boston Red Sox. In fact, that film is remake of this 1997 film by David Evans that is based on a book by Nick Hornby, who also wrote the screenplay, about a schoolteacher’s love for Arsenal set in 1988 as he also falls in love with another teacher as he becomes conflicted in trying to have both. The film stars Colin Firth as this man who also coaches his school’s team as it also plays into his troubled relationship with his father who first took him to an Arsenal game. The film also features Mark Strong as Firth’s best friend who is also a massive fan of Arsenal. It is this film that made me a fan of Arsenal and if anyone has a problem with Arsenal will have to answer to…. The Queen….

4. Bend It Like Beckham

Gurinder Chadha’s 2002 film is not just one of the finest films on the beautiful game, but it is also this light-hearted and touching film that revolves around cultural differences, identity, and not wanting to betray family values. Starring Parminder Nagra as a young Punjab-Indian woman who loves futbol as she meets up with a white Briton played Keira Knightley who is part of a local amateur futbol club as they become friends but also rivals for the affection of their Irish coach. Yet, the film also explores Nagra’s character Jess trying to not dishonor her family’s values and wishes just as her sister is hoping to get married while the film also has a lot of humor. Particularly from Juliet Stevenson as Knightley’s mother who believes that her daughter is a lesbian as her reactions bring such joy. It is a film that my parents and my sisters love as it is just one of those amazing films though the scene of Stevenson crying over what happened to George Michael when he came out is hilarious. Yet, the man who plays her husband tells her, “George Michael is still a superstar, and you still listen to Wham!”

5. Kicking & Screaming

Not to be confused with the 1995 film by Noah Baumbach of the same name, Jesse Dylan’s 2005 sports comedy about a man who decides to coach a youth soccer team after his dad had refused to play his son for his own team. Starring Will Ferrell and Robert Duvall, the film is a light-hearted comedy that is more about the relationship between father and son as Ferrell often felt he had to compete with his overly-competitive father in Duvall. What does make it work is that you have Ferrell team up with legendary Chicago Bears coach Mike Ditka in creating a team of misfits who may not be athletic but their heart and willingness to get better at the game. It also has funny moments such as Ferrell becoming addicted to cappuccino and the need to wanting to merge his father’s sporting goods business with his own small business selling vitamins.

6. Dare to Dream: The Story of the U.S. Women’s Soccer Team

This 2005 documentary from HBO Sports about the U.S. women’s soccer team that would win the 1999 FIFA Women’s World Cup is among one of the finest documentary films about women athletes. Notably in the struggles these legendary players had to endure from being underpaid, not having a lot of support from their own country, and not being taken seriously by other countries. Yet, this is a documentary that proves how they managed to become winners and that moment at the Rose Bowl in 1999 where they won it all. Even if the aftermath of the brief rise and fall of the WUSA league is also told though that league did pave the way for the NWSL which has so far done well.

7. Offside

Jafar Panahi is one of the world's best filmmakers as well as one of the best filmmakers from Iran despite his own battles with its government who have tried to ban him from making films. Among the films he has made in his country that has gotten into trouble is his 2006 film about a group of young women disguising themselves as men as they want to watch a qualifying game between Iran and Bahrain at the national stadium. Of course, they get caught as guards are forced to watch over these women where one of them does escape and does get a glimpse of the game. The scene where this young woman explains what she saw with the guards also looking at her own description is among one of the best scenes in the film. Despite all the political and social turmoil, it is the sport that does bring people together as it is one of the finest films of the 21st century so far.

8. She’s the Man

An adaptation of the William Shakespeare play Twelfth Night, Andy Fickman’s comedy is about a young woman whose school team has been disbanded as she decides to be her twin brother, who went to Europe to play some shows, who is about to attend another prep school as she disguises herself as a dude so she can play the beautiful game. She would have Channing Tatum as her roommate where she falls for him but also deals with all sorts of trouble. The film has Amanda Bynes in one of her most iconic performances as this young woman that just wants to play futbol as she would have Vinnie Jones as her coach while dealing with the affections of Laura Ramsey but also Alex Breckenridge as her brother’s vain girlfriend. It is an amazing film where Bynes is a total hoot while proving that tampons can help with nose bleeds.

9. Rudo y Cursi

From Carlos Cuaron is a film about two half-brothers from a farming family in a small Mexican town as they are both talented in futbol as they both go into separate teams and journeys as they both rise into the ranks of the professional Mexican league. Starring Gael Garcia Bernal and Diego Luna who had worked with Cuaron previously as he co-wrote Y Tu Mama Tambien with his older brother Alfonso Cuaron. Alfonso, along with Guillermo del Toro and Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu produce the film as it is a comical story of sibling rivalry as well as the way futbol rivalries occur in Mexico as Bernal and Luna are great in this as well as a phenomenal supporting performance from Argentine actor/comedian Guillermo Franca as a slimy agent who also narrates the film. Another thing about the film that is worth watching is seeing Bernal doing a hilarious ranchero cover of Cheap Trick’s I Want You to Want Me.

10. Looking for Eric

Ken Loach’s 2009 film is about a middle-aged postal worker who is experiencing his own mid-life crisis as well as family drama in Manchester where he finds a sense of joy in the presence of his favorite player in Eric Cantona. While it is not a sports film, the presence of Cantona does add to why futbol matters to people and how it helps a man going through so much in his life find some bit of hope. Especially as Cantona is a man full of joy who understands the struggles that this postal worker is going through as it does play into the elements of magical realism. It may be a minor work from Ken Loach but only someone like Ken Loach can create films set in the real world and not be afraid to bring in elements of fantasy that is grounded in reality.

11. The Two Escobars

One of several films in this list from the 30 for 30 documentary series, Jeff and Michael Zimbalist’s film about the Colombian drug lord Pablo Escobar and the rise of Colombian futbol in the 1990s that included its captain in Andres Escobar (no relation). It is one of the best films of the series as it explores the rise of these two different men and their impact on the country but also the fall with the end of Pablo’s reign and the 1994 FIFA World Cup game against the U.S. where Andres scored an unfortunate own goal for the U.S. as he would be killed more than a week later. It is one of the documentary films that highlight a team that had a lot of promises only to fall with a drug lord who wanted to do good things for his country.

12. Maradona ‘86

One of 7 documentary short films from the 30 for 30 series as part of the Soccer Stories series in celebration of the 2014 FIFA World Cup, this documentary short about Argentina’s Diego Armando Maradona and his performance at the 1986 FIFA World Cup in Mexico. A performance that is considered legendary including the quarter-final game against England where he would score 2 legendary goals. One of which remains a source of controversy because of a handball he committed yet it counted as the English to this day are still angry about it. That would be followed by what many call the Goal of the Century as Maradona was untouchable that year.

13. Ceasefire Massacre

The 2nd short from the 30 for 30 documentary series in Soccer Stories is about one of the most violent events to happen during a watch party at a small pub in Northern Ireland. All because a bunch of people wanted to watch Ireland vs. Italy during the 1994 FIFA World Cup where a Protestant terror group ambushed the pub where six people were killed. Directed by Alex Gibney and Trevor Birney, the documentary short film explores the Northern Ireland conflict and how this incident marked as a turning point in the conflict.

14. The Myth of Garrincha

Also, from the 30 for 30 series in Soccer Stories is a documentary short on Mane Garrincha who had been part of the 1958 and 1962 Brazilian national team that won the World Cup twice in those years. The short film explores a man who had a unique style of play due to his legs as they were bent when he was children. The film also played into his aftermath of his career where he struggled with alcoholism and finances leading to his death in 1983 where the people did give him a proper funeral.

15. The Opposition

Another entry from the 30 for 30 series is this short documentary by Ezra Edelman and Jeffrey Plunkett about one of the most discomforting World Cup qualifying games in 1973 between the Soviet Union and Chile in the latter’s national stadium in Santiago which was being used as a prison and killing field during the dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet. The Soviet Union’s refusal to play the two qualifiers led to the country being disqualified as it is a sobering documentary about one of the darkest periods in world history.

16. White, Blue and White

Another documentary from the 30 for 30 series is a short film about two men from the 1978 Argentina national team in Ossie Ardiles and Ricky Villa who helped the country win their first World Cup that year as they would later join the Tottenham Hotspurs in England where they would become major stars for that team and help the club win the 1981 FA Cup. Yet, all of that changed in 1982 where Ardiles leaves the club to return to the Argentine national team during one of the most horrific conflicts of the 20th Century in the Falkland Islands War between Britain and Argentina. It is a somber short of two men who are torn apart by their love for two countries and the war that tore everything apart.

17. Barbosa: The Man Who Made All of Brazil Cry

Until the events of the 2014 FIFA World Cup, what happened in the 1950 World Cup that was also hosted by Brazil who made it to the finals against Uruguay was a tragic event. It was the day where everyone thought the host country would win but a goal from Uruguay changed everything and Brazil’s goalkeeper Moacir Barbosa became the scapegoat as he was considered a national hero before the World Cup. This documentary short from 30 for 30 is about Barbosa and the aftermath of the 1950 World Cup where he was unfortunately seen as a pariah as it is one of the best documentary shorts from the 30 for 30 series.

18. Hillsborough

A feature-length documentary from the 30 for 30 series by Daniel Gordon is about one of the most horrific events in the history of the sport on April 15, 1989, during a FA Cup semi-final game between Liverpool and Nottingham at Hillsborough stadium where 97 people were killed due to a crowd crush with 766 injured from the event. The two-hour documentary explore incidents years before the event and what could have been prevented as well as the troubling aftermath that included falsified police reports and such leading to a trial and an investigation as the film was originally released in 2014 just twenty-five years after the event as it would later be expanded and updated two years later to include the inquiry and its verdict. Of all the films of the 30 for 30 series, this one is the best of them all.

19. Diego Maradona

The final film in a thematic trilogy about troubled geniuses from Asif Kapadia, this documentary film on the famed Argentine futbol player during his time playing for S.C.C. Napoli in Italy’s Serie A league from 1984 to 1991. Kapadia’s usage of archival footage, voice-over work, news reports, and such allows audiences to see one of the greatest players ever who would find a home in Naples as well as make their team one of the most beloved teams in Europe. Even as he endures a troubling cocaine addiction, extramarital affairs, and other things that would add to his legend as well as tidbits on his international career including his legendary performance at the 1986 FIFA World Cup where he gave Argentina their 2nd World Cup victory.

20. Next Goal Wins

While it may be inferior to the 2014 documentary film of the same name by Mike Brett and Steve Jamison, Taika Waititi’s dramatic re-telling about Dutch-American coach Thomas Regan who takes on the impossible task to coach the American-Samoa national team and make them contenders. Starring Michael Fassbender as Regan, the film is a touching comedy-drama that explores a man still dealing with personal tragedy while trying to take a team of misfits into a team that can do well in World Cup qualification games. It is a minor film by Waititi, but it is still a compelling film that plays into Waititi’s exploration of life being a comedy and tragedy.

Films to Avoid

For every film that is about the beautiful game that can range from being great to even something that is considered mediocre. There are films on the beautiful game that should be avoided. In how they portray the beautiful game as well as how they depict certain personalities. 1995’s The Big Green from Walt Disney Studios starring Olivia d’Abo, Steve Guttenberg, and Jay O. Sanders is just this awful film about British schoolteacher who goes to Texas as part of an exchange program by getting a bunch of disinterested misfits to play the game as it just poorly executed. It is meant to be a family comedy, but it is not funny at all as it is also generic in its approach to sport as it features Patrick Renna of The Sandlot as the goalie who is meant to be the comic relief, but it is so awful.

Another film that should be avoided is a bio-pic on Pele in Pele: Birth of a Legend from Jeff and Michael Zimbalist as those two filmmakers should have stuck to documentary films. This is a movie that is as generic as it can get while it is also filled with a lot of inaccuracies on Brazil’s failure at the 1950 FIFA World Cup and on Pele’s life. When you have Vincent D’Onofrio as the team’s head coach, Colm Meany as the Swedish head coach along with great Brazilian actors like Seu Jorge and Rodrigo Santoro and do not give them anything to work with. The film was fucked. It is a boring and formulaic bio-pic but my father’s opinion of it was damning who cited everything about that movie that was wrong.

For all the bad movies that have been around, including awful sports films. There is nothing as bad as 2014’s United Passions by Frederic Auburtin starring Gerard Depardieu, Sam Neill, Tim Roth, Fisher Stevens, Thomas Krestchmann, and many others all funded and produced by FIFA about the creation of FIFA and the World Cup. It is astounding in how fucked up that film is in terms of skirting around certain issues as well as what it wanted FIFA to be seen as. You have parts of the film of kids playing the beautiful game intercut with all these dramatic moments of FIFA officials trying to modernize the game and all of that. It is truly one of the worst films ever made as there is this shot of Depardieu as Jules Rimet holding the old trophy that he is about to award to Brazil as he climbs the stairs of the stadium to see that Uruguay has one. It is the stupidest thing ever captured on film with the most awful music ever. An absolute fucking piece of shit.

Well, that is all for anyone interested in the beautiful game to see what films that are out there to see. It may not be as big as other sports in the U.S. but there is a reason people love futbol around the world as Americans do embrace it slowly. Especially as the World Cup gives American the chance to explore different cultures from around the world and be a part of something that is just universal. Sports do bring people together and futbol is one of those sports that gets people to sing and root for something that is beautiful.

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