FuzzyTagz
If the ambition is to provide two hours of instantly forgettable, popcorn-munching escapism, it succeeds.
CrawlerChunky
In truth, there is barely enough story here to make a film.
Derrick Gibbons
An old-fashioned movie made with new-fashioned finesse.
Boba_Fett1138
Just like every football fan, I have to say that Zinédine Zidane really was one of the best players of this and the last century. I would often watch a France game, purely because of Zidane and I wanted to see him do his magic. Even if the game wasn't very good and the team wasn't playing very well, Zidane would always show something special and amazing. His skill and touch was always amazing. Whenever he had the ball if was something special and you just knew something great could happen at any given moment. He doesn't look and move like a very technical player but he really was one of the most technical midfielder of the last few decades. He had a great and impressive but also very successful career, especially with his national team. Every world cup or European cup he participated in, he was one of the best players of the tournament and he won both the World- and European Cup with his country France. He played an important role in his country victories and eventual win of the tournaments, with his two goals in the 1998 finale against Brazil of course as his most memorable achievement. No way that a dumb head-but against Marco Materazzi in the 110th minute of the 2006 World Cup final against Italy, which also was his last game out of his career, should overshadow this great sportsman's career.But as much as I adore Zidane as a player he really isn't a charismatic person or player to watch. His face doesn't ever show any emotions, which sorts of makes you wonder why the film-makers he was such a good subject for this cinematic movie-making approach. After about 30 minutes you've already had it with watching this movie. Most of the time he doesn't even run, he just walks and stands because obviously he isn't on the ball all of the time. After a while the approach of the movie becomes a real bore to watch.It doesn't show anything of Zidane as a person and it also most certainly doesn't show anything of Zidane's qualities as a football player. Therefor what's the point of this 'documentary'? This movie only serves an artistic purpose. Although this also doesn't completely work out due to the subject Zidane. So it's a sort of vicious circle. The approach of the documentary doesn't really work out due to Zidane and Zidane isn't presented in his best or most insightful way due to the approach of the documentary. It doesn't do much credit to the exceptional great player Zidane was. On top of the, the approach from this documentary isn't even original. It was used before by German filmmaker Hellmuth Costard, for his documentary "Fußball wie noch nie", following Manchester United player George Best in real time, during a complete football match.What was highly annoying to me was that most of the sounds were obviously put at a later stage underneath the movie. Some, if not all, sounds were obviously fabricated and recorded in a studio, even Zidane's own breathing and on pitch talking. Unless you believe he was really wearing a microphone during the match...The chanting the running on the grass, the kicking of the ball, all off these sounds sound so completely fabricated. It's like listening to a radio play at times.Some of the trivial facts presented in this movie are really ridicules and don't serve a point at all, also not in the least because they have absolutely nothing to do with the subject of the movie.If you want to see the qualities of a player you don't point several camera's just on his face. He should see a wider picture to get a clear view and understanding of his positioning, his passing, his control, his overview, knowing exactly the positions of your teammates and opponents, knowing when to give the right ball. After all, football is still a team sport, no matter how great as an individual you are. The game they follow him also isn't much special. It's just an average Primera Division game of Zidane's Real Madrid against Villareal, in which Zidane even gets send off with a red card before the end of the match. Also sorts of makes you wonder if the makers regret picking this one game to follow him.Has some artistic value but overall really doesn't do enough credit to Zizou.4/10http://bobafett1138.blogspot.com/
john-4072
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!
burgerific
This is the most affecting, profound piece of documentary film I have seen in years. That said, it is a challenging work that doesn't fully reveal it's power until well into the viewing. As much a meditation as a film, the net effect is similar to that of watching "Winged Migration". Watching the simple, relatively unaffected actions of Zidane over the course of a match begins to work on you. I pondered politics, commercialism, world conflict, fame, economics, the media and more over the course of my first viewing. There is no easy way to encapsulate the overall feeling, the ebbs and tides experienced while watching the film, but afterward you will view the world in as if with new eyes.It is also a masterpiece technically. I couldn't help but admire the precise and exquisite sound design and music, how they blended to the action and psychological state being portrayed to the moment. The cameras seamlessly take the viewer from sprawling, epic points of view to the most intimate. The use of subtitle without voice over narration used to portray Zidane's thoughts is nothing short of revolutionary.This film may disappoint a soccer fan simply seeking a piece of sports entertainment, but for a lover and student of film it is groundbreaking, important work that must be seen.
Patrick_Waggett
Following an obvious influence that is Hellmuth Costard's focused documentary on George Best playing against Coventry in 1971, Director's Douglas Gordon and Philippe Parreno have made a spectacular visual observation of one of the world's greatest ever players coming to the end of a glittering career. For this fact, it is an excellent project to appeal to such an astute audience who follow football closely and with it's release not long after the 2006 World Cup when Zinedine Zidane was so famously dismissed for violent conduct, its sold itself. Using 17 cameras that solely focused on Zidane through a match between Real Madrid and Villareal, 23rd April, 2005 and Darius Khondji's superb intentions and training of each camera operator meant that 'Zidane' was always destined to just look deliciously irresistible. From the start of the visual documentary, the French feel is realised and a homey feel with broadcast quality picture and sound lure the audience into a false sense of security. When the stunning High Definition picture bursts onto the screen with blistering sound, the audience are thrown into Zidane's majestic world. Worries that the film is too long and eventless as it follows one player closely on screen may be a problem for those not really appreciative of football or the player himself. But Zidane's presence is immediately felt and the intrigue as to who he is and what is going on in his head is a strong element. As he strides around the pitch effortlessly, his exertion in the game in the first half seems minimum, and you can see that for whatever reason, Zidane is very withdrawn from everyone else. Speaking little words (calling out for the ball only on several occasions) and expressionless face displays his intense, personal concentration. Along with the visual aspect of the film, the sound is imperative. The sound design is fantastic as Zidane's every breath is heard as though it were your own, every blade of grass is heard crunching under his feet, the crowd are deafening and then muted to concentrate on Zidane. It is when the Mogwai music kicks in eerily that you get a shiver down your spine. The score whimsically gives Zidane more importance and strength on screen, but sometimes can suggest something is about to happen (and when it doesn't, disappointment can be felt). The editing is again superb, every kick of the ball and tackle made intertwine perfectly as does the running of Zidane, each stride leads onto the other flawlessly and smoothly shows another perspective from close ups of the band on his wrist, Zidane dragging his feet on the floor and the highly defined sweat on his brow. It is so different from documentaries it could be looked upon as an avant-garde visual piece, but the subject matter seems so personal and full of admiration for the player that seductively draws the audience in. When the subtitles roll from Zidanes own words about being a boy and hearing his own commentary in his head and a magic moment when he predicted he would score, you understand the attraction more to an amazingly talented artist and that this is someone special who has so much about him to analyse. Clever devices break the film up to avoid the same footage over and over of Zidane running around the pitch. At half time there is a subplot concerning the documentation of Zidane in this match itself and how many other things happened on that day around the world, in nature, society, politics, war and so on. The message here concerns the audience and their decision to watch the film questioning, '23 April, an ordinary day, will events be remembered or forgotten?' Is this why the film is being made? To make events remembered and talked about? It is unclear in the end and their point isn't really stated with any convincing grounds. Other devices used, involve a change of format in the replays from the game involving Zidane and his involvement in the goals onto broadcast television again and again. There is interesting point of view shots on film from Zidane as he looks to the skies every now and then and another change of format to film that journeys through the corridors of the stadium as though it were a fan going tot heir seat that nicely displays the environment. In the end though, (after Zidanes expressionless reaction to going 1-0 down in the game) is when the film reaches a true climax. As though a lightbulb had been switched on in his head, Zidane suddenly begins to control the game, a deft touch here and there and a powerfully skillful run down the left to cross the ball into the box sets up his teams equaliser and it is the first time we see him smile. It is clear to see the amount of respect those around him have for him, yet he seems so distant from each player (sharing one moment with Roberto Carlos with a joke is his only real interaction). As the music soars through and Zidane running almost constantly with the ball now, so much more than before, you wonder what will happen next even after he is involved again in the wining strike for Real Madrid. However, (and the film could not have picked a better 'event' to observe a personality like this one) in the end and in a confusing manner, Zidane gets involved in a bust up on the pitch and throws an arm at one of the opposing players. Why? It is a tragic irony in the end that he is dismissed for something so uncontrolled despite his extreme concentration and exemplary game leading up to this that leaves the audience with questions that the film cleverly discovers about this ageing footballer.
