Next Goal Wins

It's not very often I feel compelled to write a review on something I've watched, but "Next Goal Wins" is undoubtedly the BEST football themed docu-movie I have ever seen and indeed in my humble opinion one of the best movies I've ever watched. It grips you immediately from the start and is a true underdog story in every sense of the word, but this movie is much, much more than just a football documentary. It's so uplifting the way it approaches all the ideals, principles, morals and events and the hands that life deals us as you will find out upon viewing. The characters within the story are fascinating and in some cases "unusual" to say the least! If I had to make one criticism (and believe me I don't want to) it's the fact that I could have watched this easily for another hour I was that engaged by the story and the people in it and would have loved to have seen the next chapters in their lives, but to be fair to the makers of the film they got that just right as well. Simply brilliant, highly recommended to give you the feel good factor even if you're not a football fan.

Lots of passion is in front of the but, with the players and the coaches, and unfortunately there isn't nearly as much passion behind the camera.

The filmmakers may have let down a good story, because it's just not made as exciting or as emotional as it should be through the very ordinary visuals, music, and editing. Especially the last third - when things should logically be gripping - feels flat. I felt good for the people in front of the camera, but the competent at best filmmaking doesn't effectively form their stories into a complete and satisfying film. Some introducing subjects are introduced in the first third, and then forgotten about until the epilogue, for example.

Will be interesting to see if Taika Waititi can make this story into something better. I don't look forward to the inevitable criticisms of 2022's Next Goal Wins being criticised for having a white saviour trope (I mean, fingers crossed that doesn't happen), but I am looking forward to seeing what Waititi does. Hopefully it will be a little warmer, a little more passionate, and a little more fun, like the story deserves.

The documentary successfully manages to convey 1) the historical events on how they played out 2) to showcase the importance of teamwork and how important it is to boost morale and make people give there 100%. 3) how with good intentions and right approach you can manage to merge cultures and overcome initial apparent differences.

Overal interesting documentary

In 2001 American Samoa lost 31–0 to Australia. It was the worst defeat in international football. Things have not been much better for the American Samoa team since then. To qualify for the 2014 FIFA World Cup potential salvation comes in the unlikely form of Thomas Rongen, an American based Dutch soccer coach.

He commits for one month to give the team a fighting chance. During this brief period he focus on achievable tactics, fitness, a better defence as well as organising training sessions around the part time footballers. He also finds a couple of non island recruits who are of American Samoan heritage. Their form has been so bad that scoring a goal would be a bit of an achievement. It turns out that Rongen also has a personal tragedy to overcome.

The film also focuses on Jaiyah (Johnny) Saelua, a member of the team since 2003 but is the first trans-gender player to compete in a men's FIFA World Cup qualifier and is wholly accepted by the team. Samoan culture has a different attitude to trans-gender than in the west. We also see the unfortunate goalkeeper who let in all the goals against Australia.

Its a classic underdog and uplifting story but done in a minor key. Its nice to see football at the other end of the spectrum without overpaid prima donnas but for me the documentary was too formulaic and manipulative.

This is one of those rare films that leave you feeling a better person, that the world is slightly more hopeful place than it was before. On the face of it a genric sports documentary about the world's worst international football team, this transcends any one specific subject to give you an intravenous injection of hope and joy. It's often a cliché to say you don't need to care about the sport with a film like this, but you really don't here - all you need to be is the sort of person who faces some challenges that seem to be overwhelming. If that's you - and if it's not, you're lying - then you can hardly fail to be inspired, uplifted and left damp-eyed in all the best ways by this gem of a film. Fantastic.