Best movie ever!

One of the worst ways to make a cult movie is to set out to make a cult movie.

Exactly the movie you think it is, but not the movie you want it to be.

Actress is magnificent and exudes a hypnotic screen presence in this affecting drama.

I have reviewed a few films on IMDb and always try to give a fair judgement. 1 out of 10s often cause a roll of the eyes and it is so rare for a film to be really THAT bad and it usually means that you must ignore the reviewers view point. This, however, was terrible and really does deserve it. I gave it 2 as it might appeal to a very small population of the world.I was not expecting a montage of goals or skills as you would find on youtube. I was expecting to see all of the things Zidane was doing and why. Why else would you watch something live this, but to learn from his decision making and the thoughts he has throughout the game. In the quiet parts I expect to learn something about what makes him... him.I should have known that things were not going to go well when the intro sequence - a zoomed in view of a television, which seemed to go on for about 10 minutes. I HAD to fast-forward it!Then came the 90 minutes. No real introduction, barely a comment from the Zidane and the angles at which each incident was shown was dire. Has it actually started? I had to wonder when the program would start... but it already had!They were attempting to make something artistic, but ended up simply showing a bunch of clips that bore no relevance to the match. It was not obvious, at all, what was happening. The choice of camera shot did not help to show anything useful or interesting at all.At the end of the day, this was a "portrait". An artists impression of a match of football focused on one of the worlds greatest ever players. However, this won't appeal to anyone who has an interest in football unless they have a keen interest in obscure artistry themselves.This could have been so much more. It could have been something that you'd recommend to every young footballer trying to learn his trade. Instead it was one of THE most dull pieces of "entertainment" that I have ever seen.

I believe this film gains value in a second and third watching. As mentioned in the comment below at times you can not see the ball, other players, or some other part of the action; however I find that if you are familiar with playing the sport the feeling the movie can give is at times frighteningly close to what can be experienced in a competitive game.The sound is incredible throughout.There are attempts made with the cinematography that seem a bit foolish and feel like a digression from what I have taken so far to be the point or theme or just main idea that it leaves me with- a small glance at one of sport's most prodigious talents as himself in his element. If you are a Zidane fan, I would highly suggest this movie. Whether you find it to be a blemish on the face of modern art or a work of genius it will only re-affirm your love for his footballing talents.I also think that this movie will never be released in the US because the general public does not possess the general knowledge of football or the interest for it to be a fiscally sound idea. So to all the yanks interested in this movie plan a trip across the pond, pick it up and try to go see a real match!

A poor effort from Douglas Gordon. For me this does a number of things. It shows up the easily neglected art of the sports coverage directors that broadcast games on television. It highlights the potential for charlatan artists simply filming anything in an unusual manner or outside its usual context and slapping an 'art' label on it. Worst of all though it squanders a wonderful opportunity to really explore the opaque world of one of history's most introverted, inscrutable sportsmen: this surely the purpose of the film, with its wistful, resonant Mogwai score.One exception to this is the wonderful sound design. Selim Azzazi's team have worked a miracle, isolating individual noises and chat during the game, weaving them into an ever-varied sonic kaleidoscope. Amazing.The joy of watching a fine footballer is what he is able to do in context. There is no context here, Zidane isolated in space, if not in time (depite repeated subtitles concerning the suspension of 'real time'). This might have worked - there are occasions where Zidane's stony face in front of a crowd reacting to something off-screen has an appeal. However Gordon does see fit to include TV footage to contextualise key events - goals, cards - and consequently the spellcasting is flawed. There is also no craftsmanship involved: we are told that there are 17 cameras but variation relies on shifting focus. Add to this a lack of decisiveness over whether to focus on Zidane's feet - his art - or to cover the man, and I was left feeling none the wiser as to what makes Zidane tick. I wish I'd simply seen the game on Spanish TV. 3/10

Whilst I would not recommend this film to many people I still feel that what it has to offer on a purely technical level is more than many, many films out there.Let's start with the cinematography. In charge of the look is Darius Khondji, a DOP who I feel ranks as one of the greatest of all time. His painstaking attention to detail and often uncompromising perfectionism heightened my curiosity with this film because he would have had no control over the lighting. Which is a challenge for someone who usually has every lighting rig available at his disposal. His choices were limited to equipment and film stock, as well as the angles chosen to focus on Zidane. The result is beautiful. The colours, the framing, the movement. It is impeccable and compliments the concept of the film perfectly.Then there is the sound and music. To say this is an immersive experience is an understatement. The diegetic sound and Foley work is so vivid that you feel part of the action. It is as close to being in a stadium such as the Bernabeu without actually being there. You hear Zidane every now and again ask for the ball, call a player, mention something to the referee. And as Zidane is so quiet, when he does utter a word for some reason you are compelled. When the ref makes a howler of a decision to give the opposition a penalty he eloquently says; "You should be ashamed." It's a wonderful moment, and it is these few seconds of drama that are sprinkled throughout the 90 minutes that keep you watching.Mogwai's score is as beautiful as everyone has said, supporting the images and saving periods of the game where little is happening.But the centrepiece is Zidane himself. I was born in 1983 so never got to watch Platini, Pele, Best or Cruijff. I would not dare call anyone the greatest player of all time because it is such a subjective and immeasurable claim to make. But having watched football for so long, I would have no hesitation in regarding Zidane as the greatest player I have ever seen. His vision, skill, control, strength. No player of his generation has ever come close to him. I have never seen someone so relaxed on the ball. He could beat any player, and more to the point would see passes no one else on the pitch would see. And when you consider his achievements, the World Cups, the goals (in World Cup and CHampions League finals) the infamous dismissals. Hell, he has seen and done it all.So in this game, even at the end of his playing career, he is still beating players, setting up goals, and not once did he miscontrol the ball. Which is astounding. Every ball played to him, along on the ground or in the air, whether it was perfectly weighted or dished out to him too hard and a few yards away was controlled with such deftness. I couldn't actually believe it at times.A number of Real Madrid players were under immense scrutiny during this period in the club's history. The Galacticos (Carlos, Beckham, Raul, Ronaldo and Zidane) were not winning any trophies and the press were quick to point out their waning powers. The performances were lacklustre and many questioned their passion having won all there is to win in football. Yet in this performance all I saw was Zidane running constantly, challenging for headers, being incredibly disciplined with his tackles and positioning, ordering players to mark, constantly asking for the ball. He may not have had the pace to beat players like he once did at Juventus and his early Madrid days, but when there was space to exploit he took the opportunity.I agree there are dull moments, but it is the nature of the beast. I think it speaks wonders that in a relatively low profile game with average passages of football Zidane can still keep you intrigued. From the way he drags the tip of his right foot along the ground as he walks to the way he looks around for other players he remains compelling viewing. There are few, if any other players who could have achieved this.The highlight for me came towards the end of the game. For well over an hour you saw the same stern, emotionless face on Zidane. He barely reacted to being fouled, or conceding a goal, setting up a goal. But then Roberto Carlos smiled at him and made a joke that made Zidane's face light up with such a beautiful smile. It is the most endearing moment in the film that could only be captured off the wall. It is so natural and revealing that it endears you. It is a lesson to all footballers. No matter what the stakes are in football the most important thing to remember is to enjoy yourself. It is just a game after all. And with this portrait of a magician, you realise just how beautiful it can be.