Sean Simpson
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.
MattyGibbs
Next Goal Wins follows the American Samoa football team through their world cup qualifying games. They are famous for their record 31-0 defeat to Australia and being the worst team in the world. You really don't have to like football at all to enjoy this excellent documentary. It has a host of natural but great personalities and it is refreshing to see people playing sport for the right reasons. It was nice to see the culture of the American Samoans which seems a lot more welcoming than many western cultures. The fact that no-one seemed to playing up to the camera at all is a credit to all participants.I really enjoyed this uplifting and at times tear jerking documentary and highly recommend it to non football and football fans alike.
LouieInLove
The world of Football is vast; from the schoolyards of Scotland to the back-streets of Peru, it weaves its way over the Earth. It brings pain & joy. It inspires & frustrates in equal measure.We are all too aware of the riches football can bring working class kids, so much so that some are accused of playing for fortune & fame as opposed to the love of the game; well this documentary is undoubtedly about those who play for the love. In a world where the likes of Wayne Rooney & Cristiano Ronaldo are paid upwards of $450,000 a week & adidas pay Manchester United over a Billion just for the privilege of supplying their uniforms, American Samoa players remind us all why we first started playing the game.This documentary is joyous, uplifting & loving; this documentary is football.
Tom Alexander
This documentary chartering the preparations of American Samoa for the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifiers has little to do with the beautiful game. It's a story of redemption, of solidarity, of family and community, and of believing in yourself. A true David and Goliath tale, there are further nuances that make "Next Goal Wins" stand above many other documentaries. For one, there's Saelua, a transgender woman on the American Samoan team who plays harder than her male teammates, and her wholehearted acceptance and support by everyone on the island. Then there's Thomas Rongan, the Dutch coach who volunteers to come and help prepare the team, while he continues to grieve over the death of his daughter in a car accident. I won't say anymore about the characters or what happens, but I will say that this story is truly inspiring and uplifting, and more than that, has made me question my own attitude, work ethic and beliefs in the weeks since I watched it, and I am very grateful.
AD
