Shooting for Socrates ** (2014, John Hannah, Art Parkinson) – Movie Review

John Hannah does his best as eccentric Northern Ireland coach Billy Bingham in writer-director James Erskine‘s well-meaning but plodding story of Northern Ireland’s 1986 World Cup campaign.

Art Parkinson plays footie-mad nine year old Tommy, nonchalantly dribbling a ball as his life in the troubled streets of Belfast plays parallel to his heroes’ aim for gold and glory in Mexico, where tiny Northern Ireland must take on the mighty Brazil.

It’s all very warm hearted and good natured, so it’s hard to call it clumsy and amateurish, with the humour and sentimentality ladled on in loving spoonfuls. So let’s just say it’s likeable and pleasant enough in its funny, old-fashioned sort of way.

Sergio Mur plays the mighty footballer Socrates.

© Derek Winnert 2015 Movie Review

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