Mar 18th   
The Phantom of the Open*  (12A)  
(Phoenix Cinema, East Finchley)

(GB 2021)     
EOne/Ingenious/BBC Films/BFI/Cornerstone/Baby Cow. 102m.

In 1976 Barrow-in-Furness crane operator Maurice Flitcroft pretends to be a professional golfer at the British Open.
Another British story of parochial underdogs (similar in spirit to The Duke), with lots of clichés thrown in - many of them historically true - and meticulously observed by its leading man.

Written by: Simon Farnaby, from the book by himself and Scott Murray.
Producers: Tom Miller, Nichola Martin, Kate Glover.
Director: Craig Roberts.
Starring: Mark Rylance, Sally Hawkins, Rhys Ifans, Jake Davies.
Photography: Kit Fraser.
Music: Isobel Waller-Bridge.

Mar 1st
A Run for Your Money**        
(GB 1949)
Rank/Ealing. 85m. bw

Two Welsh miners win a trip to the England-Wales rugby international but get sidetracked by the London lifestyle.
For St. David's Day, this exemplary Ealing comedy with its share of amusing observations and stereotypes, and some amusing cameos including Guinness as a put-upon gardening correspondent.

Written by: Clifford Evans, Richard Hughes, Leslie Norman, Charles Frend, Diana Morgan.
Producers: Michael Balcon, Leslie Norman.
Director: Charles Frend.
Starring: Donald Houston, Meredith Edwards, Hugh Griffith, Alec Guinness, Moira Lister, Clive Morton, Leslie Perrins. Joyce Grenfell, Julie Milton, Peter Edwards.
Photography: Douglas Slocombe.
Music: Ernest Irving.

May 18th  
(Ipswich Film Theatre)  
Trautmann** (15)
GB title: The Keeper                  

(Ger/Northern Ireland 2018)

The triumphs and tragedies of German PoW Bert Trautmann, an Iron Cross winner who also overcame British animosity to become Manchester City's star goalkeeper in the 1956 FA Cup Final.
On Cup Final day itself, an appropriate choice: this movingly played biopic, carefully well scripted and reconstructed, without too many obvious elements of fictionalization.

Written by: Robert Marciniak, Marcus H. Rosenmuller,Nicholas J. Schofield.
Producers: Chris Curling, Robert Marciniak, Steve Milne.
Director: Marcus H. Rosenmuller.
Starring: David Kross, Freya Mavor, John Henshaw, Dervla Kirwan, Harry Melling, Gary Lewis, Julian Sands.
Photography: Daniel Gottschalk.
Music: Gerd Baumann.

Mar 20th  
The Games*       
(GB 1969)                             

Rival international athletes push themselves too far in training for the Rome Olympic Marathon.
The climactic race is made to seem more like a sprint than a marathon (with a compelling finale), in what is a self-consciously fast paced sports drama done with abrasive 60s style. Chariots of Fire covered similar material in less cynical fashion.

Written by: Erich Segal, from the novel by Hugh Atkinson.
Producer: Lester Linsk.
Director: Michael Winner.
Starring: Michael Crawford, Stanley Baker, Ryan O'Neal, Charles Aznavour, Athol Compton, Jeremy Kemp, Sam Elliott, Elaine Taylor, Stephanie Beacham, Ron Pickering, Rafe Johnson.
Photography: Robert Paynter.
Music: Francis Lai.

Jul 30th 

Sixty Six**                                                                       

(GB/Fra 2006)
Universal/Working Title Films/Studio Canal/WT2. 93m.

In 1966 a young Jewish boy fears that his bar mitzvah will be ruined by England reaching the World Cup Final on July 30th.
Nostalgically evoked childhood memoir, giving way increasingly to sentiment after an amusing start. Lots of good, authentic period detail.

Written by: Bridget O'Connor, Peter Straughan, from a story by Paul Weiland.
Producers: Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner, Elizabeth Karlsen.
Director: Paul Weiland.
Starring: Gregg Sulkin, Eddie Marsan, Helena Bonham Carter, Peter Serafinowicz, Catherine Tate, Stephen Rea, Richard Katz, Geraldine Somerville.
Photography: Daniel Landin.
Music: Joby Talbot.
Editing: Paul Tothill.
Production Design: Michael Howells.

May 24th 

Afghan Cricket Club: Out of the Ashes** 

(GB TVM 2010)

Shabash/Bungalow Town Productions. 84m.

On-the-spot documentary following Afghanistan's fledgling cricketing nation attempting to qualify for the ICC World Cup in 2009.
Compelling to watch in its contrast between the grim war-torn country and the colourful (sometimes quaint) setting of the cricket tournaments, and reasonably objective in its viewpoint, without dwelling too much on aspects of the game or politics.

Producers: Rachel Wexler, Leslie Knott.
Directors: Tim Albone, Lucy Martens, Leslie Knott.
featuring Taj Malik Aleem, Nawruz Mangal,Hasti Gul Alad, Gulbadeen Naib, Geoffrey Boycott, and others.
Photography: Tim Albone.
Music: Andrew Phillips.

Executive Producer: Sam Mendes.

Mar 30th
Fire in Babylon*
GB 2011. E&G/Hargitay & Hargitay Pictures in Motion/Cowboy Films/Passion Pictures. 87m.

Documentary charting the rise of the West Indies cricket team to world dominance during the politically explosive 1970s and 80s.
Interview-linked narrative with several insightful contributions from most of the West Indies' greatest players combined with some evocative archive footage; as a sports film, as vibrant to watch as Senna and When We Were Kings although slightly less dramatic, and lacks an outside non-West Indian voice.

Written and Directed by: Stevan Riley.
Producers: Charles Steel, John Battrek.
With Contributions by Viv Richards, Michael Holding, Andy Roberts, Gordon Greenidge, Clive Lloyd, Bunny Wailer, Frank I, Colin Croft, and others.
Photography: Stuart Bentley.
Music: Various.
Editing: Peter Haddon.

Mar 9th
The Miracle of Bern**
Ger 2003. Little Shark/Senator Film/Seven Pictures. 118m.

A young boy helps his father sort his life out again after returning from Russia, as well as his idol Helmut Rahn to score the winning goal in the 1954 World Cup Final against Hungary.
Sentimental and colourful German feelgood sports drama, the brightness and 1950s optimism of Switzerland well contrasted with the grey austerity of post-war Germany, with some of the famous figures and events from the tournament lovingly recaptured, and some witty comedy sidelines between a honeymooning journalist and his wife.

Written by: Sonke Wortmann, Rochus Hahn.
Producers: Tom Spiess, Sonke Wortmann, Hanna Huth.
Director: Sonke Wortmann.
Starring: Louis Klamroth, Peter Lohmeyer, Johanna Gastdorf, Lucas Gregarowicz, Katharina Wackernagel, Peter Franke, Sacha Gopel, Mirko Lang, Birthe Wolther, Knut Hartwig.
Photography: Tom Fahrmann.
Music: Marcel Barsotti.
Production Design: Uli Hanisch.

Oct 31st
Alone It Stands**
GB TVM 2007. Headgate Theatre.

I saw the DVD at home the other night of Tony Billings' meticulous filming of the first non-professional production of John Breen's play, about a famous rugby union match on 31st October 1978 between Munster and New Zealand, filmed over a number of separate performances.
Whilst many of the aspects of the production are inevitably more theatrical than cinematic, there are still plenty of lively and amusing moments which come through strongly on screen, and it certainly showcases an impressive display of energetic and versatile acting.

Dec 28th
Escape to Victory*
aka: Victory
National Film Theatre

During WWII a football match between German soldiers and Allied PoWs is used by the Nazis as propaganda, but the prisoners also use it as a chance to escape.
Old fashioned, escapist (literally) Roy of the Rovers-style yarn, an affectionate rip-off of PoW film cliches to begin with (The Great Escape, Albert R.N., etc.), with the underwhelming Sylvester Stallone instead of Steve McQueen at the centre of things, followed by a football match that becomes more fun than the film itself, featuring real-life footballers who acquit themselves quite well, both on and off the field.



100 Favourite Films: Escape to Victory