The Cup - a film that can make you fall in love with Scottish football
How big stars can be improved by small teams
When we talk about sports movies, they should be made to grab our attention and show something different from what we see on TV. Something different from the competition itself. No more unusual than the story of a great team.
The Cup is just such a film. A film that shows us the story of a small Scottish football team - Kilnocky. A team that attracts in its composition the famous footballer Jackie McQuillan, played by Ali McCoys, from the Arsenal team. McQuillan has a number of problems and has to regain his desire to play under the guidance of his father-in-law - Gordon McLeod, played by Robert Duvall, who is the coach of the Kilnocky team.
Director Michael Corrente is making the film based on a screenplay by Dennis O'Neill. The story is told, intertwining the fate of a semi-amateur team reaching the Scottish Cup final and the fate of the big star, a striker who has passed through a number of big teams and must help his team achieve its greatest success.
However, Jackie McQuillan is troubled, loves alcohol, doesn't hold his tongue, is aggressive and certainly not the best possible son-in-law and player for the rest of the team to learn from. He must go through a series of trials, overcome traumas and troubles in order to grow up and eventually reconcile with his wife's father and help his team progress in the tournament.
McQuillan is a Celtic legend, but in the film he saves a boy who is a supporter of Rangers, the arch-rivals of his former team, who have recently won the derby. McQuillan puts the child in his car to avoid being beaten up by three angry Celtic fans. It shows the character growing up and changing for the better right after getting a red card that will see him miss the semi-finals.
Kilnocky follows the same line, but is more representative of the good and despite an injury to the main goalkeeper, although they have to do without their star for some games, the team is progressing and luck follows them all the time.
Also of interest is the final Kilnocky have to play, pitting them against Rangers. A team against whom McQuillan has a number of goals, but the difference in grades is very wide and in the end Kilnocky are on the losing side. The winners are the viewers who don't get another corny happy ending where David takes on Goliath.