The Penalty King (2006)

User Rating:

4.3/10   

Director:

Chris Cook

Writer:

Chris Cook (writer)

Release Date:

7 November 2006 (UK)

Genre:

Comedy

Tagline:

Who needs eyes when you've got balls?!

Plot:

Lee, a soccer player who descends into depression when he goes blind, is encouraged to take up the game again by a maverick American and the inspiration of Leeds Utd legend, Billy Bremner. |

Cast

Nick Bartlett	...	Lee Vaughan
Clare Grogan	...	Sandra Reeves
Peter Lorimer	...	Leeds United Fan
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Chris Beaumont	...	Referee Nigel Biddicombe
Samantha Beckinsale	...	Maddie Vaughan
Stuart Brennan	...	Ajax the Keeper
Charlie Campbell	...	Chav in Glasses
Adam Chapman	...	Joey
Joseph D. Cook	...	Freak Show Chav
Brenda Dowsett	...	Mrs. Fry
Nick Dutton	...	Aaron the Technician
David Earl	...	Tony Queen
Duncan Henderson	...	Jim the Psycho Postman
Frank Jarvis	...	Mr. McClintock
Tara Keatley	...	Daniella Funnell
Gary Knowles	...	Goalkeeper
Alan Magor	...	No. 5 - Cup Final Opposition
Fiz Marcus	...	Teresa Senior Officer
Des McAleer	...	Denis Cleghorn
Roz McCutcheon	...	Shelley de Moussin
Patrick Micallef	...	Charlie Howard
Li Mills	...	Amanda the TV Producer
Brian Mitchell	...	Wes The Grey
Dave Mounfield	...	Derek the Manager
Jane Peachey	...	Gina Blackwell
Michael Petek	...	Referee Trevor Lestrange
Daniel Rabin	...	Jason Thompsett
Tom Rooke	...	Brian the Grey (as Thomas Rooke)
Tim Secrett	...	Al the Grey
Gabriel Swartland	...	Lawrence the Security Guard
Georgina Tasker	...	Sasha the Ex
Rudi Walters	...	Mickey the Grey

Runtime:

90 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Filming Locations:

Brighton, East Sussex, England, UK

Company:

Maverik Motion Pictures

Quotes:

Gina Blackwell: How come my conscience is telling me to do one thing but my body is telling me to do another?

Movie Connections:

Remake of Bury It (2002)

A true cult football classic and an adventure for every true football fan (esp Leeds United fans).

As an avid football fan and Leeds United fan, I came across this film after appearing as an extra and enjoying the day filming at Elland Road and have been excited ever since the day's filming to see this film come to life.

One of the first things I noticed from the shoot was of the director's passion, motivation and energy for this film and the opportunity to be able express his life and his everyday stories of life being a Leeds United fan. My excitement was met with joy when I finally saw the film at a private screening at Elland Road.

The film is lovely story of a guy, a guy like many of us whose life revolves around a 9 to 5 job, a love for his wife and a love for 'the beautiful game' of football. Lee is unfortunately blind, and he still misses and dreams of the time he kicked around a ball for his local pub team and the love of Leeds United and "the wee ginger man" - Billy Bremner. Lee just wants to play football, and in tricky situations turns to his friend Billy Bremner to find answers to many of life's everyday questions.

This is not a film just for Leeds United fans, of course it is great to see Leeds United on the big screen and recollections of some great clips of Leeds in action and the stadium, but the story is really gripping and you can really feel the pain that Lee is under in his life, to just to be able to kick a ball around a car park or a football pitch.

I loved the film and look forward to seeing it in a big screen in the not too distant future. This is not just another football fan, it is an adventure through somebody's life who is full of passion, and to see how a guy can overcome his loss of sight and to be able to enjoy 'the beautiful game.'