Movie Review: Goalie - Starring Kevin Pollack and Mark O'Brien. A Solid Yet Uneven Biopic

Goalie movie poster - Dark Star Pictures

Genre: Drama

Director: Adrianna Maggs

Cast: Mark O’Brien, Kevin Pollak, and Georgina Reilly

Studio: Dark Star Pictures

Runtime: 113 minutes

Release Date: In select theaters beginning January 31, 2020, Out on digital and DVD Feb. 25, 2020.

Rated: Not Rated

Review Rating ★★★★★

Admittedly, I know absolutely nothing about hockey. My only experience with the sport is seeing the covers of The Mighty Ducks series for rental at the local video store when I was a child, and the only “hockey player” I know, by name, is Happy Gilmore (and that’s a fictional character). I am a sucker, however, for an entertaining sports film. Even some of the more cliched ones, if executed well, make for solid entertainment. I’m also a fan of biopics, although I’m a bit more critical of films based on true stories. Biopics must ride a fine line of staying at least semi-faithful to the events while also not falling into the trappings of a traditional biographical film which can tend to go overboard on details instead of focusing on the heart of the story. So how does Goalie fare?

GOALIE - Kevin Pollack as Jack Adams and Mark O'Brien as Terry Sawchuk — Jack And Terry Have A Conversation

Goalie, directed by Adrianna Maggs, follows the life-story of NHL legend Terry Sawchuk (Mark O’Brien). We witness his upbringing with his family struggling to make a living in the 1950s to his quick rise through the minor leagues and his tenure as goalie for the Detroit Red Wings. All the while getting a glimpse behind the curtain to see Sawchuk battle with mental illness and alcoholism which is a direct result of the physical toll performing without proper safety gear and constant pressure to perform.

When it comes to the tone and the period the film is set in Maggs nails it. The film has an almost sepia-tone like quality to the color that matches the mid-20th century setting. Director of photography Jason Tan utilizes a lot of handheld camerawork. The way the frame jitters and bounces when following characters gives Goalie a fly-on-the-wall aesthetic. It works in immersing you in the world the film creates.

GOALIE TRAILER

While Maggs does a great job in some aspects, her direction is a mixed bag. The film feels slightly detached and isolated from our lead character. Some separation works to put you in Sawchuk’s mindset, especially showcasing how he never feels truly connected with anyone; however, Goalie tends to feel sterile and drab given how the plot unfolds.The film’s structure starts being repetitive after the first act. It’s a pattern of the same three scenes: Sawchuk in a game, Sawchuk in the locker room either fighting with teammates, his coach, or reporters, and Sawchuk at home or at the bar getting wasted then fighting with his wife. Granted, this sometimes works in Goalie’s favor by showing us the vicious cycle of his day-to-day life, and the physical and mental toll it takes on Sawchuk. On the other hand, after about 30-40 minutes of watching the same sequence of events, it starts to weigh down the film’s pacing.

GOALIE - Mark O'Brien as Terry Sawchuck — GOALIE — Mark O’Brien Stars As Terry Sawchuk

There are interesting underlying themes to Goalie, including how certain childhood traumas manifest in your adult life, the parasocial relationship Sawchuk has with his fans, and Sawchuk’s subconscious search for a more nurturing father figure. Despite the allure of these intriguing plot points,they are never fully explored outside a superficial level. Maggs’s direction focuses mainly on the external conflicts with the chaotic internal ones feeling like an afterthought.

There are some fantastic powerhouse performances from the cast. O’Brien gives an incredibly visceral portrayal as Sawchuk going from purposeful restraint to unhinged at the drop of a hat. He never crosses the line into over-the-top territory but instead brings just enough uncapped rage into his performance. The physicality he brings, especially during the scenes when Sawchuk has to play through an injury, make for some riveting moments.

Reilly, who is O’Brien’s wife off-screen as well, also stands toe-to-toe with him. Given their actual relationship, it’s no surprise they work off each other flawlessly. Kevin Pollak as Red Wing’s manager/coach Jack Adams also does a commendable job. His best work comes from the quiet scenes he shares with O’Brien. The way Pollak plays the character, never knowing if he truly cares about Sawchuk or is gaslighting him to make him submissive to his demands, elevates his character from being just a one-note to complex.

What I appreciate the most about Goalie is that it’s not afraid to show the uglier side of our lead. Too many biopics are afraid of depicting some of the unseemly aspects of their subjects’ lives and will gloss over them. Maggs’s approach to the material shows Sawchuk as the deeply flawed human he was. She never goes out of her way to make him a villain, nor does she try to excuse his behavior. It’s a candid approach that makes Goalie a more honest biopic than your typical true-story sports film.

GOALIE -- Kevin Pollack as Jack Adams — GOALIE — Kevin Pollak as Jack Adams

The film does run a tad too long. At a certain point, in the last act, the film feels like it starting to wrap up but instead keeps going and going, and the film starts to jump through years in a span of a few minutes of screentime. I understand wanting to hit all the checkmarks of Sawchuk’s life; however, it starts to drag. What we learn in these moments could have been used in one of those text boxes before the end credits.

Overall, I do recommend Goalie for hardcore hockey enthusiasts, especially those who are fans of Terry Sawchuk. For those who don’t really care for the sport, your attention span may vary. It’s a solid film with some captivating performances to keep you hooked, but those less interested in learning about the lives of sports players will probably find themselves getting bored. In the meantime, I’ll keep waiting for my Happy Gilmore biopic.

For more on GOALIE visit:

IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8243286/

Dark Star Pictures official site http://darkstarpics.com/

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Dustin Kogler

Professional amateur movie watcher. Dustin is a laid-back nerd who loves discussing pop culture. He loves listening to 80s music, playing video games and watching netflix all day. He's pretty sarcastic and if you tell him your favorite movie he can tell you why you're wrong.