Sixty Six (2008)

Simply Perfect

A Major Disappointment

This movie was so-so. It had it's moments, but wasn't the greatest.

The movie's neither hopeful in contrived ways, nor hopeless in different contrived ways. Somehow it manages to be wonderful

OK, perhaps my perception is biased by the fact that my Bar Mitzvah was in 1962, albeit Chicago. But this movie rang true on every count: the family business, the distracted (worried) father, the overprotective mother, the domineering brother (just like mine), and the exaggerated importance that (we) twelve year old boys desired of our "coming out party." The movie made me laugh out loud, and even audibly groan at the pathetic human foibles. Bernie's family was (almost, but not quite) as crazy as my own. But the central theme of the film was neither the craziness of family nor the anticipation of disaster. It was how Bernie and his family got through it all and learned core and timeless values. I do not want to spoil it, so I will just say that the ending was incredibly fulfilling. Every Rabbi should see this film. Every parent should see it with their twelve year old -- boy or girl, Jew or Gentile.

I am the one writing this review, but I am doing this review in the style of my dad. My dad has seen some of this movie and he stated, 'brings back memories!' That's an achievement to get any man to say. From the next paragraph I am going to be my dad writing what I feel he would say.A truly amazing movie with pure elegance and sheer brilliance. An amazing story set in the most amazing time in British history, captivating a truly emotional time where British people could actually smile without being called creepy or disgusting! Back then we all lived in a more happy place, we wasn't scared to leave our doors unlocked and we appreciated our neighbours. I am not Jewish, so I don't know how many Jewish festivities go, but if I was Jewish, I would have been pleased to have such a great day on my Barmitsvah. I went to the 1966 world cup final, the crowd was mostly British, but there was some Germs there. The British lead the screams. Back then is when stadiums really felt like you were there. We were cheering England on, we couldn't believe we were winning, the cheers supported the team! Bobby Moore, what a tackle! Bobby Charlton, get the ball up there my son! Geoff Hurst, GOAL! 3-2 to england. What a shocker. After normal time, we go into extra time. The game was mad as it was, we were shocked! So were the English team. They didn't believe it. Seconds away from the finish, Germany almost scored, the ball gets kicked down the field. The England crowd just stayed quiet. Geoff was on the ball, a player coming towards him............he shoots with the left................ .........................GOAL!!!!'They think it's all over, It is now!' What a game. ENGLAND WIN THE WORLD CUP! No one believed it. We screamed and hugged whoever we could get a hold of. We patted the England players as they walked up to see the queen. It was a game, there will never be one like it ever again.The film brings magic back into England.

I saw this film last night and really enjoyed it but was struck by the mixture of hilarious comedy and deep pathos. Sometimes it is too painfully sad to be funny- maybe that's how comedy works! The last twenty minutes set me thinking how derivative the film is. Has anyone noticed a similarity between Das Mirakel von Bern and this film ? Both are about the troubled relationship between father and son; both centre on a world cup final; both feature a desperate race at the end to get to the final and both sets of parent/child jump over the ticket barrier to get to the game! I enjoyed both films in spite of their similarities; I think the writers could have injected even more humour into 66, even if there are some genuinely side-splitting moments

How nice to watch a film suitable for children that is funny, compassionate and resonates with their problems. No animation, no talking animals, but a boy and his family, He gets picked on, ignored, and teach himself to grow up. My ten year old grandson rates this as one of his favourite films ever.It is also very appealing on an adult level. Witty, perceptive and devoid of sentimentality,it is plain good fun.The acting and writing are flawless and the recreation of 1966 is breath-taking. I am in awe of the production designer and the colourisers. It all works smoothly, although it did leave me wondering 'How did they do that?'.