Maradona by Kusturica (2008)

Don't listen to the Hype. It's awful

A lot of fun.

It's funny, it's tense, it features two great performances from two actors and the director expertly creates a web of odd tension where you actually don't know what is happening for the majority of the run time.

It’s fine. It's literally the definition of a fine movie. You’ve seen it before, you know every beat and outcome before the characters even do. Only question is how much escapism you’re looking for.

INMORTAL LEFT LEG AND GOLDEN HEART.An excellent opportunity to take a closer view of a man who above all things loves the ball, loves his family, y loves his country. Mens like him give their life away, making a better society, as a gift for Argentinian people, people who needs spiritual encouragement to keep on defending their mother country.An excellent opportunity to take a closer view of a man who above all things loves the ball, loves his family, y loves his country. Mens like him give their life away, making a better society, as a gift for Argentinian people, people who needs spiritual encouragement to keep on defending their mother country.

I hated this in every way. I'll be honest, I hadn't heard of Kusturica before seeing it but I've since learned he's regarded as a genius in filmmaking.Even though Maradona is a cheating, egotistical little fool, there's no escaping the fact that he's a colourful individual and was one hell of a footballer.However, I learned very little more than I already knew about him. Everything was done so obviously on Maradona's terms. It was nothing more than an arty Maradona love-in. He hates the USA, he hates Britain, he loves Castro, he loved cocaine, he played a good game of football. That much we did learn. However, I and anyone else who follows football, already knew that. But, let's not forget, he cheated time and time again. Whilst he comes across as remorseful for the effect him doing drugs had on his family, he clearly sees himself as a victim for the effect it had on his career. The man was a professional sportsman, an idol and role model for millions around the world, yet he's bitter and feels hard-done-by about the fact that he was one of those to get caught out.Any cheating on the pitch, namely the infamous 'Hand of God' against England, was portrayed as no more than a schoolboy prank he got away with. How did Maradona get away with it? According to Maradona it was because of God (further proof of Maradona's deluded mind)! Then, frequently during the film, Kusturica depicts the second goal in the same game (reputedly the best goal ever scored) as some sort of political comment on the Falklands War, with a cartoon Maradona slaying Prince Charles, the Queen and Margaret Thatcher to name a few. Sorry, but whilst the goal was a stroke of genius, it was no political comment; it's just convenient to suggest it was.A footballer surely doesn't justify such an arty piece of filmmaking. If a filmmaker's intention is to profile a footballer, then surely a chronological study from the start to present day is what's needed, not philosophical ramblings over what made him what he is/was. If these ramblings taught us anything, then fine, but they didn't. He wasn't a revolutionary (although he clearly believes he is), he wasn't the great ruler of a nation (I'm sure he believes he's this too). He was a footballer and a cheat. A brilliant footballer, yes, and arguably the best to have ever lived and his life off the pitch is thought to be equally as (if not more so) fascinating as his life on it. That's why I'm so frustrated to have learnt so little from this. I wanted to hear him discuss in greater detail his humble beginnings, his rise through the ranks in footballing terms, his experiences with drugs, more details around his time at Barcelona and Napoli etc. The lack of facts and the general sycophantic tone that shrouded the whole film left me none the wiser and even less enamoured by Maradona than I was to begin with.It's amazing (and again very odd) to see just how revered he is in Argentina but I wished the film would have stopped dwelling on the fact and get on with some steadfast facts on the man himself. I don't wish to see some weird looking Argentine couple supposedly getting married at the church of Maradona, nor do I want to see Maradona singing a song (presumably about himself) for what seemed like an eternity. This was just further evidence of his God complex. I found both these scenes to be really peculiar.Aside from it being mind-numbingly dull, I found the whole thing a bit sinister really. Kusturica especially so. His voice-over was horrible, his bedraggled appearance horrible and then you get him fawning all over the supposed great man.Maradona's autobiography, El Diego, whilst interesting at times, was like reading a true Rock 'N' Roller's autobiography without any mention of the sex, drugs and excesses that go with it. Whilst a different approach was taken here, it was by no means a more interesting one.Total garbage.

What an excellent documentary. well done Kusturica you really have captured the heart of the man. for those of you out there who think gazza is a complex man,NO he ain't! Maradona is the real deal. his joke to Castro who says to him this is between you and me Diego, to which maradona replies deadpan, you me and the eight million people watching on TV.what a line. And the way he greets people from the car while driving through belgrade,hello yes its me, yes its Maradona. singing with his daughters in the bar nearly had me in tears. a funny sad tragi-comic film thats well worth checking out. welcome back Kusturica, in these twillight, reboot, remake ridden times you are well and truly missed.

About 15 years ago it was regarded almost as blasphemy to dislike Kusturica's work. The loud gypsy trumpet music and Balcanic blabber with poverty charm was suddenly hip and splattered all over the screen and no longer hidden behind glamorous designer shops in the back alleys of Europe. I have never socially discussed the fact that I didn't particularly enjoyed his stuff except Arizona Dream, because experience taught me that a flavor of the month is a guaranteed magnet for more or less imbecile follow up. Kusturica then announced he will retire from movie making, and for a while things calmed down. Then he came with this. Dios, man...Maradona was a super footballer with a funny physique, that's that. No multiple layers worth exploring. No multiple layers, period. To present his goals as political comment is ludicrous and the whole display is completely tasteless. K says at one point that he feels like a paparazzi waiting to shove the microphone in the star's face...well, talk about the moment of the truth. Maradona is presented taking a bath and talking about Fidel while compromising up his own simplistic viewpoint while K blabbers on about the Balcans and capitalism, Bush and the Queen. I'm surprised K didn't find a connection between Maradona and 12.12 of the Mayan calendar. My question is why did he feel the need to drag Maradona's name into his ego trip? Stay gone K, just stay gone...