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| Bob 70-71 | - See magazines condensed to their 70-71 content !!
October 2000Bob rating BBBB Finally got to see the Best movie - written and directed by Mary McGuckian and starring husband, John Lynch as George Best. Obviously, this film is a Bob's 70-71 Pages MUST SEE, being packed as it is with fabulous players from one of the most famous teams to ever emerge from English football. That is the context in which it gets its four stars. Its recreations of Manchester United's 1968 European Cup victory and subsequent celebration, and Best's 6 goals in the 8-2 defeat of Northampton in the F.A.Cup in 1970 were the film's highlights. But as a film I fell a little short from loving it. I didn't feel like I'd got to know George any better than if I'd read one of the tabloid reviews of his life. For me it didn't really attempt to reflect on why Georgie hit the self destruct button at the peak of his career - it merely played out the fact that he did. Well I know that already. There was an element of trying to spot who was representing who - and the winner in that respect was definitely Linus Roache who was utterly convincing as Denis Law ! Which does come to the biggest flaw of the film, John Lynch only looked like Best in the scenes of Best as a bearded post forty year old. As the young world beating player cum model, he didn't look pretty enough (who should I appologise to there George or John !) Some of the recreated football scenes were highly accurate in choreography, but due to Lynch's physical appearance there was a feel of the 'Fantasy Football' comedy series where old stars were called back to re-enact their famous career highlights in someone's backgarden or in the local municipal park. Given that George (the man himself - not the actor) quite literally gets the last word in the film, maybe there was too much of seeing things through Georgie's eyes rather than attempting to really explain the effect his alcoholism had on other people. Sir Matt (Ian Bannen) was almost deified by the film, and made out that he was the only person trying to help and defend George, which is highly unlikely. It probably reflects that now he's died he can do no wrong. 'Sir' Bobby Charlton (Jerome Flynn) and Angie Best (Patsy Kensit) are almost blamed for his fall, albeit nicely. This film would be better made in fifty years time when there's no writs to be feared. As things stood too much of the drama has been lost in trying to keep on the right side of everyone depicted. Now I know why Hollywood re-writes history - facts go out the window, but you end up really loving or hating someone. At the end of Best I came away feeling he's a bit of a sweetie, but a bit of a tw*t, too. I can't believe that was the intention ! Whatever, next time you have the chance to watch a video, or want to suggest a Xmas prezzie from the kids that's actually worth having, then why not ask for this. My wife watched it, so it's a great sneaky way of getting some truely tremendous soccer into the family's evening entertainment !! And Mary - how about 'Best II : the American Years', I'm sure Jim Ross (click to see Jim with George) will help with some of the research ... If you want to write your own review of the film or any other that's relevant then please do and I'll include it on the monthly review pages. For further information on the film see , April 2000 News, links at George Best, and of course, the film's own website, www.best-themovie.co.uk The Lion Rampant BBC 1 10 October 2000 Bob's Ratings : BBB Unlike professional reviewers, I wasn't invited to a preview of this show. In fact, I didn't even know it was on until the video I was watching clicked shut and started to rewind. Normally at this point I'd flick through the channels, but this time I was faced with images of a Scottish team of yore thumping England. Which is a lot of what this documentary was about - how much better Scotland / Scottish people / Scottish fans / Scottish football / Scottish footballers and teams / Scottish alcoholism / Scottish hooliganism ... etc. etc. were better than the English equivalents. This completely unbiased view of the world was headed by the Scotsman and ex-Scotland, Partick Thistle and Liverpool footballer, Alan Hansen, now of 'Match of the Day' fame. There was an edge of chip-on-the-shoulder / paranoia going on here, and the funniest moment was seeing ex England player and current 'Match of the Day' crisp eater, Gary Lineker, doing his best to not sound perplexed as to was all the England v Scotland fuss was about. ' Er, yes, Alan, Wembly was filled with Scottish fans, Alan, barely an Englishman in site, Alan' you could almost hear him say as he did a 'what's this bloke on ?' shrug to the cameraman behind Alan's back. So, I only saw half the programme, but there were some great momnets. We saw interviews with Walter Smith (Dundee United), Graeme Souness (Tottenham Hotspur squad), and Craig Brown (team not confirmed) from these pages, and lots of shots from old games in which 70-71 players were surely playing. But the magnificent highlights of the programme were: 1) seeing the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Gordon Brown, getting all excited about Jim Baxter and Jim McCalliog (Wolves); and 2) Robert Duvall the megastar Hollywood actor, enthuse in the highest extreme about Celtic star, Jimmy Johnstone ! The cherry on the cake, though, was Robert holding up his cutsey Scottish Terrior and telling the world he'd named it after Jimmy, his Scottish hero ! Good programme Alan, and not a criticised defender, throughout. See more October 2000 news at the following ... |
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| Bob Dunning 20 July 2001 |
Click to see latest Soccer headlineswww.bobdunning.net |
