Movie critic Bruce Miller says "Next Goal Wins" is largely a matter of how you define “winning.” Unfortunately, the story is so scattered it’s hard to find the momentum.
Try to remember the name of Michael Fassbender’s last film.
It’s “Next Goal Wins” but it’s about as memorable as the words combined to form the title.
That’s probably because Fassbender is miscast as Thomas Rongen, a soccer coach whose Bobby Knight behavior has forced him to look elsewhere for work. He takes a job in American Samoa and realizes the team has lost its will. He has three weeks to get the players primed for a win.
Naturally, it seems impossible.
Because Taika Waititi is directing (and co-wrote) this, you’d think differently. Instead, it’s unhinged and filled with the kind of lax behavior most can’t embrace.
Before he can even assemble the team, Rongen must find it. Players are all over the place, unsure they want to suffer another defeat. They also have a different mindset regarding play and teach more than they learn.
Because we know where this is headed (name one soccer film that isn’t plotted like this), much of “Next Goal Wins” is spent exploring the territory, meeting the locals and trying to figure out what caused Rongen to be so angry.
While Fassbender is almost swallowed up by his players (he’s awfully slight to be in this kind of role), he does well one-on-one. As he confronts players about their participation, we get to know them – and that’s where the real film should have been pitched.
The players are interesting, different and highly watchable. Waititi, however, hits and runs. His best story comes from a transgender athlete who has plenty to say about the game. We get dribs and drabs, but not enough to satisfy a film this needy.
As Jaiyah Saelua, the first trans athlete to play in a World Cup qualifying match, Kaimana is wonderful. You want to hear more – and learn what fueled so much of the character’s life. She gets moments (at one crucial point in particular) and always grabs focus. Even though Fassbender is barking orders, Kaimana stands out.
When we get to the game, flashbacks to other, better films emerge. An account of the last goal is handled in a great Waititi way – but it’s a little too late to begin flexing those comic muscles. Naturally, there's actual footage of the real coach and a bit of an update.
“Next Goal Wins," however, needed a better set-up. This goes offside a little too often.
Movies in a minute with film critic Bruce Miller
Movies in a Minute: "Saturday Night"
Movies in a Minute: "Joker: Folie `a Deux"
Movies in a Minute: "Megalopolis"
Movies in a Minute: "Transformers One"
Movies in a Minute: "Speak No Evil"
Movies in a Minute: "Beetlejuice Beetlejuice"
Movies in a Minute: "Reagan"
Movies in a Minute: "Blink Twice"
Movies in a Minute "Alien: Romulus"
Movies in a Minute: "It Ends With Us"
Movies in a Minute: "Trap"
Movies in a Minute: "Deadpool & Wolverine"
Movies in a Minute: "Twisters"
Movies in a Minute "Maxxxine"
Movies in a Minute "Despicable Me 4"
Movies in a Minute "A Quiet Place: Day One"
Movies in a Minute: "Thelma"
Movies in a Minute: "Inside Out 2"
Movies in a Minute "Bad Boys: Ride or Die"
Movies in a Minute: "Jim Henson Idea Man”
Movies in a Minute: "Summer Camp"
Movies in a Minute: "The Blue Angels"
Movies in a Minute: "Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes"
Movies in a Minute: "The Fall Guy"
Movies in a Minute: "Challengers"
Movies in a Minute: "Abigail"
Movies in a Minute: "Civil War"
Movies in a Minute: "Monkey Man"
Movies in a Minute: "Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire"
Movies in a Minute: "Late Night With the Devil"
Movies in a Minute: "Snack Shack"
Movies in a Minute: "Cabrini"
Movies in a Minute "Dune: Part Two"
Movies in a Minute: "Drive-Away Dolls"
Movies in a Minute "Bob Marley: One Love"
Movies in a Minute: "Lisa Frankenstein”
Movies in a Minute: “The Greatest Night in Pop”
Movies in a Minute: "Poor Things"
Movies in a Minute: Best Actress nominee Sandra Huller