The Game of Their Lives (2005)

26% of critics liked it
(35 reviews)
60% of users liked it
(3,894 ratings)

In 1950, most Americans had only a passing familiarity with the game of soccer, even though it was the world's most popular sport, and few athletes in the United States played the game with any particular degree of expertise. However, when an invitation was extended to the United States to… More In 1950, most Americans had only a passing familiarity with the game of soccer, even though it was the world's most popular sport, and few athletes in the United States played the game with any particular degree of expertise. However, when an invitation was extended to the United States to participate in the World Cup tournament in Brazil -- the international soccer championship held every four years -- Bill Jeffrey was determined that America participate. In less than two weeks, Jeffrey assembled a team comprised mostly of players from St. Louis (where soccer had developed a small but loyal following) and the East Coast (where the game gained a foothold on college campuses), with immigrants from Haiti, Portugal, and Scotland filling out the ranks. Against all odds, the Americans not only made it to the World Cup games, but defeated the British team (favored by many to win the championship) in the greatest upset of the 1950 games. The Game of Their Lives is a sports drama based on the remarkable true story of the 1950 United States team, featuring John Rhys-Davies as Bill Jeffrey, Wes Bentley as team leader Walter Bahr, Gerard Butler as goalie Frank Borghi, Jimmy Jean-Louis as Joe Gaetiens, a dishwasher born in Haiti who found his way onto the team, and Patrick Stewart as a journalist covering the games. David Anspaugh, who made the acclaimed basketball drama Hoosiers, directed. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: PG, 1 hr. 36 min.
Directed By: David Anspaugh, Daniel Gordon
Written By: Angelo Pizzo, Geoffrey Douglas
Genres: Documentary, Drama

In Theaters: Apr 22, 2005 Wide
On DVD: Sep 12, 2006
Studio: IFC Films

Critic Reviews

Richard Roeper, Ebert & Roeper
Director David Anspaugh has a skilled touch, but there's just not that much drama to film. This is a very competent, very predictable sports film.
Peter Hartlaub, San Francisco Chronicle
...disappointingly mediocre...
Robert Koehler, Variety
...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.
Wesley Morris, Boston Globe
These guys give a sport that is virtually nameless in the movies a good name in this one.
Robert Denerstein, Denver Rocky Mountain News
It's difficult to muster dislike for The Game of Their Lives, which is reasonably interesting, but it needed more grit and inspiration than this straightforward account can provide.
David Germain, Denver Post
...this soccer tale is about as exciting to watch as a scoreless match between opponents so defense-minded the ball never gets beyond midfield.
Heather Boerner, Common Sense Media
Great game, bad storytelling. Soccer buffs only.
Bruce Feld, Film Journal International
the narrative and dialogue club us over the head in an effort to make 21st-century viewers understand why the victory of America's team over England was of such monumental importance.
Ryan Cracknell, Calgary Movies
Even those who aren't [soccer fans] might fancy the traditional sporting story of huge odds and overcoming them. At the very least, some sort featurette would have made the DVD more desirable.
Lisa Ann Cockrel, Christianity Today
A treat for soccer fans who have yet to see their favorite game given its due on the big screen. This won't be a classic soccer movie, but it's a start.
Shawn Levy, Oregonian
A sentimental, creaky, underwritten, overloaded picture that fails as character study, period film, sports movie and heart-stirrer.
Mark Sells, Oregon Herald
Enough enthusiasm, authenticity, and spirited soccer play to offset the missing ingredients.
Cynthia Fuchs, Common Sense Media
The Game of Their Lives takes a standard inspirational sports movie structure.
Steve Rhodes, Internet Reviews
Snooze.
Jeff Vice, Deseret News, Salt Lake City
Angelo Pizzo's screenplay is rife with the expected sports and gamesmanship cliches, and he and Anspaugh take forever just to get to the game action, which is the only really worthwhile material.
Timothy Knight, Reel.com
Pure, unadulterated sentiment served up with a straight face, The Game of Their Lives is a middling depiction of one of the all-time great underdog stories in sports history.

Read all 16 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

Cynthia S

My problem with this movie is that the main actors are around 15 or 20 years older than the characters they are supposed to be playing. So they look like midlife people but they are dealing with issues as if they were fresh out of high school. I think they would have been better off… More
My problem with this movie is that the main actors are around 15 or 20 years older than the characters they are supposed to be playing. So they look like midlife people but they are dealing with issues as if they were fresh out of high school. I think they would have been better off casting it w/ college-aged soccer players. I am usually a big fan of movies like this one, but for some reason this movie didn't quite do it for me. It was ok. Extra 1/2 star for Gerard Butler and Gavin Rossdale...I do like them.
Kevin M

Nice flick, although I expected better soccer aptitudes from these 'athletic' actors. Stewart's imitation of an American accent was flawed in some moments, but still I admire his acting experience overall. Gavin Rossdale doesn't seem believable; perhaps he's… More
Nice flick, although I expected better soccer aptitudes from these 'athletic' actors. Stewart's imitation of an American accent was flawed in some moments, but still I admire his acting experience overall. Gavin Rossdale doesn't seem believable; perhaps he's better suited to writing simple grunge songs (a decade ago).

Cast

            Gerard Butler as Frank Borghi

            Wes Bentley as Walter Bahr

            Jay Rodan as Pee Wee Wallace

            Gavin Rossdale as Stanley Mortensen

            Costas Mandylor as Charley "Gloves" Columbo

            Louis Mandylor as Gino Pariani

            Zachery Ty Bryan as Harry Keough

            Jimmy Jean-Louis as Joe Gaetjens

            Patrick Stewart as Older Dent McSkimming

            Terry Kinney as Dent McSkimming

            John Rhys-Davies as Bill Jeffrey

            Tim Vickery
            
            Pat Noonan
            
            Ben Olsen
            
            Eddie Pope
            
            Jason Kreis
            
            Freddy Adu
            
            Chris Albright
            
            Clint Dempsey
            
            Landon Donovan
            
            Alecko Eskandarian
            
            John Harkes as Ed McIvenny

            Chris Klein
            
            Damani Ralph
            
            Nelson Vargas as Clarkie Sousa

            Mike Bacarella
            
            Richard Jenik
            
            Rosemary Garris
            
See full cast