The Penalty King

After a slow start I began to enjoy and get into the black humour and novelty of this unusual film. I liked the way different atmospheres were successfully blended together, particularly integrating old Leeds United footage with current Sunday football. Having lived in Brighton I also enjoyed 'spotting' locations skillfully used, local people or those who love Brighton would enjoy seeing it in a different light. Having a blind man as the hero of the film gave an interesting, thought-provoking take on disability issues. I think the various shots and editing work well, especially the sliding doors effect. I was not sure about some aspects of the social services equipment store, especially the search for the files, and the reaction of the disabled client felt over the top. I felt there were some instances in the film when it seemed to briefly 'freeze' or jump a bit, possibly this was intentional but not sure if it succeeded.

First off the mark, I am not a Footie Fan. I don't have a passion for it. Saying that, I found "The Penalty King" to be an excellent movie. The characters portrayed so many personalities that I have encountered in the Social Services and are True to life. It is filled with a sense of humour that most people would understand. I laughed so hard in places throughout the film but I also liked the fact that the film had a true sense of ordinary people. For those reasons alone it's a must see film.

Reading the other comments I don't feel it necessary to give any brief synopsis of the plot but would like to say that Chris Cook is one Writer/Director that everyone should look out for as his vision and passion for film making shines on the big screen. I sincerely hope that "The Penalty King" gets the recognition it deserves and I will personally look forward to Chris Cook's next project.

Excellent film with excellent acting.

It's a film that I would never get bored of watching and I would Love to own a DVD of it but in the meantime I will recommend it to all my friends.

OK, so a blind guy who wants to play football.... not the most obvious set up in the world... and funnily enough this isn't the most predictable of films. However, The Penalty King strangely enough takes this scenario and gives you something genuinely relatable. A ramshackle social services department is the site of the 'action' which, with the help of a spot on script- will have you squirming on your sofa,wringing your hands and wincing in perverse delight as you witness the all too familiar scene of arbitrary office politics laid out in front of you. Chris Cook finds comedy, not only in the places where other people wouldn't look, but in the places where other people wouldn't want to look. A refreshing film that takes an honest view at the other side of life and comes up with some surprises... some very surprising surprises at times... Get the DVD. watch it. then revel in the delight of your own -relatively- comfortable existence...

Suffering from the double disability of being both blind and a fervent Leeds United supporter, social worker Lee longs for nothing more to ease the frustrations of daily life than "a damn good kick-about". His unhinged colleague Charlie decides to make his dream come true, and inveigles him onto a local works football team. But will Lee ever get to exercise his preternatural talent for the penalty kick?

"The Penalty King" is an eccentric tale with a dark underside, although still more "Strictly Ballroom" than "Kes". Played by Nick Bartlett as a tightly-wound knot of barely contained aggression, Lee invites neither pity nor sympathy—more the impulse to duck behind a pillar when you see him coming. It's fair to say blindness is the least of his problems.

One senses writer/director Chris Cook went to some pretty dark places in his life for the raw materials for this fable, leading to an unsettling blend of truth and fantasy. For example, the portrait of the dank, dysfunctional social services depot where Lee works is both grotesquely over-the-top and strangely accurate. There's also a depth to the rest of the characters which is unusual in a comedy. Played with relish by a strong supporting cast, they're all pretty much bent or damaged too, and there's a violent and bitter edge to their relationships which undercuts the whimsy.

"Penalty King" might never achieve the crossover success of "Bend it like Beckham" but it still has all the makings of a cult favourite. It may lack a cart-wheeling Keira Knightley, but there are compensations, notably in the shape of the delightful but underused Clare Grogan (as Lee's bossy-boots boss), who still has the ability to make men of a certain age go weak at the knees. Her drunk scenes alone are worth the price of admission.

The film takes its own time to get going, and occasionally over-indulges itself, but can nevertheless sit alongside classics like "Sideways" and "Withnail and I" as an exploration of less creditable sides of the male psyche. An agreeable if not totally uplifting movie then, and, while something of a rough diamond, a gem all the same.

I was fortunate to see this film at a special preview at Elland Road and what a treat. Chris Cook (The director) has used real life experience and his love of Leeds United to create a special low budget cult film. From the early stages you can see his dry sense of humour and slightly twisted view of the world is reflected brilliantly by the means of witty replies and humours profanity. Penalty King follows the life a Lee a die hard Leeds fan who has recently lost his sight to illness and works in a dead end job at the social services cleaning second hand disability equipment. Apart from watching his beloved Leeds all Lee would like to do again is "have a good dam kick about" some thing not possible since the loss of his sight, but with the help of Charlie his eccentric American colleague can Lee once again live the dream and become the penalty king?

A must see for all Leeds fans or anyone who has a passion for a football club, works in a dead end job, played Sunday morning football or just enjoys a film with wall to wall laughs

Be warned though if you are offended by strong profanity this film might not be for you