A SHOT AT GLORY — *** — Robert Duvall, Brian Cox, Ally McCoist, Michael Keaton, Kristy Mitchell, Morag Hood; rated R (profanity, athletic violence); exclusively at the Carmike Ritz 15 Theaters.
If you can accept the supposition that a sporting event can be a kind of religion — or vice-versa — then "A Shot at Glory" invites you to worship at its altar. If not, the Michael Corrente-directed drama starring Robert Duvall is a more scenic "Hoosiers" with rowdier fans.
Soccer, a k a "the beautiful game" is, in Denis O'Neill's script, the patron saint of Scotland to which lives are offered and important relationships sacrificed. Duvall plays Gordon "Gaffer" McLeod, a former goalie turned fanatical coach who was never a superstar. Real-life soccer star Ally McCoist plays Jackie McQuillan, a star footballer who perhaps doesn't fully appreciate the gifts bestowed upon him. That Jackie is Gordon's ne'er-do-well son-in-law and the new star of Gordon's upstart Kilnockie team means that Corrente and O'Neill have enough off-field drama to stock a $9 million movie. Barely.
The acquisition of Jackie — a high-paid prima donna with marvelous skills — is Kilnockie owner Peter Cameron's (Michael Keaton) last attempt to keep the team local. Without a major victory by season's end, Cameron moves Kilnockie to Ireland (whether a name change would accompany the move is never specified).
Uninterested fans don't seem to be Kilnockie's dilemma. Throughout the movie, cinematographer Alex Thomson's camera roams lovingly over the Glaswegian countryside, in and out of bars and through soccer crowds, demonstrating just how soccer-crazed this nation is. The "Knockies" — and Jackie — have their respective groupies, but those fans are small potatoes compared to the devotion inspired by the elite Celtics and Rangers. The Knockies' eventual showdown with the heavily favored Rangers is — cue the "Rocky" theme — "A Shot at Glory's" climax.
Along the way, Gordon has bridges to mend: with his daughter Kate (Kristy Mitchell); with Jackie himself; and even with his ultra-patient wife, Irene (Morag Hood). Carrying off a spot-on Scottish burr, Duvall (also a producer) peels layers from this character that may well not have existed on paper. The man is stubborn but good-hearted. The jury's still out on whether McCoist — who has James Dean good looks — can convincingly play something other than a soccer player, but he has an undeniable appeal.
Corrente ("Outside Providence," "American Buffalo") pilots the film away from potential mawkishness. His camera crew, which films all the World Cup matches, delivers the on-field action in slow, graceful sweeps. A beautiful game it looks, indeed.
"A Shot at Glory" is rated R for prevalent use of strong, sexually related profanity and scenes of athletic violence (soccer action and fan hooliganism). Running time: 114 minutes.