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Game of Their Lives, The
Mixed or average reviews
Based on 13 critic reviews
How did we calculate this?
Based on 11 votes
Read user comments
Rate this movie >
Movie Info
Genre(s): Drama
Written by:
Angelo Pizzo
Geoffrey Douglas (book)
Directed by: David Anspaugh
Release Date:
Theatrical: April 22, 2005
DVD: September 12, 2006
Running Time: minutes, Color
Origin: USA
Summary
RATING: PG for some mild language and thematic elements
Starring Wes Bentley, Patrick Stewart, John Rhys-Davies, Gerard Butler, Gavin Rossdale, Mike Bacarella, Zachery Ty Bryan, Terry Kinney, and Louis Mandylor
From the creators of Rudy and Hoosiers, based on a true story, The Game of Their Lives follows the US National Soccer Team, which shows that with passion and commitment, anything is possible – even the greatest upset in the history of the World Cup. (IFC Films)
Also On Metacritic
FILM: Hoosiers
Also On The Web: Internet Movie Database View The Trailer Official Studio Site
What The Critics Said
All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...
Boston Globe Wesley Morris
What the cast members lack in sharpened skill they more than make up for in raw gusto and athletic scrappiness (most of the actors have logged a lot of soccer in their pasts). These guys give a sport that is virtually nameless in the movies a good name in this one.
Read Full Review >Dallas Observer Luke Y. Thompson
Unlike some other soccer movies, there's no fancy editing -- excitement is generated strictly by the actual choreography and the commentary of an English announcer.
Read Full Review >Entertainment Weekly Lisa Schwarzbaum
Coaching from the same playbook with which they made "Rudy" and "Hoosiers," director David Anspaugh and screenwriter Angelo Pizzo create a reverent fable.
Read Full Review >Los Angeles Times Kevin Crust
Despite strong performances by Gerard Butler and Wes Bentley as the leaders of the two factions and crisply directed soccer action, the movie lacks a powerful central presence to carry the drama.
Read Full Review >USA Today Mike Clark
But Game really isn't a performer's movie. And the climactic contest (in which the Americans amazingly eked out a 1-0 win against England, considered by many to be the world's finest team at the time) is only serviceably staged.
Read Full Review >The Hollywood Reporter Kirk Honeycutt
The Game of Their Lives has a great sports story to tell, yet the filmmakers fumble it away.
Read Full Review >LA Weekly Chuck Wilson
The final match stirs briefly, but when it's over, the movie's energy crashes right back down again. Disappointing.
Read Full Review >Portland Oregonian Shawn Levy
By the time of the fabled match -- which you could swear lasts a full 90 minutes -- it's all you can do to keep your skin from crawling off your body and slinking to the safety of another room. Do yourself a favor: Follow it.
Read Full Review >Variety Robert Koehler
Picturesque pic, however, 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.
Read Full Review >Chicago Sun-Times Roger Ebert
Obviously made with all of the best will in the world, its heart in the right place, this is a sluggish and dutiful film that plays more like a eulogy than an adventure.
Read Full Review >Washington Post Desson Thomson
The dialogue and acting are flatter than a punctured ball.
Read Full Review >Washington Post Sean Daly
It is flat-footed, uninspired and disjointed from start to finish, a glaring disservice to the men who played the game.
Read Full Review >What Our Users Said
The average user rating for this movie is 7.2 (out of 10) based on 11 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.
Richard J gave it a5:
Good intentions that missed the mark on many levels. I wanted to like it and drove for over an hour to see it.
Augie S. gave it an8:
Low-key telling of a legendary sports event. Ranks right up there with the movie, Miracle, in a diferent way.
Bob S gave it a0:
Greatest upset in world cup history? What about France 3 Brazil 0 in 1998?
Corey R. gave it a1:
Boy did they screw this one up! The soccer was indifferent, the actors poorly chosen, the script was pathetic. Patrick Stewart sounds like he's channelling Mason Adams. I didn't know if I was watching a movie or a smuckers commercial. How they build up Stanley Mortensen over Sir Stanley Matthews is beyond me. Of course when the US finds out England is resting their best player, perhaps the best British player of all time, of course they're in with a chance. This point will be lost on most Americans. And the coda? Is their anything more pointless than the MLS All-star game.
Bob G. gave it a10:
This movie is both inspiring and emotional. A true "feel good " movie.... Well done scenes for the period. Well acted. Gerard Butler does a great job in this film. This St. Louis native is proud of a job well done.
Apollo C. gave it a10:
Great movie.
