The Penalty King (2006) Reviews

• Life's a bitch and then it goes to penalties

  mick-1372006-05-27

  Suffering from the double disability of being both blind and a fervent Leeds United supporter, social worker Lee longs for nothing more to ease the frustrations of daily life than "a damn good kick-about". His unhinged colleague Charlie decides to make his dream come true, and inveigles him onto a local works football team. But will Lee ever get to exercise his preternatural talent for the penalty kick? "The Penalty King" is an eccentric tale with a dark underside, although still more "Strictly Ballroom" than "Kes". Played by Nick Bartlett as a tightly-wound knot of barely contained aggression, Lee invites neither pity nor sympathy—more the impulse to duck behind a pillar when you see him coming. It's fair to say blindness is the least of his problems. One senses writer/director Chris Cook went to some pretty dark places in his life for the raw materials for this fable, leading to an unsettling blend of truth and fantasy. For example, the portrait of the dank, dysfunctional social services depot where Lee works is both grotesquely over-the-top and strangely accurate. There's also a depth to the rest of the characters which is unusual in a comedy. Played with relish by a strong supporting cast, they're all pretty much bent or damaged too, and there's a violent and bitter edge to their relationships which undercuts the whimsy. "Penalty King" might never achieve the crossover success of "Bend it like Beckham" but it still has all the makings of a cult favourite. It may lack a cart-wheeling Keira Knightley, but there are compensations, notably in the shape of the delightful but underused Clare Grogan (as Lee's bossy-boots boss), who still has the ability to make men of a certain age go weak at the knees. Her drunk scenes alone are worth the price of admission. The film takes its own time to get going, and occasionally over-indulges itself, but can nevertheless sit alongside classics like "Sideways" and "Withnail and I" as an exploration of less creditable sides of the male psyche. An agreeable if not totally uplifting movie then, and, while something of a rough diamond, a gem all the same.

• To the dark side and beyond...

  tomstub2007-01-15

  OK, so a blind guy who wants to play football.... not the most obvious set up in the world... and funnily enough this isn't the most predictable of films. However, The Penalty King strangely enough takes this scenario and gives you something genuinely relatable. A ramshackle social services department is the site of the 'action' which, with the help of a spot on script- will have you squirming on your sofa,wringing your hands and wincing in perverse delight as you witness the all too familiar scene of arbitrary office politics laid out in front of you. Chris Cook finds comedy, not only in the places where other people wouldn't look, but in the places where other people wouldn't want to look. A refreshing film that takes an honest view at the other side of life and comes up with some surprises... some very surprising surprises at times... Get the DVD. watch it. then revel in the delight of your own -relatively- comfortable existence...

• A true cult football classic and an adventure for every true football fan (esp Leeds United fans).

  paul_m_clarke2006-07-21

  As an avid football fan and Leeds United fan, I came across this film after appearing as an extra and enjoying the day filming at Elland Road and have been excited ever since the day's filming to see this film come to life. One of the first things I noticed from the shoot was of the director's passion, motivation and energy for this film and the opportunity to be able express his life and his everyday stories of life being a Leeds United fan. My excitement was met with joy when I finally saw the film at a private screening at Elland Road. The film is lovely story of a guy, a guy like many of us whose life revolves around a 9 to 5 job, a love for his wife and a love for 'the beautiful game' of football. Lee is unfortunately blind, and he still misses and dreams of the time he kicked around a ball for his local pub team and the love of Leeds United and "the wee ginger man" - Billy Bremner. Lee just wants to play football, and in tricky situations turns to his friend Billy Bremner to find answers to many of life's everyday questions. This is not a film just for Leeds United fans, of course it is great to see Leeds United on the big screen and recollections of some great clips of Leeds in action and the stadium, but the story is really gripping and you can really feel the pain that Lee is under in his life, to just to be able to kick a ball around a car park or a football pitch. I loved the film and look forward to seeing it in a big screen in the not too distant future. This is not just another football fan, it is an adventure through somebody's life who is full of passion, and to see how a guy can overcome his loss of sight and to be able to enjoy 'the beautiful game.'

• Not just a football film ...............

  aelredw2006-07-18

  This film describes a recently blinded park-footballer's unlikely return to the field of dreams as one of the lads. The Penalty King contrasts the frustrations of everyday work with the potential glory of a Saturday afternoon on the park pitch. It is a tale of life-long obsession that will not be thwarted by blindness. Superb locations, acting, and music, are brought together to produce a film that takes you into places most do not see. The message of the film still applies to all. The film includes classic footage of Leeds United that will be a pleasure for anyone with even a passing interest in the beautiful game. But this is more than a football film. I do not remember smiling more watching a film. A captivating story with a number of sub-plots brought to a conclusion that will make you want to put on your shin pads and lace up your boots. And Claire Grogan too. Enjoy.

• Awesome!

  daniel_varley2006-06-15

  You've got to see this movie! Upon first preview, I was forewarned that this movie would 'take you to places never gone to before' but not exactly in the sort of Capt. Kirk kind of way, whilst reading reviews of a future 'cult classic', ladies and gentlemen... they weren't wrong, this movie IS just brilliant! Main protagonist Lee Vaughan is stuck in a job far away from his native north, a job so grim it could possibly qualify as a top feature on TVs 'Life of Grime' so very well. Can it get any worse for this lad? We haven't even started, he happens to support a certain football team, one so illustrious that they broke the mould when it comes to a record 'riches to rags' tale, but oh boy, did they have some glorious moments, moments which he dreams will one day return as did our hero on the pitch himself for his old pub football team. These moments are so brilliantly brought back to life through gritty yet hilarious flashbacks as he yearns for 'a damn good kick about'! But being blind this creates a few problems for Lee. These scenes are so well crafted using old and new footage so well weaved together in a way very rarely, if ever, seen before in recent cinema. Can it really get any worse for Lee… oh yes, he meets a yank, one who knows nothing of football, who's gonna put our hero Lee 'The Penalty King' back on the pitch and back into action! Once you're in, you're hooked! This movie is so well crafted by director and writer Chris Cook, it's not easy to begin to describe where it's all come from, but it takes you on such a bizarre and beautiful journey. The way its put together and so well acted that you just have to stay with it… very much like… dare I say it as the World Cup is upon us… like watching our favourite team go to penalties, and that my friends is where we come in. There are touches of 'Brassed Off' with smatterings of 'Run Lola Run' a dash of 'Shooting Fish' and a very healthy portion of… what has already had a mentioned and dare I say it again - Brit cult classic 'Withnail & I'. The Penalty King is going to hit you right between the eyes; you're going to love this movie!