Sports dramas are mostly inspirational. Whether they are about winning a local match or a global tournament, they inspire us with tales of underdogs trying to make it big in their careers. “The Beautiful Game” is yet another drama that works with an underdog tale. It follows a sports team and its players trying to rise above societal expectations. Together, they participate in a global football tournament for homeless people, representing England.
The lack of shelter results in existential struggles in their daily lives. So, the football tournament offers them an opportunity to feel confident and to gain a sense of self-importance. Simply put, it allows them to feel good about themselves and put the worries of survival at bay for a while. Frank Cottrell Boyce’s script handles these internal battles through its sports drama set-up. It comes with a set of genre tropes, be it about team-building, the montages of practice, or the competitions that decide their fate.
The two recent team-building sports films that recently caught my attention were Taika Waititi’s “Next Goal Wins” and George Clooney’s “The Boys in the Boat,” although not for the right reasons. Waititi’s film is a lousy mess because of its awkward infusion of his characteristic zany comedy in a dysfunctional team-driven drama. On the other hand, Clooney’s film is a by-the-numbers inspirational drama that shows a team rowing toward an ultimate triumph. Albeit forgettable, it leaves you with memorable scenes of the actual sport.
Thea Sharrock’s “The Beautiful Game” works with the Ted Lasso formula of building a sports drama. It brings a sense of vulnerability to a rugged sport and presents endearing characters that can easily tug at our heartstrings. These players motivate each other to express themselves instead of ignoring them. Like the Apple TV+ series, Netflix films have a bunch of affable characters who have their own share of struggles.
Vinny (played by Michael Ward) is a skilled player who lives away from his partner and their child. Mal (played by Bill Nighy) scouts Vinny to be a part of their football team at the global tournament for homeless people. Vinny isn’t particularly excited about this offer despite Mal’s enthusiasm. Like Ted Lasso’s Jamie Tartt, Vinny refuses to be a team player and has a similar holier-than-thou attitude. It affects his connection with his teammates. Nathan (played by Callum Scott Howells), who struggles with drug addiction, tolerates Vinny’s tantrums, whereas Cal (played by Kit Young) finds it hard to do so.
“The Beautiful Game” neatly builds their interpersonal relationship to make us feel the push-and-pull dynamic between them. Also, besides the England team, the film also introduces other teams’ players and their views toward this tournament. For Rosita (played by Cristina Rodlo), her team’s win serves a bigger purpose as a refugee. Similarly, Aldar (played by Robin Nazari) looks at their tournament as a way to represent a place that he can call his home.
We see a contrasting set of perspectives. Through them, we sense a friction between ambition and acceptance. For some of them, an escape from their constant sorrow is in itself a matter of celebration. Then, for others, a sense of recognition bears much more importance. The film never belittles any of these views, and thus, excels with its humanistic approach. As the film progresses, we see Mal and Vinny try to fulfill their hopes and dreams while growing as individuals. Vinny’s character growth showcases a growth in humility and radical self-acceptance. Other characters are also developed enough to make us care for their personal victories.
Speaking about the performances, Bill Nighy brings a discreet charm that seems effortless for actors like him and Kôji Yakusho. After his Oscar-nominated performance for “Living,” “The Beautiful Game” makes fine use of his understated performance style. Even in particularly dramatic moments, he uses a calculated, almost muted manner of expression, which affects us much deeper. Besides him, the film brings in the best of all its actors through their performances.
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