Football As Never Before (1971)

I like movies that are aware of what they are selling... without [any] greater aspirations than to make people laugh and that's it.

This is a tender, generous movie that likes its characters and presents them as real people, full of flaws and strengths.

It's a movie as timely as it is provocative and amazingly, for much of its running time, it is weirdly funny.

A terrific literary drama and character piece that shows how the process of creating art can be seen differently by those doing it and those looking at it from the outside.

Rarely has the phrase "it's a game of two halves" been more apt than in this portrayal of George Best versus Coventry City.During a dire first forty-five minutes the average cinema-goer must be wishing they hadn't braved the elements as our erstwhile, posturing hero meanders his way through a severely mediocre half of soccer.Even the most ardent fan should be glad of the half time break and the chance for a five minute close up of George's not-so-pearly-whites and chiseled chops - you can almost smell the gingivitis.The second half dawns with a dazzling bit of hosiery adjustment, and after that our leading man never looks back. As if buoyed by the new found stability of his perfect garter, Georgie discovers a mesmerizing on-screen chemistry with the Coventry full backs. Both of whom have a torrid time as the points in his sinful love triangle.Besty, and the movie, get a fitting send-off in the last five minutes with a boozy, shambolic song from an old crooner.

I am a George Best fanatic, I admit it. This film was made in 1970 by the late German director Hellmuth Costard and I for one will always be grateful that he, at least, had the vision to follow the maestro doing what he did best, not shagging and not drinking but playing the beautiful game. Six cameras were trained on the Manchester United legend during a First Division match against Coventry City at Old Trafford in September, 1970. We get the whole game, from the warm-up onwards. Of course the other players can be glimpsed, Charlton and Law among them, but there is no doubt as to who is the star of the show. The result is a fascinating, and quite moving, portrait of a man who was his own worst enemy, but who lit up the World of football for a few short years. We see the familiar short shuffle, the sudden burst of electric pace and yes, a text-book goal. There is a shot of George at half-time( obviously added later,as he has a beard) where he stares into the camera and we are invited to look into his mind, what is he thinking? If you are in any way a fan of GB, then get this. I got my copy from the company who produced it, very helpful they were too. Hellmuth...danke.