Victory (1981)
Have you ever seen or heard of this movie? I ran across it accidently when I typed in the word “soccer” on Amazon, and came across it on the 3rd or 4th page. It was on sale for really cheap, and I read that Sylvester Stallone, Michael Caine and Pele were in it, so I thought it couldn’t hurt by buying it. Trust me, it didn’t hurt one bit. I actually feel way cool for having this movie in my DVD collection from now on and forever.
Directed by John Houston, who really never did anything to good before his death in 1987, expect Annie, did this movie to express his love for the sport of football (soccer.) Starring once again, the big names of Stallone, Caine and the ambassador of soccer, Pele. The plot of the movie is about Nazi’s trying to prove to Europe that they are better than everyone in everything. In a POW camp, a Nazi officer recognizes the English soccer star Colby (Michael Caine) and talks to him about setting up a friendly soccer match. It soon turns out to be war instead of a friendly soccer match. They end up bringing in prisoners from other camps who can play the game to make it more even, because the Nazi’s decided to put them up against there all star team. Hatch (Stallone), the American, is determined to get on this team any way possible, as he thinks it’s a plan to a perfect escape from this camp and back to America. He ends up as the goalie. The only person who actually makes this team good, is recently captured prisoner from Africa, Luis Fernandez (Pele) who still has some good health in him. Do they win the game against Nazi Germany, or lose and just escape? Its one hell of a movie to watch and find out.
First off, let me say that Pele is a horrible actor. In this movie, they give him barely any lines, and he mostly does amazing ball juggling skills and bicycle kicks to make up for his poor speaking. I have to say though, it was very entertaining to watch. Stallone was actually quite funny in this movie. I really liked him for a change in this movie. Typically I am not a Stallone fan outside Rocky and Rambo, and I like those because they are a bit cheesy. But he is very good and clever in this movie, and reminds me of someone I would want to hang out with. Caine is a bitter old guy as he is in most movies, but this time he is bitter for a reason, and becomes what the war and the POW’s need, a reason to play soccer and forget everything else.
All in all, this movie isn’t superb acting, but it is fun to watch. If you are a soccer fan, I recommend this movie over many other soccer movies. It’s a great watch, with a pretty good plot that draws you in through out the movie. Rent it, or buy it for really cheap on half.com or amazon.com.
Posts
As a War film it is only average, but as a Football spectacle it is very interesting. The fact that the makers used real life footballers, including the great man himself "Pele" is original. Thanks for sharing the blog.
ReplyDelete