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In The Hands of the Gods (2007)

Director: Gabe Turner, Benjamin Turner

Time Out rating

Average user rating

5 reviews

Movie review

From Time Out London

This is an agreeable, if morally ambiguous, little documentary covering the unlikely story of five plucky football freestylers (that’s keepy-uppy experts to you and me) from various UK locations who decide to meet up and busk their way across the US to meet Argentinean football ace, Diego Maradona.

It’s all fairly innocuous for the first half-hour which consists mainly of choppily-edited montages set to the standard throng of feel-good pop anthems. It’s bizarre, though, that as soon as the conceptual weakness starts to shine through (as well as the fact that its episodic structure would have been better suited to TV), a series of deeply implausible twists begin to occur which drag the film into an altogether darker domain. By the time they’ve got as far as Mexico City, it turns out that they’ve only made enough money for two of them to advance any further, and just as you’re waiting to hear the inevitable sermonising about ‘teamwork’, ‘friendship’ and ‘sticking together’, they’re drawing lots to see who stays and who goes. The film’s teary-eyed conclusion is clearly intended to have you punching the air in elation, but the message it delivers will actually leave you feeling quite cold.

Author: David Jenkins

Time Out London Issue 1934: September 12-18 2007

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User reviews of this film

Lee said...

Posted on Feb 17 2009 20:28 What's clear about this film is that these lads would have gone on this journey with or without the film crew. Their emotions are real. There's no acting involved. This film is a must see, tear jerking production. Not least because you can make it relevant to journey's in your own life.

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Becca said...

Posted on Apr 17 2008 15:38 i watched this film for the first time last night, i absolutely loved it. Defo 6*. The montages at the start were just introducing the freestylers, they were nessesary!i found it quite touching to be honest, because it was the lads dream to meet Diego Maradona, & i know 2 of them didnt succeed in meeting him, bu they stil tried their hardest. its kind of put a point in life that if something you love/inspires you, never give up. As Mikey was saying he was goin to give up on freestyle because he lost his 2 best friends that did it with him, but it didnt make him give up, he was doing it for himself aswell as his friends & family, to make them all proud. Sami did have a bad rep in my eyes, but after his fair speech of him saying his passion wasnt as big as everyone elses but had nothing left for him back home & took the flight it made me smile. i do recommend this to everyone, it tells you that everything is possible if you put your mind to it. * * * * * *

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George Gordon said...

Posted on Sep 27 2007 17:50 What a magnificent film. Time out is the only bad review have seen of this masterpiece...i agree with others below, time out obviously have not watched this film. I recommend this so higly. What else have these guys made? you must see this film. a real tear jerker!

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Billy said...

Posted on Sep 20 2007 20:45 Was the reviewer in a really bad mood when they saw the film??? This is one the most entertaining and best made films I've seen for ages. It has a bit of everything and you don't need to like football to enjoy it. I've heard the freestylers are appearing at the Everyman in Hampstead on Sunday - see you there Sarah H?

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Sarah Hitchcock said...

Posted on Sep 14 2007 22:05 Did you actually see this film??? I totally dsagree with you when I say that this was the most exciting, real and alive film i have seen in a long time. The movie showed the 'joie de vivre' of youth today it is a life affrming enigmatic journey of discovery sure to be a blockbuster. Next time you comment on a film please ensure that you have seen it first.

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