Plot Details: This opinion reveals minor details about the movie's plot.



Sometimes there are stories that if given a big budget, tend to misuse the money in an attempt to glorify some aspect of the film. Even worse money can bring in actors who tend to over-shadow the story. There are a lot of good scripts that are wasted simply because a studio wants a big-name actor to bank on at the box office. In addition to that aspect, there are also only a few actors out there that can pull the double-duty. They can not only star in big-budget movies, but can be a great supporting actor in smaller films. Robert Duvall is one of those great actors who can blend into the scenery when needed, and rise to the occasion when a scene calls for it. In A Shot At Glory, Duvall gets the ability to show off both talents in a memorable performance.

A Shot At Glory is a movie dealing with several issues inherent with the plot. Duvall is the manager of a second tier, Scottish soccer team. He is a man of many thoughts, and has spent his life involved with soccer in many different fashions. Having once had the chance to be with the top team in the area, he is forever jaded from a friendship gone bad with that team. He holds those feelings near the surface of his skin the rest of his life, and it has all but consumed the person that he has become. It has not just affected his life in soccer though, but has taken too high of a toll on his personal life now as well. Already losing touch with his only daughter, he all but disowns her when she marries a soccer star with a bad reputation. This is the back-story to Gordon McLeod (Duvall) as the movie gets under way.

Much to the dismay of McLeod, an American buys out his team, and wants to make changes right away. He is a big soccer fan, but he cares more about the bottom line than he does about the game itself. His ideal situation is to have a winning team that makes lots of money at the same time. Michael Keaton takes on the role of Peter Cameron (the owner), who wants to bring in a star player to put this team over the top. As you might have guessed, that star player is McLeod's own son-in-law, Jackie McQuillan (played by Ally McCoist). McLeod is not happy at all about this turn of fait, but is not going to just roll-over and be told what to do. Instead, he is going to make McQuillan work harder than he ever has before.

McLeod now has a series of stories going on in the movie that revolve around him now. He has an estranged daughter, a son-in-law he despises playing for him, a new owner that may end up moving the team, and a standing feud with an old friend from another team. With all of these sub-plots for one character, it was going to take a really good actor to pull off all of the intangibles that would hold this story together. Duvall is a perfect cast for the role, and he shows what has made him a legend on the screen over the years. He is subtle when needed, he is loud when needed, and when the scene calls for him to take charge, he is right there to do it. Duvall helps make a movie that while he serves as the focal point of the story, is actually more about the relationships of everyone involved.

Behind everything taking place between the characters, is the fact that the team has made it in to the Scottish Cup. This is a great soccer tournament in which the best teams from the region take place in a set of games that decides who is the best of the best. In soccer for the region, there are two tiers of teams, with the best being on tier 1, and all the rest being on tier 2. Think of it as equivalent to a major league division, and then a minor league division. For a team from tier 2 to even have hope of succeeding the players involved must have heart to go along with the talents that they possess. Outmanned, outgunned, and out paid, this team must fight against all of the odds to try and succeed in a tournament that they were meant to lose.

Overall, A Shot At Glory is a very strong story, that has all of the elements necessary to keep the attention of an audience member. Instead of the shoot-em-up, bang-bang movies that are prevalent in every theater, this film instead relies on the story and the actors to carry it through. Though also a small film when it was made, it has slipped through the radar of a lot of people, including me up until last night. Now, I have to say that I am a fan of the movie, and know that I should have been when I heard that Duvall was in it. I am convinced that he cannot make a bad movie, and I have yet to see him fail as an actor. I highly recommend this movie to anyone in the mood for a good film. I am the first to admit that I am not the biggest soccer fan, but the story kept me interested for the duration, and soccer instead turned into a metaphor for life.



Recommended: Yes

Viewing Format: DVD